Faced or Unfaced Insulation? Which should I use?

Getting your home the right insulation can save you thousands of dollars a year in energy bills and ensure that the effort you are putting in providing a comfortable environment isn't gone to waste. 

Sometimes, the problem is not exactly doing the effort of creating a nice indoor climate, but how to ensure that this climate is adequately kept.  To this end, you insulate your home.  Among the many insulation options available for the homeowner, there is one that stands above the rest:  Paper faced insulation.

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.  The purpose and way to apply is basically the same. Any potential changes can be secured by asking your local insulation dealer.

The first thing that you need to know is what type of insulation will work best for your home.  It could just as well be a paper faced material or an unfaced material (this kind of material lacks the paper that gives it steadiness).  An unfaced insulation product does not mean that this product is any less effective that its paper-faced counterpart. 

So it is just the same?

You can view or understand insulation the same way you understand gasoline for your car.  There are three types of octanes sold in the USA:  Regular, Mid-grade and Premium.  While all three power up our cars, they are by far not the same thing and you can’t and should not use them instinctively in your car. 

 The same applies to faced, unfaced and other kinds of insulation products.  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.  If you are planning on doing your home’s insulation installation yourself, it will depend on your experience installing insulation in your home. 

 Faced insulation products not only use paper, they can also use aluminum foil, vinyl and even aluminum paper.  It is important not to mix them nor use the wrong faced insulation product for each task.

When to use paper faced?

Mostly, paper faced insulation is the best choice for neophytes in insulation installations.  It is also recommended for homes that haven’t been insulated.  The ideal places for this insulation are:  

•   
• Walls
• Ceilings
• Floors
• Crawl Spaces

 If you are looking to insulate attics or between floors when both of them are inhabited; then you might want to use unfaced insulation.  This will add soundproofing. 

What is the purpose of the paper?

Using paper in the insulation material provides an already built-in vapor barrier that will prevent water to sift into the wall or the structure of the house.  While you might think you do not need the paper faced insulation because there are no water lines in the area you will be insulating; you will need to comply with state and federal regulations, so paper faced insulation might be a must in your area of residence.

When you are handling the faced insulation material, you will need to handle it with care, the paper, like in any other situation can become detached or ripped and that could cause serious problems in the long run.  If at any point you need to trim it or cut it down to size, make sure you do so with the paper side facing you so it is the first thing you cut.  

Doing this will ensure that the paper is cut and not torn.  As I have mentioned, there are alternatives to the paper faced insulation products, but most of these alternatives require experience and over two hands in the proper installing process.  In definite, these are not adequate for inexperienced insulation installers.

Now, it is a common mistake to believe that since the faced insulation products have a side with paper; it is needed to have more of them just like in the case of loose-fill insulation and foam insulation.  This is not the case.  The entire insulation product has been created with the idea that there is no need to add layers of insulation on top of each other for a perfect insulation.  Doing so can cause the opposite effect. 

When you install paper faced insulation, it is important to remember to set it with the paper facing the wall.  While there is no actual problem to install it the other way around, it will require drywall to cover the paper and prevent accidental fires.

Most insulation products are fire retardant.  However, that does not mean that they are fireproofed.  They will still combust and they will still burn down if they are exposed to fire for a lengthy period. 

In some insulation presentations, the paper adheres to the insulation material with asphalt. This makes the paper impermeable to water vapor and creates a barrier that will keep the warmth of the home where you want it instead of migrating to the outward of the house and into the wall or other structures.

This is the reason you need not add a vapor barrier when you are using paper faced insulation.

Installing insulation has almost the same steps for all: 

1. Measure the roll or batt of insulation to the area that you are going to install it in. If it is too big, then trim it to size. Remember to set the paper faced insulation upwards. To ease the cutting it might be helpful to pin it down with a piece of plywood.

Cut carefully

2. Once you have successfully cut it down to size, gently fit it into the cavity without using force. Otherwise you will damage it and reduce its efficiency.
3. Fold out the paper flange along one side of the insulation. Position the flange flat against the side face of the wall stud (or floor joist or roof rafter) so the edge of the flange is flush with the interior edge of the stud, joist, or rafter. Staple the flange to the side of the framing member with staples spaced about 12 inches apart (or as directed by the manufacturer). Repeat to fasten the other side flange.

