Attic Batt Insulation Vs Blown In

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Attic batt insulation vs blown in.

Two of the more common forms of insulation are blown in insulation and rolled insulation which is also referred to as batt insulation. That makes it fast to install but costlier than batt insulation. In short there is less chance of error with blown insulation as compared to batts. When it comes to adding or replacing the insulation in your attic there are several types of insulation to choose from.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Batts must be cut tightly and you can t have gaps. Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt. The answer is it depends.

When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. Batt insulation is that it is a form of loose fill insulation as opposed to a flexible blanket. The installer taking his best firefighter pose holds a large hose and blows the chunks into the attic. Sloppy people aren t suited for this job.

A large machine outside churns the chunks and uses air to blow them up through the hose. Often times a combination of the two is ideal. 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. Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1.

We use both blown in and batt insulation depending on the situation at hand. Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of around a 2 8 r factor. The maximum rating of batt insulation is around 4 2. A better choice is insulation that comes in smaller chunks.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. The first difference in blown in vs. Blown in fiberglass creates a seamless blanket in your attic. It is sold in bags and made of materials that are of varying degrees of recycled.

Disadvantages of batt insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. The thermal performance of fiberglass insulation is directly related to its ability to trap and maintain very small pockets of air. Blown in insulation is much easier on installers.