Do I Need Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In My Attic

If you don t have enough it may be an indication that your home is under insulated and may not be properly sealed.

Do i need faced or unfaced insulation in my attic.

The easiest place to get a gauge on your home s current insulation condition is in the attic. 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. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing.

An unfaced insulation product does not mean that this product is any less effective that its paper faced. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. Faced insulation has flanges on the outside of the batt that need to be stapled to the wall studs and joists.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The same is true for an attic floor. So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward. 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.

That s how the barrier is made effective. The first thing that you need to know is what type of insulation will work best for your home. Here s what you need to know about the facing on attic insulation. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll.

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 insulation the type without paper is what you would use if you are adding insulation to your attic or to place between floors when living space is above and below. It could just as well be a paper faced material or an unfaced material this kind of material lacks the paper that gives it steadiness. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the.

The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. 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. Like blanket or batt insulation foam board comes in faced and unfaced varieties. It s important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic.