I put denim insulation in my attic about 5 years ago—mostly to avoid that itchy pink stuff you're talking about. Haven't noticed any major drop-off in comfort or insulation yet, but honestly, who climbs up there regularly to measure R-values...?
Denim insulation's a good call—had a buddy who did that maybe 7 or 8 years back, and he's still happy. Couple things he mentioned to me though:
- Denim tends to settle a bit more than fiberglass over time, so you might lose some thickness eventually—but probably not enough to notice indoors.
- He also said rodents seemed less interested in nesting in denim compared to fiberglass (no idea why, but that's a plus).
- If you're ever curious about your insulation performance without climbing up there, you could try one of those cheap infrared thermometers on cold nights. Just point it at the ceiling and see if there's any major temp difference from room to room.
Honestly though, if you're comfortable inside and your energy bills aren't creeping up noticeably, I wouldn't worry much about exact R-values either. Sounds like you're doing just fine...
Denim insulation sounds like a solid choice—definitely better than dealing with that itchy pink stuff. I worked on a project a few years back where we swapped fiberglass for denim, and the homeowners were thrilled. They said it made the attic feel less "industrial" and more comfortable overall.
One thing I noticed was how much quieter their house felt afterward. Denim seems to dampen sound better than fiberglass, which is a nice bonus if you're sensitive to noise. And yeah, rodents didn't seem interested at all—maybe it's the lack of scratchy fibers?
Honestly, don't stress too much about minor settling or exact R-values. Comfort is key, and if your home's cozy and your bills aren't skyrocketing, you're already winning. Plus, there's something oddly satisfying about knowing your old jeans are keeping you warm at night...
Denim's great stuff—just make sure you cut it with a sharp blade, or you'll feel like you're wrestling with a stubborn pair of jeans all day. Learned that the hard way... But yeah, way better than fiberglass itch!
Denim insulation definitely has its merits, especially in avoiding the dreaded fiberglass itch, but it's not without drawbacks. From my experience, it can absorb moisture more readily than traditional options, potentially leading to mold issues down the line if your attic isn't properly ventilated. I'd suggest considering rock wool as an alternative—less itchy than fiberglass and handles moisture better than denim. Just something to think about before you commit fully...
