Blown Attic Insulation Vs Batts

Blown in fiberglass creates a seamless blanket in your attic.

Blown attic insulation vs batts.

The answer is it depends. That is because it usually is made out of fiberglass in varying thicknesses. When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. 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.

Batt insulation often punishes installers with fiberglass fibers that cause itching and scratching. The thermal performance of fiberglass insulation is directly related to its ability to trap and maintain very small pockets of air. It is sold in bags and made of materials that are of varying degrees of recycled. Batts must be cut tightly and you can t have gaps.

Blown in fiberglass vs fiberglass batts which is better. To get the full r value of insulation it must be in contact with the conditioned space. Different types of batt vs blown in insulation batt insulation often comes rolled up in layers that you cut to size and install with staple guns. That s because blown insulation is great at filling the gaps and giving you a good complete layer of insulation.

The photo above shows an attic insulated with blown cellulose. Notice how you don t see any of the ceiling framing down at the ceiling level. Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1. Blown in fiberglass insulation will perform better against fiberglass rolled batts.

Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of around a 2 8 r factor. It also offers a little better thermal resistance than its counterpart. Advantages of batt insulation. You also don t see any gaps that allow you to see all the way down to the ceiling drywall.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt. The first difference in blown in vs. Sloppy people aren t suited for this job.

It is also preferable to use blown in insulation instead of batts rolls because the very act of blowing in the fiberglass or cellulose pieces causes them to create a seamless blanket much like a blanket of snow. I don t know about that but it s a common insulation material that works much better in the blown form than in batts. Batt insulation is that it is a form of loose fill insulation as opposed to a flexible blanket. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

We use both blown in and batt insulation depending on the situation at hand. Batt insulation is easy to install and requires zero specialized tools to get the job done. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.