Faced Vs Unfaced Batt Insulation Attic

Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the.

Faced vs unfaced batt insulation attic.

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. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. Faced insulation is a little but not a lot more expensive than unfaced simply because of the extra material it includes.

Blown in insulation requires a professional. Kinds of insulation that don t involve facing of any sort include spray foam blown in insulation and rigid foam boards. Faced insulation is a vapor retarder and may need to be used in your home depending on your local building codes. Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.

Watch this video to find out more. Before choosing blown vs. Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. The same applies to faced unfaced and other kinds of insulation products.

Batt insulation take time to read this column. Faced insulation if the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space.

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. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. The upside is you save money by not having to pay to add your own vapor barrier. 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 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. Unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing.