I hear ya on the fiberglass itch—my arms still twitch just thinking about crawling around in that pink mess. Did my attic insulation last summer as a new homeowner, and let me say, it was definitely an education. Here's my take after way too many hours spent researching (and scratching):
- Fiberglass: Yeah, it's cheap and easy to find, but the itch factor alone almost made me regret DIYing. Long sleeves, gloves, masks...nothing seemed enough. I swear I felt itchy for days afterward, even after multiple showers.
- Cellulose: I actually went with cellulose after reading a ton of forums, and I agree—it's not nearly as bad as some folks make it sound. Dusty? Yep. But sealing off the attic hatch and covering vents beforehand made cleanup manageable. It settles nicely too, filling small gaps better than fiberglass batts. Plus, it's eco-friendly (if that's your thing).
- Spray foam: Man, spray foam was tempting. The insulation geek in me drooled over the air-sealing benefits, but my wallet practically jumped out of my pocket and ran away screaming when I saw the quotes. Seriously, how do people afford that stuff without selling a kidney?
One thing I'd add from my own experience—make sure you check your attic ventilation before sealing everything up tight. I almost made the mistake of over-insulating without proper airflow, which can lead to moisture issues down the road. Luckily caught it in time.
At the end of the day, comfort matters a lot, but it's gotta balance out with budget and practicality. For me, cellulose hit that sweet spot pretty well. Good luck with whatever you decide...and stock up on calamine lotion if you stick with fiberglass, trust me.
"Seriously, how do people afford that stuff without selling a kidney?"
Haha, I feel this. Spray foam quotes are wild. But honestly, if you're looking for something that's eco-friendly and won't break the bank, cellulose is definitely the way to go. Did my attic about three years ago with blown-in cellulose, and it's held up great—no weird settling or gaps yet. One thing I'd add though: make sure you double-check your soffit vents before blowing it in. I almost blocked mine off accidentally, which would've caused some nasty moisture buildup.
Also, for anyone still dealing with fiberglass itchiness, baby powder helps a ton. Learned that trick from an old contractor buddy—dust yourself down before suiting up and again after you're done. Sounds weird, but it really cuts down on the itch factor.
Totally agree on cellulose being the smarter choice—spray foam prices are borderline ridiculous these days. Another tip: if you're DIY-ing blown-in cellulose, rent the machine from a big-box store. Usually, they'll throw in the rental free if you buy enough insulation bags. Saved me a decent chunk of change last summer. And yeah, baby powder trick is legit...wish I'd known that before spending days scratching myself raw after my first fiberglass job.
"Usually, they'll throw in the rental free if you buy enough insulation bags."
Good tip on the free rental—I did the same last fall when insulating my garage attic. A couple extra points:
- Make sure you have a helper feeding the machine; solo can be a headache with frequent clogs.
- Wear a decent respirator, not just a dust mask. Cellulose is safer than fiberglass, but still dusty as hell.
- Double-check your attic ventilation beforehand. Seen too many DIYers accidentally block soffit vents and end up with moisture issues later.
Definitely beats dealing with itchy fiberglass for days...
Good points overall, but is cellulose really that much better than fiberglass? I've used both, and honestly, cellulose can be a pain if you ever have to do repairs or wiring later on—stuff gets everywhere. Fiberglass batts might be itchy, but at least they're easy to move aside temporarily. Ever tried fishing wires through blown-in insulation? Not fun... Curious if anyone else finds fiberglass easier for future maintenance.
