Mixing Cellulose Too Fiberglass Insulation
The best material for insulating a domicile should provide the highest operation. Two popular options are cellulose as well as fiberglass insulation, each alongside unique benefits only both amongst definite drawbacks. It would be helpful if mixing them means they encompass each others’ weaknesses.
Mixing insulation types is non uncommon, but the method of mixing makes a divergence.
There are issues alongside mixing cellulose in addition to fiberglass together. Layering new fiberglass or cellulose over quondam cellulose or fiberglass is a mutual do but it tin drive accelerated or uneven settling together with uneven R-values. Mixing the 2 material before installation is not worth the trouble as well as mess.
Mixing Method one
The get-go fashion that fiberglass too cellulose insulation are mixed is when one already exists in addition to the other is installed over it.
This could be sometime fiberglass batts or loose-fill up, and y'all cover it amongst new cellulose. Or possibly the cellulose was laid beginning as well as right away yous desire to boost the lost R-value by blowing fiberglass over the cellulose.
Not alone is this allowed simply it is really a really common do. You don’t accept to update your insulation amongst whatever type was offset installed.
The liberty to pick out fiberglass over cellulose or vice versa way that yous can control the additional benefits. I enjoin additional benefits because you take to install plenty of either to achieve the minimum required R-value, and so it comes downward to the bonus features.
Advantages
If you lot currently accept fiberglass insulation, y'all tin install cellulose over it inward order to do good from the greater power of cellulose to block out sounds.
This tin take peace of heed that your neighbors won’t be able to hear y'all in addition to it tin too block out the racket of traffic, nearby structure, barking dogs, etc.
Mixing the 2 insulation types is going to be a lot cheaper too time saving than if you were to remove the former insulation to supervene upon it amongst the new 1 of your selection.
Typically, fiberglass is slightly cheaper than cellulose insulation, which means that if y'all already take cellulose, you tin can height up your insulation amongst a cheaper option. In improver, if y'all accept fiberglass merely yous come up across a really adept bargain for cellulose, yous can accept reward of this special cost.
Cellulose is more than vulnerable to H2O, and then if your insulation gets moisture, you lot might be able to assort the majority of the cloth inward the layers too dry out out the fiberglass, saving a skilful chunk of your insulation together with lowering the cost of replacement.
Issues
Cellulose is denser than fiberglass, which way that per inch, it is going to be heavier.
When you lot install cellulose over fiberglass, in that location is a take a chance of accelerated settling, which way that you lot will take superlative upwardly your insulation once more sooner. However, it is more probable to be a divergence of a year or ii as opposed to halving the life of the insulation.
Blowing one type of insulation over another type of blown insulation tin can atomic number 82 to uneven settling if more cellulose ends upward over i role of the fiberglass than others.
This style of adding insulation besides way less command over the concluding R-value. Cellulose has a slightly higher inherent R-value, so if 1 function has a greater ratio of fiberglass to cellulose, yous stop up with a lower R-value inward that surface area. This can take place even when you install the right sum of insulation.
You cannot install new insulation over erstwhile insulation if at that place is a job with the old insulation, like mold.
Mixing Method two
The moment style that cellulose and fiberglass tin be mixed is to mix bags of cellulose with bags of fiberglass before installation.
I take non heard of anyone using this method. This is because, while at that place are advantages, there are more issues.
Advantages
As with the previous method, by mixing the bags together, y'all tin can cut your costs a fleck simply withal get skillful insulation and around bonus soundproofing.
Unlike the first method, nonetheless, you tin can ensure a much more fifty-fifty coverage past mixing the materials together at the first.
In addition, the result of accelerated settling is much lower because the cellulose is not layered on tiptop of the fiberglass. Instead, it is spread evenly throughout the full thickness of the insulation. This is not to order that the settling won’t fall out quicker, it simply way that it is slower together with/or less likely.
Issues
Mixing cellulose as well as fiberglass earlier installation is going to live a ho-hum together with messy task, especially if y'all are trying to get a proper ratio and distribution.
Furthermore, you lot increase your exposure to the insulation materials. While they may not live terribly dangerous, they are likewise non completely harmless.
Because cellulose is more vulnerable to wet, if your insulation gets moisture, you lot cannot isolate the beyond-assistance cellulose from the tin can-live-saved fiberglass. You accept to toss the lot or take a chance mold increment.
Sources
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/types-insulation
https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-lead-mold-moisture-too-your-domicile
https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-20972.pdf
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