Faced insulation should be used to insulate the roof of the attic while unfaced insulation can be used to insulate the attic floor. Correctly installing both faced and unfaced installation in the attic will increase the energy efficiency of the home.
What is Facing?
Why add insulation to attic floor?
Why is insulation important in the attic?
What happens if moisture gets trapped in the insulation?
Is it warmer to put plastic over attic insulation?
Can you use batting in the attic?
Do you need to face batting in the attic?
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Is it OK to use unfaced insulation in attic?
Unfaced insulation is great for new construction, remodels, walls, floors, ceilings, basements, attics and crawlspaces. It's best used for interior wall applications that do not face the outside and also in rooms that don't need moisture control, like living rooms, dining rooms and studies.
Does attic insulation need facing?
Attic Floor Insulation If you install batting between your attic floor joists, the material should be faced. Since the attic floor is the ceiling of the living space below, the facing installs against the top of the ceiling drywall or plaster.
Can you use paper faced insulation in attic?
Faced insulation is a thermal insulation type with a vapor-resistant layer attached to one side. It is commonly used in attic spaces, as the vapor barrier helps to prevent moisture from condensing on the underside of the roof deck and ceiling joists.
What type of insulation should I use in my attic?
If you check with the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, they'll assure you that fiberglass or mineral wool is definitely your best choice for attic insulation.
Can you have too much insulation in your attic?
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers. That's when mold starts to grow.
Does it matter if insulation is faced?
The Difference Between Faced And Unfaced Insulation Faced just means that kraft paper is attached to the insulation itself. The paper helps improve the sturdiness of the insulation so it doesn't fall down as much. Unfaced insulation is just as good as faced, but it doesn't have that paper attached to it.
Does faced insulation need a vapor barrier?
In most climates, it needs a vapor barrier. Some builders rely on batts with attached kraft-paper facing to do that job, but Tom recommends unfaced batts, covered in plastic with all the seams taped shut.
What R value should you have in your attic?
R-Value is a measure of insulation's ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
What should you not put in your attic?
10 Items You Should Never Store In The AtticPaints, cleaning products, or other toxins. ... Anything that is highly flammable. ... Delicate holiday decorations. ... Art is never good to store in the attic. ... Leather products. ... Cardboard boxes. ... Musical instruments. ... Anything wool (or made from natural fibers)More items...•
What is the most efficient way to insulate an attic?
Insulating your attic with fiberglass batts or rolls is economical and, on the whole, easier than blowing in loose-fill cellulose. This remains the favored method of insulating attics for most do-it-yourselfers. With this method, strips (batts) or rolls of fiberglass are laid between joists in the attic.
Should you insulate the underside of your roof?
You'll also want to insulate the exterior walls and the underside of the attic's roof. Otherwise, space will suck up a tremendous amount of heating and cooling energy throughout the year, because all of that energy goes right up and out of the roof.
What is the safest attic insulation?
Cotton is a very reliable insulation material for your attic and it is commonly made with recycled materials and is very easy to cut and install. This material is also safer than fiberglass during installation and use as there are less fibers floating around.
Does ceiling insulation have to be faced?
You can use either faced or unfaced batting for this installation. When using insulation that has either paper or plastic facing, that moisture barrier faces outward, toward the attic space. Even if the attic space is unheated, it typically is warmer than the outside air in winter.
Should insulation be left exposed?
"Fiberglass insulation should never be left exposed in an occupied area, according to the American Lung Association," says ALA's Godfrey. "Exposed fiberglass insulation, once in the air, does cause respiratory reactions, such as dry, scratchy throat and coughing, as well as acting as a skin and eye irritant.
What happens if insulation is installed backwards?
So if it is installed upside down, the paper moisture barrier can actually keep moisture in-between the paper and the sub-flooring. This can lead to mold issues, as well as structural deterioration. Also, the paper is flammable so not properly installing it can create a fire hazard.
Should loft insulation be pushed up to the eaves?
Insulation should be continued right to the edge of the ceilings but it shouldn't block the eaves' ventilation. Ventilation is vital to ensure the necessary air movement to prevent condensation from water vapour, as this can lead to decay of the structural timbers.
Faced or Unfaced Insulation: Which To Use & Where To Use It
What’s The Difference Between Faced And Unfaced Insulation. How did they come up with the terms “faced” and “unfaced”? Well, “faced” literally means to face-off, push it back, or act as a barrier from accessing the other side.
What is faced insulation?
Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation, which is sold in a roll. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the application and whether some insulation already is present.
How does moisture affect insulation?
As a result of evaporation, people breathing and plant respiration, air carries some moisture with it. Should those water droplets get caught in the folds of insulation, it could lead to mold or mildew. Excessive moisture over long periods of time can rot the framing lumber that makes up the home’s structure. Trapped moisture also can damage the loft of the insulation. Loft is the thickness of batting insulation, and it helps define the R-value of the material. Facing creates a barrier through which moisture does not travel. Whether it is made from paper or plastic, it always faces whichever space is typically warmest in winter.
Why does moisture rot framing?
Creating a Moisture Barrier. As a result of evaporation, people breathing and plant respiration, air car ries some moisture with it. Should those water droplets get caught in the folds of insulation, it could lead to mold or mildew. Excessive moisture over long periods of time can rot the framing lumber that makes up the home’s structure.
Can you use plastic over unfaced batting?
When choosing unfaced batting insulation for rafters, you must staple sheets of plastic over the batting to accomplish the necessary moisture barrier. Air movement is critical in the attic so moisture moves outside the home.
Can you use batting in the attic?
You can use either faced or unfaced batting for this installation. When using insulation that has either paper or plastic facing, that moisture barrier faces outward, toward the attic space. Even if the attic space is unheated, it typically is warmer than the outside air in winter.
Do you need to face batting in attic?
The batting material must be faced, and at least as thick as the joists are wide so the batting is nearly flush with the top of the joists. Since the attic floor actually is the ceiling of the living space below, the facing installs against the top of the ceiling drywall or plaster.
Do baffles seal up rafters?
Install baffles against the roof sheathing between rafters so insulation does not seal up these avenues of air circulation. Some attic floors that already have a layer of insulation could benefit from an additional application over the existing layer.
What is the difference between face and unfaced insulation?
Faced insulation should be used to insulate the roof of the attic while unfaced insulation can be used to insulate the attic floor. Correctly installing both faced and unfaced installation in the attic will increase the energy efficiency of the home.
Why do you need face and unfaced insulation?
Faced and unfaced insulation play different roles in the insulation of a house and must be applied correctly to limit heat loss, sound, and vapor transfer. Faced insulation used with the vapor barrier facing the wrong way can lead to moisture trapped, leading to mold growth and rot of the home’s wooden structure.
What is the best insulation for a garage?
Faced insulation is best for outer walls, attic roofs, garages, bathrooms, and kitchen walls. Unfaced insulation is recommended on all inner walls and also as an additional layer of insulation over faced insulation .
Why should exterior walls be insulated?
Exterior walls should be insulated with faced insulation to prevent moisture from ruining the framework of the house. Faced insulation with the kraft paper on the inside should be used, and care should be taken that it fits snugly between the wooden framework of the house.
Where should kraft paper be used to insulate?
For example, the kraft paper should face the inside of the basement or crawl space when insulating the walls.
When applying the second layer of insulation, unfaced insulation is sufficient?
When applying the second layer of insulation, unfaced insulation is sufficient. Another layer of faced insulation might trap moisture between the two layers, and that will cause rot.
Where to use faced insulation?
However, the usual strategy that is followed is to use faced insulation in outer walls and unfaced insulation on inner walls and where there is only a slight temperature difference between an upper and lower room, like in an attic.
What is face insulation?
Faced Insulation is fiberglass insulation with a kraft paper vapor barrier on one side. It’s stapled into place with the paper side facing the interior of the home. Unfaced insulation has no kraft paper vapor barrier attached to it and is held into place by pressure or friction.
