Spray Foam Vs Cellulose Insulation Attic

Spray foam if you were to look at a pie chart showing what you spend every year on home energy use your heating and cooling system would take up nearly half of the pie.

Spray foam vs cellulose insulation attic.

Unvented attics sometimes called sealed enclosed or encapsulated attics feature insulation on the underside of the roof decking rather than on the attic floor. Spray foam insulation the foam usually polyurethane is sprayed to fill cracks and gaps in the attic to form a hermetically sealed barrier. In most home markets this type of insulation is considered an added home value that will pay. The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost.

The unvented attic space is considered the most effective and up to date building practice particularly by the spray foam industry. Other than the fact that it s an insulator cellulose can also reduce the noise heard between rooms. Properly mixing and applying spray foam insulation requires substantial expertise and can only be done by trained professionals. Cellulose vs fiberglass vs spray foam.

However if your attic doesn t have any hvac equipment or air ducts you should install cellulose installation. Spray foam provides the highest r value while open cell spray foam has about an r value of 2 2 to 3 5 per inch closed cell spray foam has about 6 7 per inch. Cellulose insulation is probably the safest among all the other kinds of insulation there is including spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation is an incomplete name.

If the hvac equipment and air ducts are in your attic it is better to install spray foam insulation specifically with open cell spray foam to protect the equipment and ducts. It is the most expensive option with costs running as high as two or three times as much as fiberglass batts or cellulose loose fill. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. Spray foam insulation drawbacks.

Pro noise reduction. A properly done spray foam job not only insulates but also greatly reduces the air leakage of. But with properly installed insulation you can cut down on your energy demand leading to a lower heating and cooling bill and creating a more comfortable. It really should be called spray foam insulation and air barrier.

Cellulose for attic insulation. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass. Cellulose attic insulation pros and cons. Depending on the region and market spray foam insulation can sell for 1 30 to 3 50 per square foot.

Once you deal with the air up there this problem goes away with or without the insulation in the attic floor. Best way to insulate an attic. Cellulose insulation is the oldest material used in home. To get a better air seal.