Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In Interior Walls

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

Faced or unfaced insulation in interior walls.

The facing should aim down toward the living space. The barrier on faced insulation is usually made out of kraft paper and it is sometimes called a vapor retarder. 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. By contrast unfaced insulation is plain insulation that doesn t have a vapor retarder.

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. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. Paper faced insulation means that one side of the insulation material comes lined with paper.

While faced insulation is stapled to the wall studs unfaced fiberglass insulation is installed slightly differently but offers the same benefits. The same is true for an attic floor. That s because the paper contains a layer of asphalt adhesive which prevents water vapor from passing through it. For new construction choose unfaced batts and fit them between wall studs without compressing the batts.

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. Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. Faced insulation should be placed between the studs with the vapor retarder facing the interior of the room in heating climates. Insulation in rolls called batts comes in two varieties.

The batts come in widths to fit standard 16 19 2 and 24 inch stud spacing. The paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. Among the many insulation options available for the homeowner there is one that stands above the rest.

So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward. If you re putting it in an exterior wall the facing is on the interior side of the home where drywall will be laid. To this end you insulate your home. This is usually kraft paper but sometimes other types of paper can be used.