Types Of Insulation In Attic

It consists of flexible fibers most commonly fiberglass.

Types of insulation in attic. Just as there are two types of blown insulation fiberglass and cellulose and two types of people those who divide everything into two groups and those who don t there are two types of spray foam open cell and closed cell. The most common insulation materials are fiberglass cellulose and foam. The type of insulation you need depends on which type is currently installed and the required r value. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

They usually come packaged in rolls and are easy to transport and carry. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Insulation types include loose fill batts rolls foam board spray board and vapor barriers.

The third major type of insulation is spray foam. Heck i won t even enter an attic without one. What type of insulation is right for you. They sport insulation values of approximately r 6 5 and r 3 6 per inch respectively.

In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Choose from two types. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Closed cell and open cell aka 2 pound and pound respectively.

Installing this type of insulation is an inexpensive and diy friendly project since the materials are designed to fit into the standard width between wall studs attic rafters and floor joists. You also can find batts and rolls made from mineral rock and slag wool plastic fibers and natural fibers such as cotton and sheep s wool. There was a widely publicized study conducted by oak ridge laboratories in 1991 that said that loose fill fiberglass insulation lost a lot of its insulation value once temperatures dropped below 20 degrees making loose fill fiberglass an inferior. Let s take a look at the different types their costs effectiveness and accessibility as a diy project.

Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. The most common type of insulation batts and blankets are great for diy projects. I wouldn t dream of doing any type of insulation work without wearing a respirator. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Blanket insulation the most common and widely available type of insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60.