I get the frustration. Pink fiberglass is just... archaic at this point, but it's everywhere because it's cheap and does the job. From a building perspective, I always wonder why more people don't consider alternatives like blown-in cellulose or even spray foam—yeah, they're pricier, but the comfort difference is night and day. The Tyvek suit thing is a necessary evil, but if you can swing it, investing in better attic ventilation before you start can make a world of difference. Not perfect, but at least you won't feel like you're cooking yourself while getting itchy at the same time.
Yeah, pink stuff is everywhere, but I’m not totally sold on cellulose either. Had a buddy who went that route and ended up with a squirrel hotel in his attic—apparently they love the stuff. Spray foam does seem nice, but that price tag... yeesh. I just try to get in and out of the attic as fast as possible and shower right after. Not glamorous, but it works.
I hear you on the cellulose—rodents do seem to love nesting in it if there are any gaps or easy access points. That said, I’ve seen some pretty effective results when folks combine dense-pack cellulose with solid air sealing, but it’s definitely not a set-it-and-forget-it option. Pink fiberglass is a hassle, no doubt. If spray foam’s out of budget, maybe look into mineral wool? It’s less itchy, doesn’t attract critters, and handles moisture better than fiberglass. Not cheap, but sometimes you can find deals at local supply yards. Just a thought...
Mineral wool’s a solid suggestion, especially if you’re worried about critters and moisture. I’ve seen it hold up better than fiberglass in a few tricky attic retrofits. One thing to watch—sometimes it’s a bit denser than folks expect, so make sure your joists can handle the extra weight if you’re doing a full fill. Did you already try sealing up the obvious gaps before insulating? Sometimes just tracking down those little air leaks can make a bigger difference than the insulation type itself. It’s a pain, but worth it in the long run.
If you’re aiming for max efficiency, air sealing before insulation is honestly underrated. I get the hype around mineral wool, but if you skip the air leaks, you’re kinda just throwing money at the problem. Learned that the hard way in my old place—drafts everywhere, insulation barely mattered till I sealed stuff up.
