What type of insulation is used for ceilings?
There are multiple kinds of insulation that work if you are looking to insulate your ceiling.
Fiberglass Batts & Blankets
R-value: 3.0-4.0 per inch (R-13 for a 2-by-4-framed wall).
Advantages: Widely available and familiar, standard widths and thicknesses are designed to fit between studs, joists, and rafters. Paper- and foil-faced versions have stapling flanges that make installation easy.
Loose-Fill Fiberglass
R-value: 2.2–2.7 per inch.
Advantages: Lightweight enough for attic applications over ½-inch drywall ceilings with framing every 24 inches.
Open-Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam
R-value: 3.5 to 3.6 per inch.
Advantages: Stops movement of air.
Polystyrene SIPs
R-value: 5.6-7.7 per inch.
Advantages: The highest R-value per inch of any insulation with a thickness that ranges from ½ inch to 2 inches. It’s often faced with foil, which acts as a moisture barrier. Easy to install.
Rockwool Batts & Blankets
R-value: 4-5 per inch (R-15 for a 2-by-4-framed wall).
Advantages: More fire-resistant than fiberglass. Doesn’t itch. Springs into shape against studs, so installation is staple-free and quick.
Loose-Fill Cellulose
R-value: 3.2–3.8 per inch.
Advantages: Effective at all temperatures, and can even perform better as the air gets colder.
Closed-Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam
R-value: 6.0 to 6.5 per inch.
Advantages: Stops movement of moisture as well as air.