Be careful when insulating through plumbing pipes and electrical wiring. For these parts, most experts consider that the best approach is to leave them free- from insulation materials. The best approach is to take many pictures and approach a contractor or your local insulation supplier for advice.

If you are uncertain as to which type of insulation works best for you, your local contractor or insulation retailer will be able to provide you with help.

 

The First Steps on Ceiling Insulation Planning

The First Steps on Ceiling Insulation

There are many types of homes in the USA.  some of them do not have attics in them, instead, they might have small crawl spaces or none.  While we should insulate any home, the way to approach this task differs from one kind of home to another.

Ceiling insulation will assure you that your energy bill will not go overboard.  During the raining season months and months of winter, the warmth that you set your home for will remain without additional problems and will not escape through the ceiling.

However, any house has “more ceilings” than the one we all know where Santa lands his sleigh every Christmas.  Each room has a ceiling and a floor.  Each room in the house has an original purpose and a different need in terms of insulation.

So it does not matter where to start?

 Yes, it matters.  The first ceiling you should insulate is the one that covers all others.  That is the rooftop of your home.  The reason for this is that the rooftop of your house is the weakest link in the entire building.  Through this point of entry or exit the warmth of the sun sifts into the house stealing it off its coolness during the hot months of summer or allows the warmth to escape in the raining months or winter. 

Once you have successfully insulated the roof of your home, then you can proceed with the insulation of the other rooms in your home.  It will depend on what you need for each one.  Consider that not every room has the same needs and requirements. 

For instance, the nursery might want to have a sound proof insulation that prevents the baby from waking up if the older kids play rugby indoors.

Along with this article, it is important to mention (as many times as necessary) that doing insulation on your own, while possible, should always be done with the proper precautions and considerations.  That is having the needed protection, and getting the area read for insulation.

It is always easier for either a neophyte insulation in do-it-yourself or a seasoned one to work with an already prepared area rather than start on bits and pieces of the area. If you toss everything into the wind and proceed without the proper first steps, you could ruin all the work, which not only means that you have wasted all the money and time invested, but also could cause a serious spike in your energy bill.

If the worst happens, you could end up with structural damage in your rooftop or the foundations of the house. It is a worse-case scenario, but that does not mean it does not happen.  

How to start?

• Think
• Plan
• Consult
• Prepare
• Do

 

Think 

Before starting to consider what is it you need to achieve by insulating your ceiling?  Do you want to make sure that the indoor temperature stays like it is for a longer time?  Do you want to reduce your energy bills? Perhaps you want to make sure that there is no moisture, water vapor, mold or mildew growth in the crawl space in your ceiling.

These are valid reasons, however if yours is not listed among these, your own decision and wish are also valid reasons to insulate your home.  

Now that you have decided what you need the insulation to do for you; the time comes to seek what kind of insulation do you think you will benefit more from.  To insulate a ceiling, you can use different types of insulation, from loose-fill to paper faced insulation.  It all depends on what it is you want to accomplish.

If you are uncertain what kind of insulation to use, check the rest of the articles in this site or leave us a line or two.  I will delight us to help you find the perfect insulation for your needs and home. 

At this point you also need to be truthful about your safety and the availability for you to access properly the ceiling.  If it is hard to access, if you need special equipment it might not be the best idea to do your own insulation. 

Plan

 

This is the second step in the process.  It is now the time to decide if you will go on forward and install the ceiling insulation yourself or are you going to hire a contractor or an assisting guide.  

Consider that while using some insulation types you can have a process that will be seamless, there are still things that can become bumps in the road and that hinder the easiness of the process.  In addition, it is not a task that will take a few hours.  Always consider that this process, regardless if it is insulating your ceiling any other part of your home, will take several days.

Next, if your ceiling has a crawl space, if it has electrical connections, lamps or any other electrical installation (even the cable from your local cable tv company counts) you need to be sure that these are properly installed and insulated by themselves.

