Attic Insulation Batts Or Blown In

Before choosing blown vs.

Attic insulation batts or blown in.

The first difference in blown in vs. Batt insulation take time to read this column. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

It is sold in bags and made of materials that are of varying degrees of recycled. Batt insulation is that it is a form of loose fill insulation as opposed to a flexible blanket. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards.

Blown in spray foam batts and blankets. Blow in insulation is difficult for diyers especially for wall cavities. With this method the insulation is simply blown onto the attic floor and no matter what type of joists studs or wiring that may be in play the blown insulation will naturally form itself tight around any of these creating a layer of strong insulation. We offer our review of the three most popular types of attic insulation with a look at each one s pros and cons.

Fiberglass comes from what i ve heard one major fiberglass insulation manufacturer call a rapidly renewable resource sand. If you are upgrading your attic space we blow in insulation on top of your batt to achieve desired insulation values. I don t know about that but it s a common insulation material that works much better in the blown form than in batts. Blown in insulation requires a professional.

Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. Attic insulation can be a diy project with a rented or borrowed blower but is still a challenge. Your options for attic insulation range from radiant barriers to sheets of mineral wool but most homeowners stick with products made from cellulose or fiberglass. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

The main benefit of blown insulation is that it is a much more consistent type of insulation. By contrast installing fiberglass batts or rolls while labor intensive is not hard for diyers. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Blown in insulation is then applied over the batt level to fill any voids and gaps around joists and other structures and to increase the level of insulation to recommended levels.

The insulation itself costs about the same for comparable r. Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.