You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing.
Faced vs unfaced insulation attic in florida.
Unfaced insulation can greatly reduce the risk of mold mildew or moisture damage in your house.
It means ensuring that it s the right product for your space.
Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing.
To make things safe cover your unfaced insulation with drywall to prevent the risk of a fire.
The kraft paper itself is highly flammable.
Insulation being unfaced doesn t mean it s a bad choice.
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.
Faced insulation is used in exterior walls attics finished basements floors and ceilings.
When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation.
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.
Framed wall insulation must meet or exceed r 13.
It is stapled to studs and joists unlike unfaced batts.
Residential requirements for insulation are divided by the location in the home.
For block walls interior insulation must meet or exceed r 7 8 and exterior insulation must be r 6.
Climate also dictates how the vapor barrier should be positioned.
Unfaced batt insulation is often used for beefing up the r rating with the r rating being the insulation rating scale that says how much or how effective insulation needs to be in that space.
Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll.
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.
Insulation requirements in florida.
The insulation can also be used to fill cracks around doors and windows but you ll need to peel off the facing.
If the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space.
You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation.
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.
Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer.
The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling.
Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew.
