Safest Kind Of Attic Insulation

By scott gibson april 11 2016.

Safest kind of attic 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. I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary.

Cork is the healthiest insulation lloyd alter a new report from the nrdc has some surprises. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. Insulation is a touchy subject in green building. Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.

This type of insulation. Polyurethane foam polyurethane a durable polymer with numerous uses is made into a foam for home insulation. Finding insulation that s safe having a child with chemical sensitivities complicates the search for the right insulation and the right insulation contractor. As an insulator it provides ample heat resistance.

Cellulose insulation is a perfectly safe type of insulation that is commonly blown into attics. It also comes in batt and blanket forms. It is also very easy to install a higher thickness for greater r value. Many designers just want the best r value and.

Loose cellulose is made of 85 percent recycled material mostly ground up newspaper. Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material. This is the only product that can be used where moisture might be an issue. Blown in cellulose is an excellent option for an attic because it will fill all the joist spaces completely with very few air gaps.

Its r value of 5 to 6 per inch of. Use hardware cloth metal flashing or scrap plywood to create a safety gap of at least 3 inches all around fixtures. With that said moisture should not be an issue in either of those places assuming everything else was done properly. The best hands down is closed cell foam which has a higher r value per inch air seals and prevents moisture transfer.