I get the appeal of cellulose, especially for those quirky old houses where nothing lines up quite right. Still, I’ve seen some pretty dramatic settling in a couple of attic jobs—maybe it was just heavy-handed installers, but it left me patching spots a year later. That said, spray foam’s a nightmare if you ever want to run new wiring or plumbing... feels like you’re chiseling through concrete. At least with cellulose, you can top it up without much drama. Sometimes the “forgiving” route really is the smarter one.
spray foam’s a nightmare if you ever want to run new wiring or plumbing... feels like you’re chiseling through concrete.
Couldn’t agree more on that—had to fish a new cable through a spray-foamed rim joist last year and it was basically an archaeological dig. Cellulose is definitely more forgiving, especially in older homes where you’re bound to need access down the line.
One thing I’ve found with cellulose: if you go step-by-step—air seal first, then blow in the insulation, and finally give it a good rake to even things out—you can minimize settling. But yeah, if the installers rush or skip the prep, you’ll be topping up sooner than you’d like.
For timing, insulating an average house with cellulose (attic and walls) usually takes me two days with a helper, including prep and cleanup. Spray foam’s faster in terms of application, but the setup and cure time can drag things out, plus you’re locked in for future changes. Sometimes “forgiving” just means less headache later...
That’s reassuring to hear about the cellulose timeline. I’ve been stressing about how long this might drag out, especially since I’m juggling work and trying not to live in a construction zone for weeks. The step-by-step approach you mentioned makes sense—air sealing first seems like a pain, but I guess it’s one of those “do it right or do it twice” things.
if the installers rush or skip the prep, you’ll be topping up sooner than you’d like.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about. I keep reading stories about people having to redo their attic insulation after just a couple years because it settled so much. Did you notice much settling after your install, or was it pretty stable? I’m leaning toward cellulose for the flexibility, but part of me wonders if I’ll regret not going with spray foam for the higher R-value. The idea of being “locked in for future changes” is what’s holding me back, though... I know my house is old and there’s always something that needs fixing behind the walls.
Appreciate the real-world timing info—it helps put things in perspective.
I totally get the worry about settling—my neighbor had to add more cellulose after just a year, but mine’s been pretty stable so far (about three years in). Did you look into dense-pack cellulose at all? I heard it settles less, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the extra cost. Also, have you thought about how accessible your attic is for future repairs? That was a big factor for me since my place is old too and I always seem to be fixing something...
Dense-pack cellulose is definitely supposed to settle less, but I’ve seen mixed results in the field. Sometimes it really does stay put, other times you still get some gaps after a couple years—maybe it depends on how well it’s installed or just the quirks of the house. The cost was a sticking point for me too, especially since my place is a bit of a money pit already. I ended up going with standard blown-in cellulose and just budgeted for a top-off down the road if needed.
Attic access is huge, especially in older homes where you never know what you’ll need to get at next. I actually regret not putting in a better hatch when I did my insulation—now every time I have to crawl up there, I’m reminded. If you’re still in planning mode, definitely worth thinking about how you’ll get back in for electrical or plumbing work. It’s one of those things that doesn’t seem important until you’re up there with a flashlight and a mouthful of dust...
