Faced Vs Unfaced Batt Insulation Attic

Now here s a situation where a homeowner what looks like many years ago added insulation they added a three inch layer but.

Faced vs unfaced batt insulation attic.

You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Like blanket or batt insulation foam board comes in faced and unfaced varieties. 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. Blown in insulation requires a professional.

Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Air migrates from warmer spaces toward colder spaces and insulation is designed to help prevent or at least slow that migration. When you go to get a roll or batt of insulation you may notice they are available as either faced or unfaced.

If a moisture barrier is required or recommended in your climate zone you will want to use the faced board again reflective facing is a good choice to insulate your walls. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. The same applies to faced unfaced and other kinds of insulation products. Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.

The key difference between the two is that faced insulation keeps moisture out because it has kraft paper or plastic on one side whereas unfaced only provides insulation. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. 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.

I ve always said adding insulation to your attic is some of the best money you can spend to make your house more energy efficient but whether to use faced or unfaced insulation is a great question. 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. Insulation being unfaced doesn t mean it s a bad choice. It means ensuring that it s the right product for your space.

What is the right insulation for an attic. 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. Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation.