"Honestly, seems like it comes down to how well it's installed and your tolerance for potential messiness or settling down the road..."
Yeah, I think you're spot on with that. I've seen cellulose done really well, and I've also seen some pretty sketchy installs. My neighbor had cellulose blown into his attic about eight years ago, and he swears by it—says his heating bills dropped noticeably and it's still holding up fine. But then again, he was super picky about who did the job and made sure they packed it in properly.
On the flip side, my cousin had cellulose put in by a less experienced crew, and after a few years he noticed some settling and uneven spots. He ended up having to go back up there himself to fluff it up and add more insulation. Not exactly a fun weekend project...
I went with spray foam myself, mostly because I wanted something low-maintenance and airtight. But lately I've been reading more about the environmental impact of spray foam—especially the blowing agents used—and it's got me second-guessing my choice a bit. Cellulose seems way greener since it's mostly recycled paper, but then there's that whole settling issue again.
One thing I'm curious about though—has anyone here tried dense-pack cellulose instead of loose-fill? I've heard dense-pack doesn't settle nearly as much because it's installed under pressure. Wondering if that's true or just marketing hype...
One thing I'm curious about though—has anyone here tried dense-pack cellulose instead of loose-fill?
I've been wondering about dense-pack cellulose myself. A friend had it installed in his walls a few years back, and he says it's held up great—no noticeable settling issues yet. Might be worth looking into if you're leaning that way...
Dense-pack cellulose is definitely a solid choice, especially if you're tired of dealing with itchy fiberglass. A couple things to keep in mind though:
- Dense-pack cellulose typically has better air-sealing properties compared to loose-fill. That means fewer drafts, which can really help comfort-wise and with energy bills.
- It also tends to perform better over time since it's packed tightly enough to minimize settling. I've seen installations from 10+ years ago that still look great.
- One minor downside: installation can be trickier, especially in tight attic spaces. You'll probably want an experienced installer who knows how to get the density right—too loose and you lose some of the benefits; too dense and you risk bowing drywall or other surfaces.
- Also, make sure your attic ventilation is properly set up before switching insulation types. Cellulose handles moisture differently than fiberglass, so ventilation becomes even more important.
I switched to dense-pack cellulose about five years ago, and honestly, I wouldn't go back. The attic feels noticeably less drafty, and my heating bills dropped a bit too. Worth considering if you're already leaning in that direction...
"Dense-pack cellulose typically has better air-sealing properties compared to loose-fill. That means fewer drafts, which can really help comfort-wise and with energy bills."
Couldn't agree more on this. I've recommended dense-pack cellulose to several clients over the years, and the feedback has always been positive. The key really is finding someone who knows what they're doing—seen a few DIY attempts go sideways. But once it's done right, it's a huge improvement over fiberglass...and no more itchy weekends spent crawling around up there.
I've been looking into dense-pack cellulose myself, and while I agree it's probably better than fiberglass (seriously, who wants to deal with that itchy mess?), I'm still weighing the cost-benefit. From what I've seen, dense-pack cellulose installation can be pricier upfront, especially if you're hiring someone experienced to do it right. But then again, if it cuts down on drafts and energy bills long-term, maybe it's worth the initial hit?
I did some rough math based on my current heating bills and estimated savings from improved insulation. Looks like it could pay for itself in a few years...but that's assuming energy prices stay stable (which they never seem to). Also heard some mixed things about moisture control—anyone had issues with humidity or mold after switching over? Would hate to solve one problem just to create another.
Still leaning toward cellulose overall, but definitely want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything important before pulling the trigger.
