Faced insulation has a vapor barrier or a vapor retarder (the facing) that
helps prevent moisture from moving from one space to another
. The facing also helps protect the surface, hold the insulation together and fasten the material to building components.
Can you use unfaced insulation in walls?
Unfaced insulation is great for new construction, remodels, walls, floors, ceilings, basements, attics and crawlspaces. It’s best used
for interior wall applications
that do not face the outside and also in rooms that don’t need moisture control, like living rooms, dining rooms and studies.
What’s the difference between faced and unfaced insulation?
Faced just means that
kraft paper is attached to the insulation itself
. The paper helps improve the sturdiness of the insulation so it doesn’t fall down as much. Unfaced insulation is just as good as faced, but it doesn’t have that paper attached to it.
Is faced insulation required?
It is basically designed to keep drywall dry. However, there are also insulations like spray-foam insulation that is designed to be moisture retardant anyway,
when facing isn’t required
. Insulation being unfaced doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice; it means ensuring that it’s the right product for your space.
Is faced insulation more expensive than unfaced?
Generally, faced insulation is
slightly more expensive than unfaced
.
Where should faced insulation be used?
Faced, or the type with paper, is typically used in first-time applications, such as in
walls, ceilings, floors, and in crawl spaces
. Any time you use a faced insulation, the paper needs to be facing toward the living space. So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space, it faces upward.
What type of insulation is best for walls?
In most wall applications, you will use
R-13 or R-15 kraft-faced fiberglass insulation rolls
for these two-by-four stud walls. While rated differently, these two types of insulation are close enough in thickness that they can both fit into modern two-by-four wall systems.
Do I need a vapor barrier with unfaced insulation?
In most climates, it needs a vapor barrier. Some builders rely on batts with attached kraft-paper facing to do that job, but Tom recommends
unfaced batts
, covered in plastic with all the seams taped shut.
Can you put plastic over unfaced insulation?
More than likely, installing an additional layer of poly over kraft facing won’t cause any problems — it’s no more risky than if the wall had only unfaced batts and poly — and the risk of using poly on the interior is relatively low in a cold climate like New York’s.
Can you add facing to unfaced insulation?
Unfaced insulation goes up more quickly than insulation with paper or plastic facing. Flaps on faced insulation must be stapled between rafters to hold it in place. However, the lack of facing means
that you must add a moisture barrier over the insulation
.
Should you use faced or unfaced insulation in a basement?
Place
faced insulation between the
studs with the vapor retarder facing the interior of the room. … For the band joist, use unfaced cut-to-fit pieces of insulation and place them snugly into the space.
What type of insulation is used for ceilings?
Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while
R-30, R-38 and R-49
are common for ceilings and attic spaces. See the Department of Energy’s (DOE) ranges for recommended levels of insulation below.
What happens if insulation is installed backwards?
The problem is that
the paper acts as a vapor barrier
. So if it is installed upside down, the paper moisture barrier can actually keep moisture in-between the paper and the sub-flooring. This can lead to mold issues, as well as structural deterioration.
Which way does insulation face in a basement?
The first layer should have the facing against the drywall to act as a vapor barrier. (The general rule for insulation is that
the facing always goes toward the conditioned space
.) The second layer of insulation should be unfaced so that moisture doesn’t collect between the layers.
Can you use unfaced insulation in an attic?
When installing between the roof rafters of finished attic spaces, you can use
either faced or unfaced batting
. When using insulation that has paper or plastic batting, that moisture barrier should face outward toward the attic space.
Is faced or unfaced insulation better for soundproofing?
If an area of your home experiences moisture and moisture-related problems, it is best to install new faced insulation with the vapor barrier. …
Unfaced insulation
(the kind without the vapor barrier) can better serve as a soundproofing barrier when added between a ceiling and floor.
