Spray Foam Insulation Vs Cellulose Dormer Attic

Cellulose insulation is probably the safest among all the other kinds of insulation there is including spray foam insulation.

Spray foam insulation vs cellulose dormer attic.

You won t have any problem with it being accidentally exposed as it s not harmful at all. I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost. A number of factors should be taken into consideration when choosing between these two especially the climate zone that you re building in.

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 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. However if your attic doesn t have any hvac equipment or air ducts you should install cellulose installation. Properly mixing and applying spray foam insulation requires substantial expertise and can only be done by trained professionals.

Cellulose for attic insulation 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. The unvented attic space is considered the most effective and up to date building practice particularly by the spray foam industry. Be sure to check your current insulation in case it s time for an upgrade. 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.

Spray foam s air sealing qualities help reduce the amount of dust allergens and pollutants entering your home helping to protect you and your family from allergies. 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. When installing attic insulation a case can be made for both radiant barrier sheathing with typical types of insulation as well as spray foam insulation. 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.

Spray foam stays in place and does not settle ensuring total continual performance. Other than the fact that it s an insulator cellulose can also reduce the noise heard between rooms. Cellulose insulation may be less expensive than foam but in a dense pack installation it has two drawbacks philadelphia based builder postgreen homes has found. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass.

If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. Pro noise reduction. Radiant barrier sheathing is inexpensive and reflects thermal radiation to keep attic spaces cool.