Should insulation be installed paper face in or out?
Regardless of whether fiberglass insulation is installed in a wall, attic, or crawlspace; the paper facing should always face toward the inside of the home. That's because the paper contains a layer of asphalt adhesive which prevents water vapor from passing through it.
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. The insulation should be snug in the cavity, but not compressed.
Faced insulation is best for locations prone to moisture, while unfaced insulation is best for dry, interior locations. Unfaced insulation is more sound-proof and cost-friendly. Faced insulation is more fire-resistant and costly. Inspect your insulation annually to make sure it hasn't fallen.
For one thing, there's Kraft paper attached to one side of the insulation. This paper acts as a vapor barrier that prevents the build-up of moisture and helps control moisture. Moisture is often caused when warm air travels through your walls to a colder area.
When using insulation that has paper or plastic batting, that moisture barrier should face outward toward the attic space. Even if the attic space is unheated, it's typically warmer than the outside air in winter.
None of that can happen without proper seals across insulation seams. Sealing those seams also keeps moisture from getting into the building or home. Without those sealed seams, there can be a lot of issues such as damaged walls and mold to contend with.
Don't add faced insulation on top of your existing insulation, because the vapor retarder in between layers leads to trapped moisture.
Vapor barrier materials are installed on the warm side of the insulation in a building assembly, as determined by climatic conditions. In warm climates, it will be on the exterior and in cold climates, it will be on the interior.
You could do it wrong
If you aren't a trained insulation installation professional, there is a good chance that you could end up installing your insulation incorrectly. A substantial problem when people try to install their own insulation is gaps in the insulation. Such gaps make the insulation highly ineffective.
By Topic. Installing insulation poorly, like leaving gaps or compressing the product, can affect the overall performance and cause energy loss in the home.
Can paper faced insulation be left exposed?
Never leave faced insulation exposed. The facings on kraft-and foil-faced insulation will burn and must be installed in substantial contact with an approved ceiling wall or floor construction material.
Faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder.
The purpose of the paper vapor barrier is to block moisture from permeating the walls and ceilings of the home. This is especially useful in humid locations, like coastal cities.
Fiberglass 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.
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.
It should always face the warm-in-winter side.
Thus, in cold climates, it should face the interior; in hot humid climates, it should face the exterior.
Attic insulation is available with and without a paper facing. The facing contains a thin layer of asphalt, which acts as a vapor barrier to block moisture. It's important to use the right type of insulation to prevent moisture problems in your attic.
You should always put down the vapor barrier before installing insulation. That way, you don't end up with gaps in the insulation that allow moisture to get into the wall cavity, floor joist, or on a crawlspace floor.
Fiberglass batt is considered to be the best insulation for attics. Compared to other insulation materials, it is the cheapest and easiest to install. Fiberglass batt is also incredibly energy efficient, as it helps to slow the spread of hot and cold air.
No matter what type of insulation you choose, be sure to add a layer of the vapor barrier to prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the attic.
Excess insulation in the attic can make a house too tightly sealed and block vents. If airflow is blocked, moisture can't escape. If moisture accumulates in the attic and comes into contact with warm air, that can allow mold to grow, which can result in serious respiratory problems in people.
Should vapor barrier go over or under foam insulation?
vapor barrier is located on top of the rigid insulation between the rigid insulation and the bottom surface of the concrete—in direct contact with the concrete. Do not, and I repeat, do not locate the [vapor barrier] under the insulation as it will keep the insulation wet.
They perform best when installed closest to the warm side of a structural assembly -- toward the interior of the building in cold climates and toward the exterior in hot/wet climates. Vapor retarder installation should be continuous and as close to perfect as possible.
With the two products combined, you can make your home even more insulated from outside wind and other weather conditions. Keep in mind that, when you're planning to install house wrap with rigid foam, it typically goes under the insulation and not around it.
With the insulation upside down the kraft paper is not working as it is intended. Moisture from inside the house can now accumulate in the insulation which will drastically reduce the "R" value. FYI, R19 is usually installed in 2x6 walls, so it takes 5-1/2".
If you must use fiberglass, there needs to be a space between the insulation and the wall. If not, the place where the insulation touches the concrete will be overtaken by mold and mildew. Remember, fiberglass does NOT resist moisture, so it's generally a no-no when insulating basements.
Use mechanical fasteners, such as staples or clips to attach the insulation to the studs or joists. You can also use an adhesive to glue the insulation in place. The last method is to install a vapor barrier over the insulation, which will help to keep it in place and prevent it from sag- ping.
Benefits. A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Insulating your loft, attic or flat roof is an effective way to reduce heat loss and reduce your heating bills. Installed correctly, loft insulation should pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime.
Cellulose insulation
Products are largely made of newspaper, which is highly combustible. Even though it's heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals prior to installation, it is a recognized fire hazard by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Brushing against, moving or touching the insulation can dislodge those glass fibers, allowing them to lodge into skin, eyes, and be breathed in to irritate the throat and lungs.
Short-term Exposure
Direct contact with fiberglass or breathing airborne dust containing fiberglass may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The symptoms of irritation are often nonspecific, temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing.
How long does paper insulation last?
Cellulose Insulation--Made from recycled paper, this insulation does a spectacular job of keeping the house temperature controlled. With a lifespan that can last up to 30 years, it's a green and effective choice.
Some homeowners decide to add more insulation to exterior walls to improve their home's temperature regulation. While the exterior layer can be faced, the interior one should be unfaced to prevent moisture from getting trapped between two vapor barriers.
Mold can grow on the fiberglass insulation backing, which is made of paper and is a mold food source. Fiberglass insulation without backing may be the best choice. Cellulose insulation is constructed of ground paper, which is an ideal food source for the growth of mold if it becomes wet.
The Owens Corning R-13 Kraft Faced Batts are flexible fiberglass insulation batts that are used for roof/ceiling and interior/exterior wall applications. They're installed in wood or metal framing cavities or between furring channels.
The reflective side of the board should be oriented to the exterior and the non- reflective white side should be oriented to the interior. EXCEPTION: If vinyl siding is to be installed over AP™ Foil- Faced sheathing, install foam boards with the white nonreflective side toward the vinyl siding.
Picking the right face is essential with fiberglass insulation that has a vapor barrier (meaning with Kraft paper or foil attached on one side). It should always face the warm-in-winter side. Thus, in cold climates, it should face the interior; in hot humid climates, it should face the exterior.
Answers. There is no reason you can't insulate both sides of the foundation, as long as you only have one vapor barrier on the outside of the foundation.
Interior foam keeps the framing cooler for most of the year (particularly in cold, wet climates), which reduces the drying potential and requires perfect flashing and siding details. Exterior foam keeps the framing warm and dry, which makes the wall more tolerant to occasional leaks because the wall can dry.