Faced Vs Unfaced Insulation In Attic

What is the right insulation for an attic.

Faced vs unfaced insulation in attic.

When local building codes require a vapor retardant faced insulation is one of the best options. If you need a vapor barrier and your insulation is unfaced you must cover it with a polyethylene film. 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. Air migrates from warmer spaces toward colder spaces and insulation is designed to help prevent or at least slow that migration.

Now here s a situation where a homeowner what looks like many years ago added insulation they added a three inch layer but. Unfaced batts are laid perpendicularly atop existing batts to improve heat retention and beef up the r value on the longer run. Unfaced insulation should be used when you re adding insulation to your attic that already has insulation. You need up to 19 inches or r 49 for efficiency.

Faced insulation can be used in several areas of a house such as. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. 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. The facing on faced insulation acts as a vapor retarder.

Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Basement finished exterior walls. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing.

In a nutshell. Kraft faced insulation should be installed in exterior walls exterior basement walls and attic ceilings by pressing the product into the wall cavity with the paper side. The easiest place to get a gauge on your home s current insulation condition is in the attic. Insulation being unfaced doesn t mean it s a bad choice.

Summary of faced vs. It means ensuring that it s the right product for your space. For many contractors the decision to use one kind of insulation over the other depends solely on preference rather than a by the book decision making process. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew.

Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.