Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In An Attic

Paper faced insulation means that one side of the insulation material comes lined with paper.

Faced or unfaced insulation in an attic.

It s important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Simply peel the facing paper off the top layer of insulation. Or should i use unfaced.

Among the many insulation options available for the homeowner there is one that stands above the rest paper faced insulation. If i use faced insulation should the paper go towards the outside of the house or the inside. My thoughts were i would use faced so there would be a barrier for moisture coming from the outside wall. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. It is basically designed to keep drywall dry. The insulation is against the wall not towards the first floor.

Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. I don t want a potential mold problem. When to use faced or unfaced attic insulation attic insulation is available with and without a paper facing. So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward.

If your attic floor has no insulation install faced batts or faced rolls between each joist with the moisture barrier facing down against the drywall or plaster ceiling below. When local building codes require a vapor retardant faced insulation is one of the best options. Facing is a layer attached to roll or batt insulation as a vapor barrier to help protect the living space from excess humidity or moisture. The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling.

However there are also insulations like spray foam insulation that is designed to be moisture retardant anyway when facing isn t required. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. This is usually kraft paper but sometimes other types of paper can be used. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the.

Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. The kraft paper itself is highly flammable. The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. As you ve discovered since you already had insulation in your attic the layer of new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers.