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which side of styrofoam insulation faces out

by Dr. Christian Kozey PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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If you're wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room. Proper Installation of Roof Insulation

If you're wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room.

Full Answer

Should the foil side of foam insulation go in or out?

If you're wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room. Proper Installation of Roof Insulation

Why is the foil facing on rigid foam board?

As Dana explained, the foil facing on rigid foam has the effect of raising the R-value of an adjacent air space if there is an adjacent air space. It doesn't matter which side of the air space (or the foam board) is the "hot" side for this to work. R-value is R-value -- it works in both directions.

Which side of the insulation underlayment goes on a metal roof?

Foil insulation underlayment is recommended under a metal roof, and in most cases, the shiny side should be facing up, but there's a catch.

Which way should the fiberglass insulation face?

Hi Kim, Regardless of whether fiberglass insulation is installed in a wall, attic, or crawlspace; the paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home. That’s because the paper contains a layer of asphalt adhesive which prevents water vapor from passing through it.

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How do you install Styrofoam insulation sheets?

0:344:59Installing Foam Board Insulation in the Shipping Container Battery ShedYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd in talking with David he mentioned that the most important thing with this insulation is to makeMoreAnd in talking with David he mentioned that the most important thing with this insulation is to make sure that it's continuous with no gaps or space in between where the insulation joins up.

How do you use Styrofoam insulation?

0:1023:16How To Install Styrofoam Insulation On A Home's Exterior - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe foam that's on the wall you can see the house are out there. Now you could put the foam on firstMoreThe foam that's on the wall you can see the house are out there. Now you could put the foam on first and host wrap.

Which side of R tech insulation goes out?

Insulfoam Frequently Asked Questions. Q: Which way does the metallic side face on InsulFoam R-TECH? The metallic facer on InsulFoam R-TECH may provide additional R-Value if it's facing a dead air space. If there is no dead air space, it doesn't matter which way the metallic side is facing.

Which side of insulation faces out when installing on the underside of a roof?

Regardless of whether fiberglass insulation is installed in a wall, attic, or crawlspace; the paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home.

Can I use Styrofoam as insulation for walls?

Reasons to not insulate with white pebble styrofoam in the basement. Even without a leak, moisture in the concrete walls can be absorbed into the pebble foam. Lower R-value per inch. Pebble foam insulation keeps wood structures wetter for longer, causing mold.

Is Styrofoam a good insulator for cold?

A Styrofoam cooler does a good job of keeping things cold because the material is a poor conductor of heat. A closed container of Styrofoam creates a “cold zone” into which heat from the outside enters at a very slow rate.

Does foil insulation need an air gap?

You MUST have an air gap in order to get either the emissivity quality or the reflectivity quality that you're looking for, otherwise the foil will not work as a radiant barrier.

Which way round does foil backed insulation go?

It faces in, it faces out, it faces towards the roof, it faces towards the space, it faces towards the room. And wait for it, it should have foil on both sides, so all is correct, because it can face the room, the ceiling, the roof and the space all at the same time.

How do you install rigid foam insulation in the attic?

2:255:35Installing a Radiant Barrier in the Attic | Alternative Method to Insulate the ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipActually it's a four-inch piece of foamboard insulation. That we have fastened to the underside ofMoreActually it's a four-inch piece of foamboard insulation. That we have fastened to the underside of the roof. All. The way down this would of course go all the way up to the top.

What side of the insulation does the vapor barrier go on?

warm sideIn order to prevent condensation from forming, a vapor barrier should be placed on the warm side of your insulation to stop warm, moist air from condensing on a cold surface inside your wall.

What is the proper way to install insulation?

2:159:48Right Vs Wrong: Installing Insulation Batts In Exterior Walls - Part OneYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow the proper way to install this of course is to cut off the excess at the bottom and fit it inMoreNow the proper way to install this of course is to cut off the excess at the bottom and fit it in nicely. However. It's often tempting and faster just to tuck it in at the bottom.

What is the purpose of paper backing on insulation?

The Purpose of Insulation Facing The paper creates a vapor barrier that helps keep the water vapor in the warm, moist, heated indoor air from migrating outward into the wall or other structure. For this reason, faced insulation is typically installed on the "warm in winter" side of the wall.

