Fiberglass Insulation Pros and Cons
Fiber Glass is a versatile and widely used material in various industries. This lightweight and durable material helps to regulate temperature, improve energy efficiency, and enhance overall comfort. Whether you're looking to upgrade your insulation or undertake a new construction project, Fiber Glass is a reliable choice that offers long-lasting performance.
Fiberglass Pros
A few of the advantages the insulation offers include the following:
• Easy installation: The rolls or batts are manufactured to comply with standard joist width builders use for walls and floors. As a result, they are very easy to unroll inside the joists.
• Moisture resistant: One important way insulation must perform is resisting moisture that may penetrate through the roof or humidity in the air. Fiberglass products do a great job of resisting moisture, so builders often choose to use it in higher-humidity regions. Because it can resist moisture, it is less prone to mold growth, which some other insulations are known for.
• Non-computability: The material is noncombustible, or fire resistant, which is important for a material installed next to the home’s wood structure and for general household safety.
• Easy installation: The rolls or batts are manufactured to comply with standard joist width builders use for walls and floors. As a result, they are very easy to unroll inside the joists.
• Moisture resistant: One important way insulation must perform is resisting moisture that may penetrate through the roof or humidity in the air. Fiberglass products do a great job of resisting moisture, so builders often choose to use it in higher-humidity regions. Because it can resist moisture, it is less prone to mold growth, which some other insulations are known for.
• Non-computability: The material is noncombustible, or fire resistant, which is important for a material installed next to the home’s wood structure and for general household safety.
Fiberglass Cons
In spite of its advantages, homeowners should also consider its downfalls:
• Improper insulation reduces efficiency: Even though it’s easy to install, the insulation’s performance can decrease dramatically if it’s not installed properly. Gaps in the layers of insulation can drive down performance, as the gaps allow heat movement in between the insulation.
• A lower efficiency overall: Comparatively speaking, fiberglass products don’t rate as high as some other insulations in terms of resistance (or R-value) per inch. In addition, when temperatures fall, the product loses performance value.
• Energy hogging: To produce the insulation, manufacturers have to use a lot of energy, and the process releases a good deal of air pollution compared to other manufacturing processes for insulation types.
• Improper insulation reduces efficiency: Even though it’s easy to install, the insulation’s performance can decrease dramatically if it’s not installed properly. Gaps in the layers of insulation can drive down performance, as the gaps allow heat movement in between the insulation.
• A lower efficiency overall: Comparatively speaking, fiberglass products don’t rate as high as some other insulations in terms of resistance (or R-value) per inch. In addition, when temperatures fall, the product loses performance value.
• Energy hogging: To produce the insulation, manufacturers have to use a lot of energy, and the process releases a good deal of air pollution compared to other manufacturing processes for insulation types.
Cost of Fiberglass Insulation
The average cost of fiberglass insulation typically ranges from $1.90 to $2.40 per square foot. To insulate an attic to R-49 over an area of 1,000 square feet, homeowners generally spend around $2,700, which includes both materials and labor.
If one insulation material turns out to be less expensive than another, the price difference can range from negligible to dramatic. That’s where Green Attic comes in. Our free inspection is designed to provide a clear plan for addressing your needs.
We guide you through all your options and help develop a solution that you’re comfortable with and that meets your needs.
If one insulation material turns out to be less expensive than another, the price difference can range from negligible to dramatic. That’s where Green Attic comes in. Our free inspection is designed to provide a clear plan for addressing your needs.
We guide you through all your options and help develop a solution that you’re comfortable with and that meets your needs.
Why Hire an Insulation Company?
Whether you choose fiberglass or cellulose, your insulation will only block the movement of heat. It won’t block the movement of air – and that matters. In a typical home, air infiltration is endemic.
Outdoor air is constantly entering your home through gaps and cracks in the building envelope. At the same time, conditioned air is leaking out. Due to the stack effect, most of this leakage occurs at the top and bottom of your home – your attic and crawlspace.
