Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In An Attic

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Faced or unfaced insulation in an attic.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. If i use faced insulation should the paper go towards the outside of the house or the inside.

I don t want a potential mold problem. When to use faced or unfaced attic insulation attic insulation is available with and without a paper facing. When local building codes require a vapor retardant faced insulation is one of the best options. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Paper faced insulation means that one side of the insulation material comes lined with paper. It s important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic. Simply peel the facing paper off the top layer of insulation.

As you ve discovered since you already had insulation in your attic the layer of new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers. My thoughts were i would use faced so there would be a barrier for moisture coming from the outside wall. Facing is a layer attached to roll or batt insulation as a vapor barrier to help protect the living space from excess humidity or moisture. This is usually kraft paper but sometimes other types of paper can be used.

So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward. The kraft paper itself is highly flammable. It is basically designed to keep drywall dry. If your attic floor has no insulation install faced batts or faced rolls between each joist with the moisture barrier facing down against the drywall or plaster ceiling below.

The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling. The good news is that the solution to your problem isn t that difficult. You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation. Or should i use unfaced.

Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the. However there are also insulations like spray foam insulation that is designed to be moisture retardant anyway when facing isn t required. The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space.