How is unfaced insulation held in place?
Unfaced insulation is held into place by the pressure or friction fit in joints and rafters when installing it .
What is the term for the situation where water vapor penetrates through a building material?
The situation where water vapor penetrates through the building material is referred to as permeability. Both vapor barriers and vapor retarders are rated through a system called a perm, which is the term related to “permeance” and” permeability.”
Why is it important to insulate your home?
Home Insulation promotes comfort. Whether you need it or not is an important question, but insulating your home is one of the most important investments in home construction.
Why is sound insulation used in a room?
Insulation also involves sound. The interior of a room is installed with a soundproof material to minimize sound from coming in and getting out.
What is the impact of climatic conditions on the choice of vapor fabric?
The climatic condition of the region a person resides in has a significant impact on the choice of Vapor Fabric to use and where to install the Vapor material, e.g., whether to install it on the outer or the inner walls.
What is a facing in a building?
A facing, therefore, is a material that is attached to the fiberglass insulator/insulation meant to help control the effects of vapor or moisture on the fabric of the building.
What is face or unfaced insulation?
When to Use Faced or Unfaced Attic Insulation. Attic insulation is available with and without a paper facing. The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt, which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. It’s important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic. Faced Insulation: If the attic doesn’t have any ...
When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation, what is the best way to use it?
Unfaced Insulation: When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation, use unfaced insulation.
What is Kraft paper faced insulation?
Kraft paper faced insulation features a layer of fluffy insulation plus a layer of paper vapor retardant. This works to prevent mildew and mold in your walls and is great for attic ceilings, exterior basement walls, or the exterior walls of your home.
What is a facing in a house?
The “facing” refers to the vapor retardant that prevents moisture from traveling between the spaces of your home. Additionally, this facing protects the surface, holds the insulation together, fastens the insulation material to the other components in the build of your house, and can even help stabilize its R-value.
What are the two types of insulation?
When speaking about insulation, there are two primary types: faced insulation and unfaced insulation. The most important of these to understand is faced insulation.
Why is insulation important in HVAC?
In short, insulation is the main component working to keep you comfortable and save you money. By having good insulation, your HVAC heating and cooling system don’t have to work as hard, reducing both energy usage and your bills.
What does R value mean in insulation?
This value indicates the thermal resistance, or the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the insulation’s R-value, the better it is. R-value also takes into account the thickness, material, and overall density of the insulation. All these factors play into the quality of insulation you use in your home.
What factors influence what type of insulation you need?
There’s more to insulation than just saving money. Certain factors influence what type of insulation you need. A huge pair of factors is your location and climate. The needs of someone in the Midwest are different from someone in Alaska or Arizona.
Why do we need insulation?
With this airflow, you need insulation to keep the proper temperature of your spaces. The right insulation will keep your home’s airflow from escaping through the walls, ceiling, roof, attic, and basement.
Why use faced insulation over unfaced insulation?
DIYers looking for a way to make home insulation easier should consider using faced insulation over unfaced insulation because typically faced insulation is significantly easier to install. This is because the insulation is held together by the paper vapor barrier, allowing the faced insulation to be rolled, moved, and stapled without falling apart.
How much does faced insulation cost?
There is a minor cost difference between faced and unfaced insulation. On average, faced insulation costs about $0.50 to $2 per square foot of wall or ceiling. Unfaced insulation costs about $0.50 to $1.75 per square foot. The modest difference between them indicates that faced insulation costs about $0.10 to $0.25 more per square foot than unfaced insulation, which is likely attributed to the vapor barrier. This slight increase in cost shouldn’t impact minor upgrades, though if you need to insulate the whole home or even multiple properties, the price difference may affect your decision.
What is the difference between faced and unfaced insulation?
The main difference between faced and unfaced insulation is that faced insulation typically has a paper vapor barrier or retarder attached to one side of the insulation. The purpose of the paper vapor barrier is to block moisture from permeating the walls and ceilings of the home. This is especially useful in humid locations, like coastal cities.
Why do we need insulation?
