Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In Interior Walls

Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.

Faced or unfaced insulation in interior walls.

1 measure the space the insulation needs to fit. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew. While faced insulation is ideally for first time applications such as in walls ceilings and floors unfaced insulation is a preferred choice of material for attics insulation that already had insulation plus it also makes for a great soundproofing agent for interior walls. The paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home.

To this end you insulate your home. Regardless of whether fiberglass insulation is installed in a wall attic or crawlspace. Either kraft faced as shown in figure 2 or unfaced as shown in figure 3 exterior wall insulation can be used to insulate basement walls with r values ranging from 11 to 21. The barrier on faced insulation is usually made out of kraft paper and it is sometimes called a vapor retarder.

Faced insulation should be placed between the studs with the vapor retarder facing the interior of the room in heating climates. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. 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. 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. The batts come in widths to fit standard 16 19 2 and 24 inch stud spacing. So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward. It helps prevent moisture from moving from one space to another and it usually faces the inside of the room.

The facing should aim down toward the living space. The same is true for an attic floor. This is usually kraft paper but sometimes other types of paper can be used. By contrast unfaced insulation is plain insulation that doesn t have a vapor retarder.

While faced insulation is stapled to the wall studs unfaced fiberglass insulation is installed slightly differently but offers the same benefits. Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. Paper faced insulation means that one side of the insulation material comes lined with paper. That s because the paper contains a layer of asphalt adhesive which prevents water vapor from passing through it.