Electricity in faulty wires can cause short circuits that can cause a fire with an electrical origin. The problem with these types of fires is that they are not easily put out.  They require more experience and resources and can consume a lot more surface/areas before being extinguished.

The same applies if you have water or drainage installations in the attic.  For all practical purposes, if you have any installations or cables running to and from your home through the ceiling, crawl space or attic, it is important to check them before starting with the insulation work.

Consultation 

Keeping the number of a trusted insulation contractor, salesperson or even your favorite insulation manufacturing company is an excellent idea as they might help you out if at any point you face problems or bumps along the road.

Consultation is a tool that will come in handy not only during the installation process but also if accidents should happen.  This is a step that, while it has little influence in the actual installation, is a process that I would not suggest you skip.

Prepare

Preparation is the next step in the doing process for insulation installation.  While the installations in the ceiling, surrounding areas, attic or crawl space have been revised and corrected if needed.  Now is the time to clean and make any other changes, modifications or corrections that need to be done before starting the insulation process.

Also take this moment to remove any fixtures, furniture and other movable objects that can become an obstacle when installing your chosen insulation.

If during the planning or the thinking stage you notice that in the ceiling or its surrounding area there is the unmistakable smell of mold or mildew, then it is now the time to have it corrected.  Correcting problems of mold or mildew might take the longest time in the overall plan of insulating your ceiling.  However, it is the best way to ensure that, at a later date, you will not be facing structural damages or health problems for you or your loved ones.

Do not correct the mold, mildew or water vapor related problems by yourself.  Doing this on your own without the experience or the proper equipment will only cause a bigger problem and will not solve the matter at hand.  

All the previous steps are connected between them. When you are checking the installations (water, electricity) of your home through the ceiling, it is also a splendid opportunity to see if there are any additional repairs that need to be done.  One of the most common ones is wood replacement of the beams that support the ceiling itself. 

What if I already have an insulated ceiling?  

Sometimes homes have insulated ceilings already.  It is always an outstanding idea to check the state of the already installed insulation every so often.  Preferably with the change of the season.  The reason for this is that in order to be efficient in checking whether there is a water leak from the ceiling onto the insulation, the raining season is the best time.

To ensure that there is no vapor condensation in the insulation, then the period of autumn and winter are ideal.  It is during those times when you can verify if the heat from the home clashes with frigid air sifting through, causing water vapor or condensation to create.

During the months of spring is the perfect time to see if there is a problem with any potential condensation created during the months of winter.  If so, you will see mold or mildew growing in the insulation and/or the house foundation structures.

Another thing to consider when you do all the preparations for insulating your home is to remove any of the old insulation that may linger in our home. Setting new insulation on top of the old insulation will cause problems as the fresh one will not hold properly and can easily come down or peel off the place whether it has been set up.

However, it is interesting to know that there is a difference of opinions regarding whether there should be a removal of existing insulation prior to installing new insulation.   For many experts, there is actually no proper reason for the old insulation to be removed.  These experts consider that, for the do-it-yourself homeowner, using the previously installed insulation gives them proper blueprints so-to-speak much like a paint-by-numbers project.

The opposing opinion states that, since the insulation has a viable life expectancy of 8 years, keeping it longer will only cause the insulation to degrade and that will give the new insulation an unsteady foundation.  As I have mentioned earlier, it is expected for the new foundation to slip off and crumble if applied over old insulation. 

Whether you decide to follow one approach or the other, something is for sure.  The state of the previous insulation is what will give you the guideline to follow the first train of thought.   If the already installed insulation is:

•         Faulty
•         Brittle
•         Decolored
•         Damaged
•         Has an appearance change, it can look like old cotton or worn out wool
•         Has a structural change it could slip or look shaggy
•         Smell funny or unpleasant
•         Wet

If you notice one or more of the previous changes, then you should NOT use the old insulation as a blueprint and install the new one on top of it. Depending on the type of change you might need to call a contractor, a plumber or a mold remediation crew to help you clean and clarify before re-insulating.

Materials and equipment to have.

