Styrofoam Peanuts For Attic Insulation

The r value of polystyrene is about 4 0 per inch.

Styrofoam peanuts for attic insulation.

Can i use plastic shipping peanuts for insulation in the walls of my 1879 balloon framed house. The very reason why plastic peanuts work well as packing makes them a bad choice for wall insulation. Polystyrene can be fashioned into various items including shipping materials such as packing peanuts and coffee cups as well as sheets of foam board insulation. Essentially a compressed sheet of packing peanuts expanded polystyrene eps offers the lowest r value of foam insulation types.

It comes in standard size 4 8 sheets and smaller sizes in many different thicknesses from 1 4 inch to 2 inches. Insulating an attic usually means you have a lot of room for insulation and you will need high r value so that is why the cheaper options are more popular blown cellulose or blown fiberglass. This eliminates thermal bridging which is the energy lost through wall studs. Most packing peanuts are made of polystyrene.

Those packing peanuts are not styrofoam but rather polystyrene foam. Some types of thicker foam board insulation are available but they may need to be special ordered. The beads are heated and. R value refers to the relative heat transfer of a material.

Plastic peanuts hold air that helps cushion whatever is being shipped. Osborn a former associate editor replies. Meps also called beadboard is made by pouring loose polystyrene beads into a container. Insulating boards are just one of the many types of foam insulation.

Board can be combined with other modern types of insulation in order to increase the amount of protection in an attic. But the problem with using packing peanuts for attic insulation is that while the individual peanuts may have an r value of about 4 0 per inch the peanuts have large air spaces between them which allows air currents to easily flow through a layer of packing peanuts. Consider using spray foam insulation as well to seal smaller cracks and gaps. That styrofoam insulation will work but it is not cheap per r value however it gives you a great r value per inch.

The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them. Foam board insulation is easy to use and is a great diy way to add some insulation.