How do you fasten Styrofoam insulation?

Apply a bead of construction adhesive to the part of the studs you will cover with the first sheet of insulation. Press the insulation sheet firmly in place, and hammer cap ring-shank nails into the studs at 6-inch intervals.

How thick should Styrofoam insulation be?

Most panels range between 3/8″ and 2.5″ in thickness, though other dimensions and thicknesses are usually available through custom order.

Preparation

Before you even start working on your piece of Styrofoam, or rigid foam insulation, it’s important to securely clamp it to your workbench.

The Cutting Process

The cutting process will vary depending on the type of tool you are using. Below are the steps followed when using a knife to cut the foam.

Using Circular Saws

I recommend the use of circular saws when making a lot of cuts for insulation sheets.

Best Foam Knife: Klein Tools Combination Duct Knife & Wire Cutters

I’m not usually a fan of combination tools, but I’m making an exception for the Klein Duct Cutter\Wire Cutter combination knife.

Best Foam Saw Blade: Bullet by Marshalltown Foam Blade for Circular Saws

If you already have a table saw, then the best (and cheapest) option is to get a replacement blade that’s designed specifically for foam. I’m a big fan of Marshalltown tools, having used them extensively on my drywall project. So their dust-free foam blade was a natural choice.

Where to install polyiso?

If there is aluminum foil on just one side of the polyiso, here's my advice: install the polyiso tight to the rim joist, with the shiny side facing toward the interior of the building.

How much air space does a foil need?

If you want it to serve as a radiant barrier, the foil must face an air space of at least 1/2".

What does foil facer do?

The foil facer adds about R1 to the performance if it's facing an air gap, and it doesn't matter which side. If the facer is in contact with the band joist or fiber insulation on the interior that modest advantage goes away.

How to keep a building warm?

To keep a building warm, you need something with R-value (insulation). The higher the R-value (and the lower the rate of air leakage), the better. As Dana explained, the foil facing on rigid foam has the effect of raising the R-value of an adjacent air space if there is an adjacent air space.

Does Polyiso have facings?

Polyiso always has some type of facing on both sides. Frankly, for residential use, the type of facing doesn't matter much.

Is polyiso foam vapor impermeable?

Although no moisture should really be entering the cavity from the inside and to the best of my knowledge, polyiso is vapor-impermeable (not sure about the 1 part foam but I think it is vapor-permeable).

Where does foil go on a roof?

The foil then goes under the battens. For proper installation of roof insulation, you need to do it before the roofing goes on. If you want to add foil insulation to an existing roof, you can still do it by going into the attic and stapling it to the undersides of the roof rafters. If you do this, the shiny side of the insulation still goes up, ...

What happens if the shiny side of the barrier faces the roof?

If the shiny side of the barrier faces the roofing, hot air will circulate in the space between the rafters and naturally exit through the roof vent. This scheme works best if the house has a ridge vent that spans the length of the roof.

What is radiant foil insulation?

The radiant foil barrier reflects all that heat back into the air space between it and the roofing. When foil insulation is properly installed, the underside of the roof decking remains at or near the ambient temperature, even in full sun. This doesn't work, though, if you install the radiant barrier upside down – that is, ...

What goes on top of the moisture barrier?

The foil insulation goes on top of the moisture barrier, followed by the roof covering. If you use bubble foil or rigid foam insulation, it also goes on top of the moisture barrier. Remember that there has to be an air space between the foil and the roofing. Most metal corrugated roofing automatically provides this air space.

Why do you need foil insulation?

The Reason Why You Need Foil Insulation. When sunlight impinges directly on a metal roof, it drives the temperature of the metal as high as 180 degrees Fahrenheit. In the absence of a foil insulation barrier, the underside of the roof radiates all the heat directly into the attic. The attic overheats, the house becomes warmer ...

What to wear on a steep roof?

Wear rubber-soled shoes and use a harness if necessary. Never work on a roof that feels too steep for comfort. Hire professional roofers instead.

Does foam insulation board have a foil backing?

Foam insulation board also comes with a foil backing, and when the foil is just on one side of the board, you have a decision to make regarding its orientation. If you're wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler.

What to do if plywood is wet?

