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The chief gauge of the efficiency of any insulation is its R-Value. Insulation is designed to prevent the flow of heat. The more heat the insulation stops, the higher the R-Value of that insulation.

When compared to fiberglass batt insulation, spray foam insulation has a higher R-value at a given thickness. So this tells us that if we were to put 2 inches of spray foam insulation in the roof that you would have much better insulation properties than  if you installed 2 inches of fiberglass batt  insulation.

Another insulation type which is known as cellulose fill whether it is blown in or applied by hand, also has a higher R-value than fiberglass insulation of the same thickness. This still doesn't compare to the R-value of spray foam insulation though, as it is almost twice as high as the cellulose fill insulation of a comparable thickness.

R-value is truly important yes, but it is not the only factor that you want to bring into consideration when trying to choose the best insulation for your home. Moisture will cause both fiberglass batts and cellulose fill to lose R-value. Just a small amount of moisture is enough to cancel out the insulating properties of fiberglass batt and cellulose.

Neither cellulose fill or fiberglass will be able to give you the 100% caverage that you really need with your insulation The fact that heat is allowed to pass through these gaps is obvious, but these facts are not computed into the R-values of these two materials. In other words, the actual R-value of installed fiberglass batt or cellulose fill roof insulation is lower than the listed R-value.

Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

There are no adverse actions of spray foam if it gets some moisture on it. A really cool thing is that it can even prevent leaks in your home as the stuff expands to fill every gap, crack, and crevase effectively sealing your entire roof. If for some reason your home is exposed to pollutants or other harmful airborne things, your foam insulation will effectively keep it out whereas the gaps that are left behind with the fiberglass and cellulose will let it through.

The best part of spray foam insulation is the fact that it isn't really anymore expensive than your traditional insulation materials.

Read more on spray foam insulation kits

Fiberglass insulation has been the most popular insulation material for either commercial or residential projects. Its high R rating and ease of use are the biggest reasons fiberglass tops the list among the several available insulation technologies.

The term R rating is defined as the capability of a material to stop the transfer of heat; the product will function more effectively the greater its R value. Insulation with higher R values will help to keep the heat inside and save you money on your overall energy costs. Different areas of the country will have different R value requirements, and will therefore need different kinds of insulation products. You will not require a high R value insulation if you live in a warm climate. You will see the most benefit from high R value products in colder climates, as it is the most efficient insulation at curtailing heat loss.

Because it is in the “loose-fill” category, fiberglass is ”squashable” enough to fit into even the smallest space and also insulate the large areas of walls and attics. Fiberglass insulation is made using glass that has been melted and then spun into fibers. Using recycled glass for much of the raw materials makes fiberglass insulation a reliable and “green” product. This fiberglass is then packaged as either rolls (utilizing a backing paper) or loosely bagged “blow-in” insulation.

The most popular type of insulation used in residential applications is fiberglass blankets, which are most often sold in widths which fit snugly in the space between joists and between wall studs. The big, pink rolls of fiberglass insulation have become a common sight.

Blown in insulation is best for areas where accessibility is too difficult, like eaves and irregular crawl spaces. Using this type of insulation, small pieces of fiber are quickly blown into the space using specialized equipment. To help protect against settling, which could lessen its effectiveness, many of the blow-in products come with a special glue that holds all of the fiber pieces in place.

Another looming difficulty with blow-in fiberglass is the mess. If you rile up the stuff, it will wind up in places you don’t want it, like on the rugs and in your lungs and down your back. Therefore, if you plan on using your attic as a storage space, it would be best to use the pink rolls and then cover the joists with plywood. This will have the added benefit of further insulating the house. You can also box in the blow-in fiberglass, but working with the rolls is just so much easier, less time consuming, and cheaper.