Sure, there’s insulation in your attic and crawlspace. But there’s probably nothing to prevent air from moving past plumbing, air duct, and electrical penetrations. Or attic staircase hatches. Or whole house fans.
Outdoor air is constantly entering your home through gaps and cracks in the building envelope. At the same time, conditioned air is leaking out. Due to the stack effect, most of this leakage occurs at the top and bottom of your home – your attic and crawlspace.
Sure, there’s insulation in your attic and crawlspace. But there’s probably nothing to prevent air from moving past plumbing, air duct, and electrical penetrations. Or attic staircase hatches. Or whole house fans.
In spite of all their benefits, neither fiberglass nor cellulose insulation provides an adequate air seal. While some research suggests that cellulose resists and/or blocks air movement more effectively than fiberglass, these materials are and should only be installed to reduce the passage of heat – not the passage of air.
Only foam insulation and certain caulks can block air movement in a way that truly improves comfort and boosts energy efficiency. Any time you’re thinking about adding insulation to improve your home’s thermal performance, consider air sealing as part of the same project.
Have your insulation contractor seal all visible gaps and cracks inside the space you’re planning to insulate. You’ll improve the overall performance of the new insulation you’re buying.
Only foam insulation and certain caulks can block air movement in a way that truly improves comfort and boosts energy efficiency. Any time you’re thinking about adding insulation to improve your home’s thermal performance, consider air sealing as part of the same project.
Have your insulation contractor seal all visible gaps and cracks inside the space you’re planning to insulate. You’ll improve the overall performance of the new insulation you’re buying.
Green Attic Insulation Customer Reviews
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8 days ago
Romuno and his team came on time and were very cordial and friendly. They discovered
an issue with some electrical work while working on the insulation, which I was surprised and happy about, and were able to rectify the situation easily and at a great value, considering the timing of the project, etc. Romuno made it clear he want to ensure my satisfaction throughout the process. When finished, the job site was cleaned very well.
I highly recommend this company and all its team members and hope to do more projects in the future with them!
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8 days ago
Romulo and his teammate were so fast and clean at insulating and repairing our damaged
ceiling due to a roof leak. Again it was easy to engage green Attic as a return customer because I felt well treated with their work when they first insulated and managed.to transform our cold home. Great job!
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22 days ago
Fantastic work. No nonsense, clean job site, speedy and good communication.
an issue with some electrical work while working on the insulation, which I was surprised and happy about, and were able to rectify the situation easily and at a great value, considering the timing of the project, etc. Romuno made it clear he want to ensure my satisfaction throughout the process. When finished, the job site was cleaned very well.
I highly recommend this company and all its team members and hope to do more projects in the future with them!
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1 month ago
Had our attic insulation beefed up with new blown in cellulose. Was a major improvement
immediatly after it was installed. Cut our heating needs by 3x to maintain temperature in the house.Team working on my house was friendly and professional. Team leads Romulo and Omar did a great job making sure everything was done right and everything was cleaned up after.
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2 months ago
Romulo & Alvaro did a great job installing everything. Cindy, Frank and the Green Attic team
were extremely attentive. I love how easy they made the process, everything is online even the rebates.
BONUS: I originally reached out to them to check for mold free of charge.
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2 months ago
These guys did a great job! Great price, quality service, and they offer several payment
options and plans. I thought we bought a lemon of a house and the insulation and sealing job they did fixed all of our issues and were so thrilled! Highly recommend these guys. Plus they are local so it’s great supporting a chicago based company.
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3 months ago
Highly recommend Green Attic. Scheduled to have my attic re-insulated and Romulo
and his crew did a fabulous job. The attic was in pretty bad shape prior to the work getting done and green attic made it look so good. The crew worked efficiently and got the job done in 2 days. I also asked Romulo to install a couple other things on my roof outside of the scheduled project and he very kindly and willingly did so without hesitation. Very pleased with how everything turned out. Thank you so much for a job well done! Before and after pics below.
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