Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.
Fiberglass insulation vs cellulose insulation for attic.
Cellulose insulation is also chemically treated to resist fire insects and mold.
It has a better resistance to air flow and prevents the upward movement of air caused by temperature differences.
Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.
This is called wind washing.
Thus creating a more energy efficient home.
Or 7 inches of cellulose.
You can get to the same place with either material.
Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing.
Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value.
Fiberglass is a suspected carcinogen.
Cellulose provides better sound insulation than fiberglass i e homes are less noisy with it.
Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass.
Many fiberglass installers fluff the fiber with extra air so you don t get as much insulation as you re supposed to.
Assuming your current attic insulation is made from fiberglass and has a value of r 13 you d have to add roughly 10 inches of additional fiberglass to hit r 38.