Homes require insulation to help regulate the flow of heat through the walls and ceiling. By slowing the transmission of heat through the walls, the home can remain warm in the winter and cool in the summer, despite the temperature outdoors. This layer is also useful for noise insulation so that you don’t hear everything going on outside. Some insulation can also help block moisture from entering the home, which is a benefit for homes in coastal regions and areas that get a lot of rain. However, there are significant differences with faced vs. unfaced insulation, so it’s important to know what type of insulation you are installing or replacing to ensure you select the best insulation for the home.
Can you stack unfaced insulation?
If you have a layer of unfaced insulation installed you can stack another layer of unfaced insulation without issue.
Does unfaced insulation have cohesive strength?
Unfaced insulation does not have the same cohesive strength, so it’s more susceptible to tearing during installation. Additionally, staples don’t work well with unfaced insulation, so the installer needs to rely on the insulation to cling to the wall or ceiling. Some installers will add a plastic vapor barrier over unfaced insulation to both block out moisture and help secure the insulation to the target surface.
Is unfaced insulation combustible?
One of the benefits of using unfaced insulation whenever possible is that it is typically considered to be a non-combustible material. It can actually help reduce the chance of fire by providing a barrier between the interior wall and the exterior wall that slows the spread of flames or stops them entirely.
What is a facing batt?
Facing on insulation batts is intended to act as a vapor barrier. If you are adding to an existing insulated ceiling, make sure that there is not a vapor barrier already present. There was a time when plastic sheets were installed to act in this capacity.
Why seal the house up tight?
So we seal the house up tight from the inside, and on the walls as much as we worry about how many inches of insulation we have because in our climate, air movement is the major cause of heat loss.
How many dryer fires a year?
17,000 dryer fires a year, when did you last clean the inside of the dryer near motor or the exhaust ducting?
Can you install faced insulation?
IF there is no vapor barrier present, then you could install faced insulation if desired. Any existing insulation should be removed first, and the facing installed against the ceiling towards the living space. Then you can add more unfaced insulation on top of that if you wanted to increase the R-value. :thumbup:
Can paint be used as a vapour retarder?
I mentioned paints: some paint coverings can act as a vapour retarders too, probably in warmer climates - but in most climates, it's better than nothing. I maintain that nowadays we ought to worry more about air leakage than insulation levels, as up here as well as down south, you need to keep the permeation of air through the outside walls to a minimum. Leaky houses used to be part of the architecture, but now we know more about the energy costs of those leaks and it is often more than the savings in more insulation levels...
What is Facing?
Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation, which is insulation sold in a roll. Whether you chose faced or unfaced for attic insulation depends on the application, and whether some insulation already exists.
Why add insulation to attic floor?
The extra batting increases the R-values so it further slows warm air migration. The additional layer must be unfaced, otherwise, moisture can get trapped between the layers of insulation and cause mold or mildew.
Why is insulation important in the attic?
Because attics are reflective of outside temperatures, attic insulation is very important to maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home year round.
What happens if moisture gets trapped in the insulation?
As a result of evaporation, air carries some moisture with it. If this moisture gets trapped in the folds of insulation, it can lead to mold and mildew. Furthermore, excessive moisture can damage the framing lumber of a home’s structure over a long period of time.
Is it warmer to put plastic over attic insulation?
Even if the attic space is unheated, it’s typically warmer than the outside air in winter. If you have chosen unfaced batting insulation for your rafters, you should staple sheets of plastic over the batting to accomplish a moisture barrier.
Can you use batting in the attic?
When installing between the roof rafters of finished attic spaces, you can use either faced or unfaced batting. When using insulation that has paper or plastic batting, that moisture barrier should face outward toward the attic space. Even if the attic space is unheated, it’s typically warmer than the outside air in winter.
Do you need to face batting in the attic?
If you install batting between your attic floor joists, the material should be faced. Since the attic floor is the ceiling of the living space below, the facing installs against the top of the ceiling drywall or plaster. The facing then provides a layer of moisture protection between the living space below and the insulation materials above.