If you have loose fill insulation that is gray soft and without a shine it is probably cellulose insulation.
House insulation in attic looks like dust.
Moisture can cause mold to grow on your fiberglass insulation.
A dryer vent open to the attic can produce a huge amount of lint and looks exactly like what you are talking about.
In general it looks like shredded gray paper.
Cellulose insulation is a perfectly safe type of insulation that is commonly blown into attics.
Regarding 2 if you go this route you want to provide some airflow through this space or you can get moisture buildup.
On 2020 09 14 by mod rob that looks like mineral wool insulation.
Alice that looks like a mix of loose fill cellulose and mineral wool or fiberglass insulation.
When that dry air enters your house it sucks up the moisture from your home like sponge resulting in very dry air.
It s pink and the material looks a little like cotton candy.
Cellulose contains a high percentage of recycled paper and does not contain minerals.
Look for water stains on the roof sheathing or damp or moldy spots on attic joists and existing insulation as a clue to where leaks might be.
Dirt and mold can adhere to the fiberglass sheets.
On 2020 09 14 by rob.
Anything cold uninsulated that s exposed will be prone to condensation.
Newspapers sawdust catalogs and just about any cheap or free cellulose have all been used to provide minimal insulation in old homes.
You give it a kick and the blanket unfurls onto the floor.
Dirt that can attach to your insulation includes dust dirt from outside air that does not get filtered well and dirt from construction activity within your home.
Box out light fixtures.
Unless you re using mineral wool insulation or your fixtures are rated safe for contact with any type of insulation don t allow the material to touch or cover recessed cans or.
Video of the day.
On 2020 09 14 by alice.
That is very dangerous in an attic as it is very flammable.
That s why an uncomfortably dry home in winter is a giveaway that the home is very leaky.
You run your hand over it to see what it feels like but you soon realize that was a mistake.
Rummaging around in your friend s newly renovated attic you notice what looks like a rolled up blanket in the far corner.
If your duct system is sucking dusty air in from the attic it will also suck in the very cold dry air from the attic.
If your home is old enough 19th century your attic insulation that looks like sawdust could be sawdust.