Safest Kind Of Attic Insulation
The best hands down is closed cell foam which has a higher r value per inch air seals and prevents moisture transfer.
Safest kind of attic insulation. Cork is the healthiest insulation lloyd alter a new report from the nrdc has some surprises. It also comes in batt and blanket forms. By scott gibson april 11 2016. I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course.
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. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. It is also very easy to install a higher thickness for greater r value.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass. It s available in fiberglass mineral wool plastic fibers and natural fibers. Its r value of 5 to 6 per inch of.
Cellulose insulation is a perfectly safe type of insulation that is commonly blown into attics. Polyurethane foam polyurethane a durable polymer with numerous uses is made into a foam for home 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. Insulation is a touchy subject in green building.
With that said moisture should not be an issue in either of those places assuming everything else was done properly. Many designers just want the best r value and. This type of insulation. Finding insulation that s safe having a child with chemical sensitivities complicates the search for the right insulation and the right insulation contractor.
Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material. The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost. Use hardware cloth metal flashing or scrap plywood to create a safety gap of at least 3 inches all around fixtures. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.