I haven't personally done the cellulose thing yet, but your experience is making me seriously consider it. Right now, I'm stuck with fiberglass batts and yeah...the itchiness is no joke. Even with gloves and long sleeves, I swear I still feel itchy hours later.
One thing I'm curious about though—how much of a hassle was the actual installation process? I've heard mixed things about renting the blower and dealing with all that dust you mentioned. Did you DIY it or hire someone? I'm pretty handy around the house, but insulation is one of those things that always seems straightforward until you're knee-deep in it, regretting your life choices.
Also, did you notice any settling issues over time? I've read a few posts elsewhere mentioning cellulose can compact a bit after a couple years, potentially reducing its effectiveness. Not sure if that's just internet paranoia or something legit to watch out for.
Energy bill-wise, I can't speak from personal experience yet (still stuck in itchy pink nightmare land), but my neighbor switched to cellulose last winter and swears his heating bills dropped noticeably. Could be anecdotal, but he seemed pretty convinced.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience—it's reassuring to hear from someone who's actually made the switch and survived to tell the tale. Makes me feel like maybe it's worth tackling sooner rather than later...
I switched from fiberglass to cellulose about three years ago, and honestly, it was one of those DIY adventures that started off feeling like a brilliant idea and ended up with me covered head-to-toe in dust, questioning my sanity. Renting the blower wasn't too bad—just make sure you test it out at the store before hauling it home. I made the rookie mistake of not checking mine first, and of course, it jammed halfway through. Cue me frantically googling troubleshooting tips while knee-deep in fluff.
Dust-wise, yeah, it's messy. Definitely wear a good respirator and goggles (trust me on this one—cellulose dust in your eyes is no joke). But even with all that hassle, I'd still take cellulose dust over fiberglass itch any day. At least the dust washes off easily and doesn't haunt you for days afterward.
As for settling, I did notice a bit after the first year or so. Nothing drastic—maybe an inch or two at most—but enough that I topped it off again last fall just to be safe. From what I've read and experienced myself, some settling is normal but shouldn't significantly impact your insulation's effectiveness if you initially blow in enough depth.
Energy savings? Well...my bills did drop noticeably after switching, but I also sealed up some air leaks around the same time, so it's hard to say exactly how much credit goes to cellulose alone. Still, my house feels warmer in winter and cooler in summer overall, so I'm happy either way.
Bottom line: If you're handy (and patient), DIY cellulose installation is totally doable. Just mentally prepare yourself for a dusty weekend adventure—and maybe bribe a friend with pizza to help out. Worst-case scenario, you'll have a funny story to share later about how you spent your weekend wrestling with insulation fluff instead of relaxing on the couch.
"Definitely wear a good respirator and goggles (trust me on this one—cellulose dust in your eyes is no joke)."
Wish I'd read this thread before tackling my attic last summer. I went the fiberglass route because it seemed straightforward, but man, that itch is something else. Even with long sleeves and gloves, I was scratching for days afterward. I remember standing in the shower thinking, "Is this ever gonna stop?"
Your cellulose experience sounds messy but honestly preferable to the fiberglass nightmare I had. Good tip about testing the blower first—I probably would've skipped that step too. Might consider topping off with cellulose next year if I notice any settling. Glad to hear your energy bills improved, even if it's hard to pinpoint exactly why. Either way, anything beats another weekend of fiberglass itchiness...
Fiberglass itch is definitely its own special kind of torture. I tackled my attic insulation a couple years back and went fiberglass too, mostly because it seemed cheaper and easier to handle at the time. Big mistake. Even with full sleeves, gloves, and a mask, I swear those tiny fibers found their way into every pore. Took me days to feel normal again—felt like I'd rolled around in poison ivy or something.
I've heard mixed things about cellulose though. A buddy of mine used it and said the dust was brutal, even with goggles and a respirator. He said he spent more time cleaning up afterward than actually blowing the stuff in. Plus, apparently if you don't get the moisture levels right, cellulose can settle or compact over time, losing some of its insulating value. Not sure how common that really is, but it's something to think about before you dive in.
That said, fiberglass isn't exactly perfect either. I noticed some settling after just a year or two, especially near the edges where airflow might've pushed it around a bit. I've been tempted to top off with cellulose myself just to see if it makes any noticeable difference in comfort or energy bills. But honestly, after my last attic adventure, I'm not exactly eager to climb back up there anytime soon...
Either way, sounds like there's no perfect solution here—just different flavors of messy and uncomfortable. Maybe spray foam is the real answer? But then again, that's a whole other can of worms (and cost).
Man, I feel your pain on the fiberglass itch—been there, done that, and never again. Honestly though, cellulose isn't as bad as your buddy made it sound. Yeah, it's dusty, but if you prep right and seal off the area beforehand, cleanup isn't terrible. I topped off my fiberglass with cellulose last year and noticed a real difference in comfort. Spray foam sounds great until you see the price tag...but hey, comfort ain't cheap, right?
