Yeah, fiberglass is definitely itchy misery, but cellulose dust is its own special brand of awful. Helped a buddy insulate his attic with fiberglass bats once—felt like I rolled around in poison ivy for days after. Learned my lesson real quick:
- Long sleeves and gloves are your best friends.
- Shower immediately after, cold water first (hot water opens pores...trust me on this).
- A decent respirator mask makes a huge difference—those cheap paper ones barely do anything.
Honestly though, if budget allows, spray foam insulation is the way to go. Had it done in my place last year—zero itch, no dust clouds, and the attic stays cooler in summer. Costs more upfront, but worth every penny if you ask me.
Fiberglass insulation really is a special kind of torture, isn't it? Ever tried taping your sleeves and pant legs shut at the wrists and ankles? Sounds goofy, but it saved me from days of itching misery last time I tackled my attic. Totally agree on the respirator too—those cheap masks are practically decoration. Curious though, did you notice a big difference in your energy bills after switching to spray foam? Been considering it myself...
Fiberglass really can be brutal—you're spot on about taping your sleeves and ankles. It might look silly, but whatever works, right? I've had my share of attic battles, and honestly, spray foam was a game-changer for me. I was skeptical initially because of the upfront cost, but the difference in comfort alone was worth it. No more drafts, fewer temperature swings, and yeah, energy bills dropped noticeably, especially in peak winter and summer months.
That said, keep in mind spray foam isn't always a perfect fit for every house. Ventilation matters a lot—if your attic isn't properly vented, you might run into moisture issues down the line. But if it's done right and installed professionally, the improvements in efficiency and comfort are hard to beat. I'd say go for it if you're tired of wrestling with itchy pink fluff every few years...
Great points about spray foam, but just to toss in another angle from my own attic adventures:
- Fiberglass is definitely itchy torture, no argument there. I once forgot gloves and regretted it for days...lesson learned the hard way.
- Spray foam is awesome for sealing drafts, but like you said, ventilation is key. My neighbor went all-in on spray foam without checking airflow first, and ended up with moisture buildup and mold issues. Not fun.
- Personally, I went with blown-in cellulose insulation a few years back. It's eco-friendly (made from recycled paper), less itchy, and pretty affordable. Plus, it settled nicely into all the weird corners and gaps in my old attic.
- Energy bills dropped noticeably too—maybe not as dramatically as spray foam—but still enough to make me smile when the utility bill arrives.
Bottom line, there's more than one way to beat the itchy pink nightmare. Just make sure whatever you choose fits your attic's quirks and your budget. Good luck!
Good perspective on cellulose—I considered it myself, but ended up sticking with fiberglass batts (yeah, itchy torture indeed). Question though: did you notice any settling or compaction issues with the blown-in cellulose over time?
Reason I'm asking is, my brother-in-law had cellulose blown in about 6 years back. At first he was thrilled, said it was way less itchy and he liked the eco-friendly angle too. But after a few winters, he noticed his heating bills creeping up again. When he checked the attic, it looked like the cellulose had settled quite a bit—especially around the edges and corners. He ended up topping it off again, but now he's worried he'll have to keep doing that every few years.
On my end, fiberglass has held up pretty well despite being a pain to install. But I definitely envy that lower itch factor you mentioned...my arms were red and itchy for days even with long sleeves and gloves. Not fun at all.
Also curious about the moisture issue your neighbor had with spray foam—did they completely seal off all attic ventilation? I've heard mixed things about whether spray foam should be used in attics without proper venting. Some contractors swear by sealing everything tight, others insist it's a recipe for mold disaster. Makes me wonder if there's a middle ground or if it's just dependent on climate and house construction.
Anyway, seems like every insulation type has its pros and cons...and probably no perfect solution for everyone. Just gotta pick your poison I guess...
