Faced Vs Unfaced Batt Insulation Attic

Blown in insulation requires a professional.

Faced vs unfaced batt insulation attic.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. Faced insulation if the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the.

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. When it s batts or rolls of unfaced insulation it s meant to be used to add r rating values but should be installed behind the faced insulation. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. The upside is you save money by not having to pay to add your own vapor barrier.

Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Batt insulation take time to read this column. Kinds of insulation that don t involve facing of any sort include spray foam blown in insulation and rigid foam boards. 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.

Faced insulation is a vapor retarder and may need to be used in your home depending on your local building codes. 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. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing.

Faced insulation is a little but not a lot more expensive than unfaced simply because of the extra material it includes. 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 facing outward towards the installer. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation.

Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. Before choosing blown vs. Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.