Buying the Right Batt Insulation

Buying the right insulation helps you save big time in the future!

Fiberglass insulation has a reputation for being itchy and irritating but its benefits are in the installation process and price that can't be beat. You can buy it at any home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes.  The hardest part about Batt insulation is choosing the right type for your project.  Fiberglass insulation varies in size, thickness and length but also in efficiency, type of vapor barrier and potential for skin irritation.  The following steps who you how to sort through the many types of fiberglass insulation and choose the one that works best for you. Once you decide, call lumberyards and home centers to locate the product. And check for substitutes in case you can't find the type with the exact features you need.

Step 1.) Find batts that completely fill the joist, rafter or stud space. The batts come in various sizes; 8, 15, and 23 inch widths.  Make sure to use the 15 inch for 16 inch studs and 23 inch for 24 inch studs. Fiberglass insulation comes in 3.5 and 6 inch thickness for walls and 8, 10 and 12 inch thickness for attics. You can buy batts in different lengths too.  If you are insulating a wall, you can find precut batts to fit the right height of your walls.

Step 2.) Choose between 'Faced' or 'Unfaced' batts
Faced batts have a brown kraft or shiny facing paper glued to one side of the insulation.  This paper serves as a vapor barrier and has flaps so that you can staple the batt to studs and joists to keep it in place. The vapor barrier isn't necessary If you intend to cover the wall or ceiling with plastic.  The faced batts costs a little more than unfaced batts.  The vapor barrier should face the inside of the wall, except in hot coastal regions. If in doubt, call you local building inspector.

Step 3.) Select the thermal resistance value
Insulation manufacturers now produce batts with higher fiberglass densities, so you can buy 3.5 inch thick batts with R-11, R-13 or R-15 thermal resistance values (R Value). The higher the number, the better insulation provided.  The higher-density R-15 batts are best but they cost more than twice as much as R-11 batts.

Balance the price with the insulation requirements of your local building codes. If you have to cram more insulation into a minimal wall space, high-density batts might be worth the extra cost. You might not need the high-density batts as low or medium density insulation is adequate for many jobs. 

Because batts are sold in bundles of various sizes, cost comparisons can be difficult. The best approach is to compare the cost per square foot for batts of the same thickness.

Step 4.) Look for wrapped or low-itch batts if the glass fibers cause skin irritation
Fiberglass dust is an irritant, so you need to wear eye protection and a dust mask, gloves and long sleeves.  Batts wrapped with perforated plastic or other materials reduce the dust and irritation while still letting moisture through.

If you need help adding insulation to your home in Denver, contact REenergize CO (720) 530-5259 or visit their shop 2614 Glencoe St Denver, CO 80207