Safest Kind Of Attic Insulation

Insulation is a touchy subject in green building.

Safest kind of attic insulation.

The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost. As an insulator it provides ample heat resistance. Blown in cellulose is an excellent option for an attic because it will fill all the joist spaces completely with very few air gaps. It is also very easy to install a higher thickness for greater r value.

Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. Finding insulation that s safe having a child with chemical sensitivities complicates the search for the right insulation and the right insulation contractor. Its r value of 5 to 6 per inch of.

Polyurethane foam polyurethane a durable polymer with numerous uses is made into a foam for home insulation. Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material. Use hardware cloth metal flashing or scrap plywood to create a safety gap of at least 3 inches all around fixtures. Cellulose insulation is a perfectly safe type of insulation that is commonly blown into attics.

With that said moisture should not be an issue in either of those places assuming everything else was done properly. Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. Loose cellulose is made of 85 percent recycled material mostly ground up newspaper. Weighing the health implications of various types of insulation is uppermost in the mind of a michigan woman looking out for her.

This type of insulation. Unless you re using mineral wool insulation or your fixtures are rated safe for contact with any type of insulation don t allow the material to touch or cover recessed cans or lights from the floor below it s a fire hazard. I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. This is the only product that can be used where moisture might be an issue.

Many designers just want the best r value and. The best hands down is closed cell foam which has a higher r value per inch air seals and prevents moisture transfer. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass. It also comes in batt and blanket forms.