Faced Or Unfaced Insulation In An Attic

So in an attic the paper faces downward and in a crawl space it faces upward.

Faced or unfaced insulation in an attic.

It s important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic. 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. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. It is basically designed to keep drywall dry.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. However there are also insulations like spray foam insulation that is designed to be moisture retardant anyway when facing isn t required. I don t want a potential mold problem. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the.

If there is already insulation between the joists increase the r value by installing unfaced roll insulation right on top. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling. Simply peel the facing paper off the top layer of insulation.

The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. Faced or the type with paper is typically used in first time applications such as in walls ceilings floors and in crawl spaces. The insulation is against the wall not towards the first floor. Any time you use a faced insulation the paper needs to be facing toward the living space.

When local building codes require a vapor retardant faced insulation is one of the best options. The good news is that the solution to your problem isn t that difficult. My thoughts were i would use faced so there would be a barrier for moisture coming from the outside wall. 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.

Paper faced insulation means that one side of the insulation material comes lined with paper. This is usually kraft paper but sometimes other types of paper can be used. You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation. Or should i use unfaced.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. If i use faced insulation should the paper go towards the outside of the house or the inside. 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. The kraft paper itself is highly flammable.