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I had loose insulation blown into the cockloft of my row house, because access was so difficult, but if you have a real attic, I would think that batting would be much easier to install. Also, if you have access to the attic, you can put down a vapor barrier before installing either type of insulation, rather than (as I had to do) relying on roof vents to dissipate moisture.

2:04 PM 01/17/2013 | 0 Votes

If it's a real attic space in a Victorian you can cut a hole in a closet ceiling, put up a ladder, climb in and lay batts.  Lay some boards over the framing while you work so that you don't fall through the ceiling.  We have over 40" of fiberglass batting in ours.  Seal the newly created hatch with plywood or sheetrock.

4:06 PM 01/17/2013 | 1 Votes

Federal Conservation did my cockloft...blown in insulation plus two vents in the roof...$2,200 or so back in 2007.

4:51 PM 01/17/2013 | 1 Votes

Thanks for the comments. It is a true attic space (full height, there is already a hatch door in a closet). We just weren't sure whether blown in would do a better job of insulating the space. We got a quote already for $2400 for blown in so I suppose that is in line with the going rate.

5:10 PM 01/17/2013 | 0 Votes

I have no idea if loose insulation is better than bats, but, if it is,  since you have a full height attic, why not just bring up bags of insulation (cellulose, vermiculite, whatever) and spread it out with a rake? I thought blowing in insulation was mainly for spaces that can't be accessed in easier ways.

6:00 PM 01/17/2013 | -1 Votes

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7:56 AM 03/14/2013 | 1 Votes

You do not want to use vermiculite it causes cancer

7:58 PM 03/14/2013 | 0 Votes

We have been figuring this out too and ended up using R30 batts of denim/cotton insulation (Bonded Logic from Green Depot, which our contractor picked up on the way to us one morning) (probably only 12" high if that) on top of new sheetrock we just added, so most of the cockloft (not a true attic) is open air, it came down to that or blowing in cellulose using a company that mostly does that and goes through the roof and installs vents as well - we MIGHT still do some cellulose, but might wait to see how well the batts do for us, it's a work in progress

8:58 AM 03/21/2013 | 0 Votes