Faced Vs Unfaced Insulation Attic In Florida

Unfaced insulation can greatly reduce the risk of mold mildew or moisture damage in your house.

Faced vs unfaced insulation attic in florida.

Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the. When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation. For block walls interior insulation must meet or exceed r 7 8 and exterior insulation must be r 6. You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation.

Faced insulation is used in exterior walls attics finished basements floors and ceilings. 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. The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling. It means ensuring that it s the right product for your space.

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. Insulation being unfaced doesn t mean it s a bad choice. Residential requirements for insulation are divided by the location in the home.

The kraft paper itself is highly flammable. Climate also dictates how the vapor barrier should be positioned. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. If the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living 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. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Framed wall insulation must meet or exceed r 13. To make things safe cover your unfaced insulation with drywall to prevent the risk of a fire.

Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Ceiling insulation must be much higher at r 30 and a raised floor must be at. The same applies to faced unfaced and other kinds of insulation products.

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. 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. Insulation requirements in florida.