Consider Cellulose Blown Attic Insulation
Consider Cellulose Blown Attic Insulation
If you are planning to add more insulation in your attic and do the work yourself, cellulose blown attic insulation is a good option to consider for several reasons.
For starters, it's a wonderful green option. Most cellulose fiber blown insulation is made from re-cycled material, so you will be doing the environment a favor by using it. The agent that's used is actually polyurethane spray foam, and it does not poison either the air or the earth.
It's also user friendly. Fiber glass batting installation can be difficult for the first time do-it-yourselfer. The batting installer has to squeeze himself into tight places where the roof gets close to the ceiling or where there are overhangs. With blown insulation, you stand back and aim your hose into the tight places with no need to crawl into them yourself. If cutting and measuring is not your long suit, you will love blown insulation when it comes to obstacles in your attic.
Those air conditioning ducts, pipes, and wires where you would have to cut and fit with fiber glass matting present no problem at all to blown in insulation. You may have to move to the side to get complete coverage behind the obstacle, but that’s it.
Perhaps the friendliest aspect of cellulose fiber is comfort. The comfort of the installer is preserved when installing cellulose fiber. Fiber glass can cut your skin and irritate your eyes, so a lot of personal protective equipment is necessary. You wind up wearing heavy clothing in an attempt to keep the fiber glass away from your skin and you still wind up itching. And, since most people add insulation in warm weather, the extra clothing in the confined space of the attic makes for a hot sweaty job which aggravates the fiber glass induced itching. With cellulose fiber, you will need goggles and breathing protection, but other than that, you may wear loose comfortable clothing without exposing your skin to any irritants.
Blown attic insulation, as with rigid foam insulation, can be installed by a novice and requires a very short learning curve. The equipment is simple to operate and can be rented from many of the retailers who sell the insulating material. After a little practice, you can be shooting insulation like a pro. Also, with a little research, you can find websites that offer instructions and helpful information on installing blown insulation yourself.
As with any home project, the assistance of a friend would be invaluable should you decide to undertake a blown insulation project. There can be significant savings in time and energy if one person is on the ground to feed material into the blower and clear clogs while another is in the attic spraying insulation.
Blown attic insulation is friendly to the environment, friendly to the DIY installer, and friendly to your budget. It's definitely worth investigating as a cost-cutting feature for your home.