•         Vapor barrier.  This will come in handy, mostly.  If your chosen insulation material does not come paper faced, then you might choose to use a polyethylene sheet.
•         Air seal. This is a complement to the vapor barrier.  This will prevent any vapor that escapes from the home to not condensate.
•         Weather strip. This is a complement to the Air Seal,  Just like the previous, it will prevent the frosty air of the environment from sifting into the house and condensate with any vapor that escapes.
•         Security equipment.  Do not forget gloves, goggles and the air breathing masks.  Even if you choose not to use loose-fill insulation, it is important to be fully protected.

How to Insulate an Attic

One of the areas that has a higher risk of water-related problems is the attic.  As the house’s roof stands on top of the construction and is exposed to all the elements, particularly the sun 24/7.  

This causes the roof to absorb all the heat from the sun heating up the inside of the house.  If there is an attic, and this attic is built independently from the rest of the house, then we have a situation where the coolness and cold environment of the home clashes with the heat wave that descends from the roof.

This can cause mold and mildew growth in this attic space.  While maybe the mold will not pass or contaminate the rest of the home.  It still is a potential health hazard as the air conditioner and all other air supply inside the home will become transportation vectors for mold and mildew spores.

The best solution is to provide insulation for the attic.  Both in the attic ceiling and in the attic floor.  With this insulation you can prevent the heat that comes down into the home from the ceiling and the sun exposure will not cause unwanted moisture as the coldness from the house rises into the ceiling. 

In addition, the proper attic insulation will save you thousands in energy bills as you will not have leaking cool or hot air according to all the different seasons and climate changes a year has.  

Can you insulate your own attic?

It is possible for any individual to insulate his or her own attic.  It requires patience and effort.  It is certainly not a 20-minute task and while the process itself is harmless; it is important to do a proper job otherwise you will need to take everything down and do it again.  

With the consequential double cost. 

Starting with the basic basics

The first step in all of this process is the decision making.  What is it you need your insulation to do for you.  In addition, you need to decide what type of insulation would you like, plan or be more convenient for you to use.  Roll and Batt are some options.

 The next step is to prepare the area to insulate.  If you have things stored in that area, you will need to move them.  It is always better to have a space rather than move everything, work a small area, and then move everything again.  

Working on small areas at a time will only cause you delay, force you to work extra and it will tire you more and as a result, the overall work will be faulty and done poorly.

Besides this, if there is a need to change, correct, alter or even finish the attic space in your home, then this is the right time to do it.  You should not insulate an attic that hasn’t been finished. Unfinished and raw materials will react badly as they are exposed to the elements and in consequence, they will cause additional problems, work and expenses.

Remember that doing your own insulation work means that unless you have a construction company or some experience in the field, you will need to be extra attentive to detail.  At all times when doing the insulation remember to wear the protective gear is to be used:  gloves, eye protection and a clean particle mask. 

Particle masks usually have detachable filters.  It is important to keep the filter clean as that will allow a proper protection and will make it easy for you to breathe. 

Information you need to know before you start

R-Value is the amount of insulation that any given material will yield once properly installed.  Here, a higher “R-value” will give a more effective insulation.  

There are four commonly used types of insulation:

• Spray foam
• Loose fiberglass
• Cellulose
• Fiberglass batts

Spray foam is considered the most effective and the easiest to apply.  It comes in a spraying can that will shoot the foam much like an airfreshner will do.  Once sprayed it will begin to solidify and will complete its solidification in about 24 hours.  At that point, removing it is difficult and requires experience. 

The difficulty and dexterity required to use the spray foam insulations makes this type of insulation the least adequate for neophyte do-it-yourself home-owners.  It is always recommended that this insulation is installed by a professional.

Loose fill-insulation 

This particular insulation comes in three varieties: Fiberglass, cellulose and mineral wool.  Of these three, it is likely that cellulose is the most effective and environmentally friendly in all situations.  With loose-fill insulation, though it can be installed by hand without a loose-fill blower, it requires more work and attention to detail as the spreading of the material should be done evenly.

If you want to give it a go, begin filling the areas between joists, from the wall to the center of the attic room and from there to the entrance of the room.  Remember to be mindful about ventilations and electrical installations. 

Despite what many believe, spraying loose-fill insulation is not a task that a single person can do.  Regardless if they are doing it by hand or with the help of machinery.  

Loose fiberglass

This is applied by a machine that “blows” it much like a fake snow machine.  This is one of the favorite insulation materials for homeowners who like to do things caring for the environment.  Particularly so because most of the loose fiberglass insulation comes from recycled and left-over fiberglass materials from other forms of insulations such as rolls and batts.

The problem with this type of insulation is that it needs to be evenly distributed to be successful at its insulation purpose.  Additionally, it is important that you keep the safety gear on when applying.  If you have no experience in insulation installing, it is probably a superb idea to hire a professional or have a consultant for this matter.

Cellulose is another choice for homeowners who like to go green.  They make this insulation from recycled grounded paper, which is then mixed with boric acid and two other chemicals that will avoid insect population and provide fire resistance to the material.

Besides this benefit, the cellulose insulation’s thickness is a brilliant choice to ensure that the insulated area will not leak energy controlled air. 

It is important to mention that neither cellulose nor fiberglass nor any other form of insulation is fireproofed.  They will undoubtedly burn and be consumed by fire; what they are is fire resistant, this means that they will not burst into flames when briefly exposed to fire.  

Therefore, it is important to have your attic and any other part of your home checked for fire hazards.  

When you use cellulose as your chosen insulation material. You can properly install it in your home with just an insulation blower. Just like with the loose fiberglass insulation, the trick with this type of insulation is that you need to make sure it is evenly spread. 

It is not as delicate as the loose fiberglass, but just as with this one, it is important that you keep using the protective gear. 

Fiberglass Batts

The last one, fiberglass batts is considered as the easiest ones of the many insulation presentations available for all do-it-yourself homeowners that need to insulate their homes. 

Since fiberglass batts come in pre-set segments, they are easy to install and if you need to trim them down; they are easy to cut down. 

Most of these insulation presentations have very affordable prices and can be acquired from several vendors.  Some of which will also be able to deliver them directly to your door.  

Now that you have decided on what type of insulation to use, what’s next? 

As I have mentioned, and regardless if you are planning on hiring a professional or doing the insulation yourself.  It is always better to have an empty space to work in rather than having to move lots of things around. 

Check that there are no air leaks that come from structural problems in the attic. 

Sometimes a construction settles down and there are minor cracks happening specially where the bricks join.  Concrete sometimes cracks after many years since it has been settled for the first time.  These cracks can sometimes also provide air leaks that should be plugged and resolved before starting with the insulation installation.

When an attic is properly sealed, the insulation that is placed will maximize the effort and the energy bills will be considerably reduced.  Some areas that are often overseen and that might cause all efforts to go in vain are:

• Attic doors
• Pull-down stairs
• Chimney spaces

However, do not forget to check these other areas, if your attic has them:

• Windows
• Cable installations (any cable that comes from the outside and has an entry point in the attic.  Many TV cable companies do this)

Once any potential or known air leaks have been successfully neutralized, then it is time to ensure that any moisture that forms in the attic has a proper way to escape.  When moisture or ice are allowed to build up in the attic, there will be damage to the roof and walls of the home structurally as well as the development of mold and mildew as we have discussed before.

The way to properly ventilate and attic is through attic-ventilation systems, these could be soffit vents or ventilation chutes.  If you are not sure if your attic has any of these, you can contact a local contractor or your trusted insulation provider.

Next on the list are potential problems that can cause serious damage and put your life at risk:  Fire hazards.  Make sure that any electrical installations and flammable services such as gas installations are properly set up and isolated. 

Also consider any light fixtures.  If your attic has been set up as a living space, it is also important to check outlets and recessed lights.  If it hasn’t been set up as a living space, recessed lights should also be taken care of.

When you start your insulation process, make sure that any insulation you install is kept a few inches away from all lighting fixtures, this will prevent excessive heating and bursting into flames and short circuits. 

Here, it will benefit you to hire a professional rather than do it yourself, especially if you have no previous experience in taking care of fire hazards or electrical installations. 

Whatever money you might think you are saving is money you are actually risking when leaving faulty wiring exposed or improperly isolated.