Fiberglass or cellulose for barn walls/ceiling?

[Nnorman1]

What’s my best option I’m leaning towards cellulose but wanted to hear some thoughts before I commit.

Also do I need to do anything about the insulation bulging out of the plastic between 2x4’s? Will I have trouble putting metal on?

 

[pcmeiners]

The only negatives against fiberglass is as temperatures go lower fiberglass looses R value, and the ****** itch factor. On the other hand it can get wet and will dry out eventually. Cellulose's main benefit is it is a fire retardant and does not allow air to circulate within it, thus maintaining high R value. Fire retardant is not needed in this case but stopping air flow within still is a plus, than again cellulose does not do well with leaks, if contained with netting, it will dry but takes a long time, especially in wall cavities.

The vapor barrier may need to be removed as you will need strong netting, taught, before blowing insulation. If the installed insulation bulges out, you will not be able to Sheetrock or any other covering. If your well sealed from possible leaks cellulose is the better insulator. With strong netting and plenty of staples you might get it flat enough that Sheetrock will work with both vapor barrier and netting.
As to the ceiling, use netting, get your covering done ( Sheetrock), then just blow in a decent amount of insulation . Why netting? iF it ever gets wet from a leak you may lose you the covering but not the insulation, it will dry. If not you will lose insulation in area, especially cellulose. Again use cellulose.

You could put up Sheetrock, make multiple 3" hoses in the rock, and blow in the insulation... not a great idea.

 

[billconner]

Based on photo, I think cellulose loose on ceiling - I put in 20" and it's been great.

In the walls, it will settle. The cavity is too large to dense pack. I would go to fibre glass batts - or rockwool preferably. In your case, I'd stack them horizontally. I found the new OC Next-Gen batts surprisingly not itchy.

 

[Firebrick43]

How far apart are those girts? If you would not have put them up you could have put up pole to pole fiberglass rolls in the walls and saved a lot of work and eliminated a lot of gaps.

I would do cellulose in the ceiling no matter what.

 

[billconner]

Are there bookshelf gifts behind those interior girts?

 

[pcmeiners]

With a second look, you will not be able to pack cellulose with the wall cavity sizes you have, too much weight, even blown fiberglass would have problems with your unsupported gaps in support.

Just love fiberglass in clothes, it only takes about 10 washings to remove it. It is exceptional
if it somehow gets into bedding

 

[Nnorman1]

Are there bookshelf gifts behind those interior girts?

No there’s not

 

[billconner]

It the wall cavity between posts is all one cavity, as I surmise, I don't think dense packing is viable, thus it will settle and leave a gap at top of wall. Fiberglass batts or divide the cavity into smaller cavities with thin ply or rigid foam.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd prefer fiberglass in the walls after spray foaming the bottom edge of the wall.

I'd also prefer fiberglass in the ceiling over cellulose because I hate the stuff. However, in a large building like a post frame, I would probably do blown in cellulose due to cost. We have a place that makes it locally and can buy it direct.

 

[billconner]

If doing cellulose, get a quote for it complete. My materials and free loaner blower at a big box store we're going to cost just about what having it done cost - $1000 for 22 x 24 - 20" deep. Just saying.

 

[kj_mustang]

My 2 cents for the walls, rip the plastic down and put up fiberglass blanket insulation if you can get it easily.

 

[Nnorman1]

Are there bookshelf gifts behind those interior girts?

No

 

[pcmeiners]

For those thinking of blown insulation, Home Depot has the nerve to now charge $199 per day for a blower. As for Lowes, no charge for a day if you buy 20 bails of insulation.
On a purely profit motivation, you think Home Depot is making the correct decision? All I know is they are not getting my $2500 for blown insulation bails .

 

[Nnorman1]

Based on photo, I think cellulose loose on ceiling - I put in 20" and it's been great.

In the walls, it will settle. The cavity is too large to dense pack. I would go to fibre glass batts - or rockwool preferably. In your case, I'd stack them horizontally. I found the new OC Next-Gen batts surprisingly not itchy.

I figured I’d get in the attic and blow more on top after the metal is on, at least that’s the plan

 

[racecougar]

For those thinking of blown insulation, Home Depot has the nerve to now charge $199 per day for a blower. As for Lowes, no charge for a day if you buy 20 bails of insulation.
On a purely profit motivation, you think Home Depot is making the correct decision? All I know is they are not getting my $2500 for blown insulation bails .

It may be different at your store, but the blower rental is still free with the purchase of "x" number of bags of insulation here in MO.







EDIT: Just checked the store in Bloomsburg, PA, based on your profile. It shows the free rental as well.

 

[pcmeiners]

Interesting, 6 months ago I asked and I was told the free rental was in the past. Guess they did not sell a lot of blown insulation and changed their policy. Good to know, also the insulation prices per bundle went down.

 

[billconner]

I figured I’d get in the attic and blow more on top after the metal is on, at least that’s the plan

How many times? Until you reach a density of at least 3 pcf it will continue to settle. But maybe worst is you have to dump another bale in in a year. Not a lot of harm.