Pros and Cons for both Edith. Not sure anyone can rate the two without knowing what type of structure it would be chosen for. Allowing a house to "breathe" is usually done through eves, gable vents/louvers or ridge-vents. By spray-in I'll guess you mean the "blown-in" bags of shredded paper looking stuff applied with a hose from a hopper. Pros are, less time consuming and ability to easily reach tight spaces and skin contact does not itch so badly! Batt is pretty inexpensive but the
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opposite of the other pros! I would cover or mark any "need to know" wires and protrusions for future location/identification and rule of thumb is to not blow over rafter thickness. I wish you luck, and watch your footing. JL
Depends on a few things. Do you mean Foam or blow in insulation such as cellulose or loose fill fiberglass?
Foam insulation is the best by far. And as you can guess its the most expensive. It does have the best R value per inch and offers the great moisture resistance as well.
Fiberglass blown in is also a good product for the DIY person. its easy to install, but you
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need two people to do it, and you need a pretty thick layer in the ceiling to achieve good R values. It settles down fairly fast so you must install more then you think your going to need so the "R" value stays intact.
Cellulose is also a good insulating product. Its heavier then fiberglass but installs the same way. Two people to use the equipment to install. It also must be fairly thick to achieve R values but less is needed then fiberglass to get the same values.
Dens-pack Cellulose is not a DIY install but it offers the best on retrofits and doing walls and enclosed ceilings. Dens-Packing installs three pounds per square foot of the insulation in the cavities of the home. This flattens out any old insulation and can provide good R values and offers good air sealing properties. The equipment needed to install this is different then the stuff you would rent at a rental center. While the insulation remains the same, the insulation pump can push the insulation into the cavities at a much greater pressure then the one you rent.
Regardless of what you use, you must remember that you need to be careful not to cover over open electrical boxes, ceiling lights and come into direct contact with any chimney or flue pipe when installing it. It is suggested in the attic area that air sealing be performed prior to blowing it in so that wind washing does not occur which lowers the insulation quality to prevent heat loss.
Just to clarify something - it is closed cell spray foam that is superior. The open celled like Icynene lacks most of the advantages of closed cell foams
Foam insulation is the best by far. And as you can guess its the most expensive. It does have the best R value per inch and offers the great moisture resistance as well.
Fiberglass blown in is also a good product for the DIY person. its easy to install, but you ...»
Cellulose is also a good insulating product. Its heavier then fiberglass but installs the same way. Two people to use the equipment to install. It also must be fairly thick to achieve R values but less is needed then fiberglass to get the same values.
Dens-pack Cellulose is not a DIY install but it offers the best on retrofits and doing walls and enclosed ceilings. Dens-Packing installs three pounds per square foot of the insulation in the cavities of the home. This flattens out any old insulation and can provide good R values and offers good air sealing properties. The equipment needed to install this is different then the stuff you would rent at a rental center. While the insulation remains the same, the insulation pump can push the insulation into the cavities at a much greater pressure then the one you rent.
Regardless of what you use, you must remember that you need to be careful not to cover over open electrical boxes, ceiling lights and come into direct contact with any chimney or flue pipe when installing it. It is suggested in the attic area that air sealing be performed prior to blowing it in so that wind washing does not occur which lowers the insulation quality to prevent heat loss.