Spray Foam Attic Insulation Vs Fiberglass
Fiberglass insulation vs spray foam insulation comparison.
Spray foam attic insulation vs fiberglass. Properly mixing and applying spray foam insulation requires substantial expertise and can only be done by trained professionals. And you also know that properly insulating a home helps homeowners save money and makes houses more comfortable. Open cell spray foam insulation can expand up to 100 times its original size to fill every nook and cranny in the cavity where it is applied. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass.
I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. Spray foam provides the highest r value while open cell spray foam has about an r value of 2 2 to 3 5 per inch closed cell spray foam has about 6 7 per inch. Few construction topics bore homebuyers more than insulation. For instance a 5 5 inch wall cavity can be filled with 2 inches of foam and an r 13 fiberglass batt as a cost effective system that seals the walls with an r 25 insulation system exceeding u s.
Spray foam attic insulation pros and cons. Average cost of spray foam vs fiberglass insulation one board foot 12 x 12 x 1 of open cell foam insulation averages 0 45 to 0 80 cents the same amount of closed cell insulation costs between 1 and 2 a square foot of fiberglass costs between 1 30 and 3 50 on average fiberglass batts cost between 0 65 and 1 20 while a square foot of blown in fiberglass costs between 0 50. Fiberglass cellulose and foam dominate the conversation but the. Used in roughly 85 of american homes fiberglass insulation is the most common form of home insulation.
The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost. Synergy home performance explains the differences between traditional fiberglass and spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation is an air barrier material that creates a seal against air movement. Spray foam insulation for both types starts at about 1 50 per square foot and can cost more than 5 00 per square foot when a thick application is applied.
If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. Spray foam insulation drawbacks it is the most expensive option with costs running as high as two or three times as much as fiberglass batts or cellulose loose fill. Spray foam insulation the foam usually polyurethane is sprayed to fill cracks and gaps in the attic to form a hermetically sealed barrier. Building pros of course know better.