Faced Vs Unfaced Insulation In Attic

Faced insulation has flanges on the outside of the batt that need to be stapled to the wall studs and joists.

Faced vs unfaced insulation in attic.

When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation. Faced insulation is a type of blanket insulation that usually comes in a roll in batt form where the insulation is adhered on one side to a kraft paper or plastic for installation purposes. Faced insulation is a little but not a lot more expensive than unfaced simply because of the extra material it includes. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew.

It is stapled to studs and joists unlike unfaced batts. 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. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the. Faced insulation is used in exterior walls attics finished basements floors and ceilings.

You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation. The same is true for an attic floor. Climate also dictates how the vapor barrier should be positioned. Unfaced insulation on the other hand is a type of fiberglass batt insulation which is normally used over existing insulation.

Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. If the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space. The same applies to faced unfaced and other kinds of insulation products. 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.

Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. The facing should aim down toward the living space. To make things safe cover your unfaced insulation with drywall to prevent the risk of a fire. If you re putting it in an exterior wall the facing is on the interior side of the home where drywall will be laid.

The insulation can also be used to fill cracks around doors and windows but you ll need to peel off the facing. The upside is you save money by not having to pay to add your own vapor barrier. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer.