The Most Popular Materials Used in Attic Insulation
There are several important and popular attic insulation materials. They differ in R-values, cost of installation, etc. It is your own responsibility to choose one type over the other depending on the climate of the zone you are living in, the cost, or any other factor that you want to consider.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is maybe the most widely used material in attic insulation. It has an R-value of 3.2 per inch, and it is fluffy looking (it somewhat resembles cotton candy). It comes in handy when you need to insulate pipes, air ducts and ceilings. It comes in a few different shapes, like the fiberglass batts, fiberglass blankets or fiberglass rolls. There is also a controversy that surrounds fiberglass, because some people think it can create lung problems that are similar to the ones created by the asbestos.
Cellulose
The cellulose has an R-value of 3.2 per inch. The cellulose insulation is actually a byproduct of the paper industry, and it uses recycled newsprint in a proportion of up to 75%. Although it has been used in insulation for decades, it really grew into popularity in the 1970’s, when people started to be environmentally responsible. Although fiberglass and cellulose have similar R-values, cellulose is best suited for lower temperatures, where it acts better than fiberglass. An extra advantage for the cellulose is the fact that it doesn’t share the irritating properties of the fiberglass.
Mineral Wool
The mineral wool has a slightly lower R-value than the 2 previous materials, 3.1 per inch. It is also known as rock wool and is manufactured from steel slag. The most important advantages of mineral wool are the fact that it does not rot, melt or even burn (so it is a permanent deal) and it will not absorb moisture, which means that you won’t have problems with mold either. It acts as a vapor barrier itself, so it doesn’t need an additional one.