If it's wet there is little pont in further insulation until it has dried out and you install the vapour barrier to stop the problem re-occuring.

Is foil insulation warm or cold?

The board is impermeable and so the foil is only adding a tiny incremental amount of insula tion and it will do that, I believe, equally on either the warm or cold side.

Can insulation be sealed?

The joints between insulation backed plasterboard are never sealed and with high air pressure inside the house, water vapour will get in behind the insulated plasterboards and condense on the Cold Wall causing fungus and mould growth.

Is insulation board impermeable to water?

Insulation board is impermeable to water vapour and so the foil serves no purpose unless it us as a tiny amount of insulation. It doesn't matter which way you fit it.

What adhesives are compatible with InsulFoam?

Acrylics, urethanes, and polyether adhesives work best. Tapes used in weather resistant barrier applications are typically compatible with InsulFoam EPS and R-TECH. Refer to our technical bulletin for more information.

What is the R value of InsulFoam?

For instance, our standard R-TECH, sold in home improvement stores, has an average R-value of about 3.9 per inch at 75°F.

What knife do you use to cut insulation?

You can use an insulation knife, razor knife, or any other specialty foam knife or foam saw blade. Check out Insulfoam’s full video on how to measure, mark, and cut Insulfoam EPS.

Can a crawlspace be left exposed?

It depends on the application; it can be left exposed in an attic or crawlspace type of application. Local building codes should be reviewed for exposed interior applications. If it’s an exterior application, it should be covered with some sort of finishing material.

Is R Tech a moisture barrier?

R-TECH by nature is an air barrier, and with the seams taped, it becomes a vapor retarder. It is also a moisture barrier, as it is hydrophobic, and is a weather resistant barrier when joints are taped with appropriate products.

Does the metallic facer on InsulFoam R-TECH have an R value?

The metallic facer on InsulFoam R-TECH may provide additional R-Value if it’s facing a dead air space . If there is no dead air space, it doesn’t matter which way the metallic side is facing. Placing the metallic facer towards an open-air space may allow the material to act as a radiant barrier.

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1.Which Way to Face Insulation? - Today's Homeowner

Url:https://todayshomeowner.com/which-way-to-face-insulation/

34 hours ago Which side of rigid foam insulation faces out? If you’re wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room. as facing outwards.

2.How to Cut Styrofoam Rigid Foam Insulation [Best Tools]

Url:https://garagetransformed.com/cutting-styrofoam-insulation/

30 hours ago If you're wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room.

3.Which way should the foil facing on polyiso rigid foam face?

Url:https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/which-way-should-the-foil-facing-on-polyiso-rigid-foam-face

27 hours ago  · Since aluminum foil has a shiny side and a dull side, many cooking resources say that when cooking foods wrapped or covered with aluminum foil, the shiny side should be down, facing the food, and the dull side up. Which way does r tech insulation go? The metallic facer onRead More →

4.Do You Put the Shiny Side of Foil Insulation Up or Down …

Url:https://homeguides.sfgate.com/put-shiny-side-foil-insulation-up-down-metal-roof-97249.html

21 hours ago  · Making the second cut. Now run your knife carefully along the cutting lines. Most are the times when the foam isn’t cut just by scoring it once using the knife. Make the cuts carefully, ensuring that you precisely cut along the said lines and …

5.insulation board. what way round should foil side face?

Url:https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/insulation-board-what-way-round-should-foil-side-face.205344/

20 hours ago  · I was thinking of not sealing the perimeter prior to installing the rigid foam to give any moisture entering the cavity an avenue to escape. Although no moisture should really be entering the cavity from the inside and to the best of my knowledge, polyiso is vapor-impermeable (not sure about the 1 part foam but I think it is vapor-permeable).

6.Insulation FAQ | Insulfoam

Url:https://www.insulfoam.com/insulation-faq/

21 hours ago  · 2,496. Reaction score. 251. Country. 17 Dec 2009. #2. Insulation board is impermeable to water vapour and so the foil serves no purpose unless it us as a tiny amount of insulation. It doesn't matter which way you fit it. You don't need to leave any gap, but what you DO need is a vapour-barrier to prevent the warm-moist air inside penetrating in ...

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