Unfaced Batt Insulation Vs Faced In The Attic

Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used.

Unfaced batt insulation vs faced in the attic.

Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. The insulation can also be used to fill cracks around doors and windows but you ll need to peel off the facing. So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward.

Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Always use unfaced batts both when laying product for the first time and to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between new and old layers of insulation. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Unfaced insulation the type without paper is what you would use if you are adding insulation to your attic or to place between floors when living space is above and below. Climate also dictates how the vapor barrier should be positioned. Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation. If fiberglass batts have a kraft facing they must be protected by a layer of 1 2 inch drywall.

Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. Use unfaced batts there. Kraft facing is highly flammable so if you were thinking of leaving kraft faced batts exposed in your attic don t. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer.

Batt insulation take time to read this column. It means ensuring that it s the right product for your space. It is stapled to studs and joists unlike unfaced batts. Watch this video to find out more.

Faced insulation is used in exterior walls attics finished basements floors and ceilings. Blown in insulation requires a professional. Unfaced batt insulation is often used for beefing up the r rating with the r rating being the insulation rating scale that says how much or how effective insulation needs to be in that space. Insulation being unfaced doesn t mean it s a bad choice.

You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Before choosing blown vs. It is sold in bags and made of materials that are of varying degrees of recycled. Batt insulation is that it is a form of loose fill insulation as opposed to a flexible blanket.

The first difference in blown in vs.