Cellulose Insulation vs Fiberglass Insulation

Good insulation lowers energy bills by trapping heat (or cold air) inside the building. While fiberglass insulation is easier to install and more common (used about 85% of the time), cellulose insulation is often considered more energy efficient.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	Cellulose Insulation Currently 2.78/5 1 2 3 4 5 Rating: 2.8/5 (9 votes)	Fiberglass Insulation Currently 3.55/5 1 2 3 4 5 Rating: 3.5/5 (11 votes)
How it works:	Cellulose cells have natural insulating power.	Traps air inside tiny glass fibers, slowing transfer of heat.
Cost:	Around $0.40 per square foot	Around $0.40 per square foot
Air leakage:	Less	Yes
Installation:	Fibers blown into gap in wall.	Sheets placed in wall
Energy efficiency:	More efficient	Less efficient
Flammability:	No, as heavily treated with boric acid	Potentially, due to kraft paper on batts.
Extreme cold:	No difference	Loses heat quickly
R factor:	3.8 per inch	2.2 per inch

Floor insulation with blow-in recycled cellulose

1 How it works
2 Pros and Cons
3 Energy efficiency
- 3.1 R value
4 Cost
5 Installation Process
6 Soundproofing
7 See Also
8 References

edit How it works

Cellulose insulation includes cellulose cells that have natural insulating power. It is made of shredded paper plus a fire retardant chemical known as a borate. The paper is broken down into cellular fibers that provide insulation.

Fiberglass insulation contains billions of tiny glass fibers, which contain trapped bubbles of air. These air bubbles slow the transfer of heat.

edit Pros and Cons

Advantages of cellulose insulation include a high R-value i.e. higher energy efficiency, and better sound insulation. The disadvantages of cellulose include:

More expensive and requires professional installation
City and regional/state building codes may not be updated for cellulose insulation
Dust: Blown cellulose is prone to create dust that is blown into the house through minute holes or inadequate seals around fixtures. This is a health hazard.
Removal of cellulose insulation is costly.
Weight: Cellulose insulation weighs more than fiberglass for the same R-value. So building structures should be inspected for signs of weakness before choosing the insulation material.
Drying time for wet-spray: Wet-spray is used for better sealing but takes a very long time to dry. Drywall or sheet-rock cannot be applied to a newly insulated wall until then.

Fiberglass insulation is more common and can be installed more easily. However, it does not prevent air leakage and is potentially flammable. Fiberglass insulation loses heat quickly in extreme low temperatures.

In this video, a home inspector from Central Texas gives his opinion and carefully compares the two types of insulation. It's well worth watching.

edit Energy efficiency

Cellulose insulation limits air movement. A study by the University of Colorado found that cellulose insulation reduced air leakage by 38%.

Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it, meaning that more than 30% of heat or air conditioning can escape.

edit R value

A product’s r-value is its resistance to heat flow. A higher R-value prevents more heat from escaping through the insulation. Homes generally require insulation with an R-value of around 38. The R-value of cellulose insulation is approximately 3.8 per inch so you need about insulation that is about 10 inches thick to reach R-38. The R-value of fiberglass insulation is approximately 2.2 per inch so you need much thicker insulation to achieve the same R-value of 38.

edit Cost

Both cellulose insulation and fiberglass insulation are low-cost and have a similar inch-for-inch price. However, as cellulose insulation often requires professional installation and specialized skills, it usually turns out to be more expensive.

edit Installation Process

Cellulose insulation is installed using an insulation blower. The fibers flow through a long hose and are blown or sprayed into the space. The machine can densely pack the fibers, creating an even layer of insulation that fills all gaps. It is usually installed by a professional.

Fiberglass insulation usually comes in batts or rolls. In order to be completely effective, fiberglass insulation must be cut carefully around obstacles such as power sockets. This can be incredibly time consuming. If an individual is willing to settle a less effective job, fiberglass can be easily installed without professional assistance.

Here's an informative video about overcoming 3 main problems in installing a fiber glass insulation.

edit Soundproofing

Cellulose insulation is more effective at soundproofing than fiberglass insulation.

Comparison chart

Contents

edit How it works

edit Pros and Cons

edit Energy efficiency

edit R value

edit Cost

edit Installation Process

edit Soundproofing

edit See Also

edit References

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