Spray foam’s definitely cleaner, but I always hesitate because of the off-gassing and long-term flexibility issues. Mineral wool is a solid compromise—still a bit itchy, but at least you’re not picking glass shards out of your scalp for days. Hang in there... attic work is no joke.
Mineral wool is a solid compromise—still a bit itchy, but at least you’re not picking glass shards out of your scalp for days.
Funny you mention that—one time we were retrofitting an old bungalow and the previous owner had gone DIY with the pink stuff. I swear, two weeks later I was still finding bits in my hair. That said, I’m always a little wary of spray foam too... had a client call me back because it started pulling away from the rafters after a couple seasons. Mineral wool’s not perfect, but at least it behaves itself over time. Attic work really does separate the hobbyists from the gluttons for punishment.
Attic work really does separate the hobbyists from the gluttons for punishment.
That’s the truth. When we moved in, I thought “how bad could it be?”—then I spent an afternoon crawling around up there with the pink stuff and regretted every minute. Ended up wearing a hoodie with the hood tied tight, but still got itchy everywhere. If I ever have to redo it, mineral wool’s sounding better, even if it’s not perfect. Anyone else try layering different types, or is that just asking for trouble?
Dealing With Itchy Pink Nightmare In My Attic
Ended up wearing a hoodie with the hood tied tight, but still got itchy everywhere.
Been there, and honestly, I think mineral wool gets hyped up a bit. It's easier on the skin, sure, but it’s still messy and not exactly pleasant to work with. As for layering—I've mixed blown-in cellulose over old fiberglass and it actually helped with drafts and itch factor. Just gotta watch for moisture issues and make sure you’re not trapping anything up there. It’s not always “asking for trouble,” but you do have to be careful about ventilation and vapor barriers. Sometimes the simple route (rip out, start fresh) is less headache in the long run, even if it’s more work up front.
DEALING WITH ITCHY PINK NIGHTMARE IN MY ATTIC
That pink stuff is like glitter—once it’s on you, it’s everywhere. I once spent a whole Saturday crawling around in an attic with what I thought was a foolproof “full coverage” outfit. Spoiler: I was still scratching for days.
I get what you’re saying about mineral wool. It’s got a reputation for being the “gentler” option, but honestly, I’ve found it still manages to sneak down your sleeves and into your socks if you’re not careful. The cellulose-over-fiberglass trick is interesting—I’ve seen people do that, and it can work, but yeah, moisture is the wildcard. Had a client who ended up with a musty attic because the old vapor barrier was basically just wishful thinking at that point.
Sometimes ripping everything out feels extreme, but after you’ve spent enough time fighting with insulation that seems determined to make you itch for eternity, starting fresh doesn’t sound half bad. That said, I’m always curious if anyone’s found a way to make the process less miserable… aside from hiring someone else to do it, of course.
