Insulation Batts – Most Popular

Insulation batts are the most sought-after insulation materials compared to the others like the rigid boards, foams, and loose fills. One of the characteristics that could be the reason in its popularity is that it is the most flexible insulating materials used to insulate floors, walls and ceilings.

Another advantage is that it comes in pure-cut panels and eliminates problems during installations. Batts are usually made from many materials like fiberglass, or rock wool, plastic fiber, and some natural fibers like cellulose or cotton.

They are capable of insulating most places in the house. They are used in insulating floors, walls, and ceilings, including the foundation walls. From fiberglass materials (or rock or slag wool), they are also available in recycled cotton. For thermal and acoustic insulation, cotton varieties are used.

Popularity

Insulation batts have the quality of being very effective and economical when installed correctly, preferable by professional installers. This is necessary because during installation, it is very important that the panels are correctly customized to fit the area where they are needed.

However, batts may not work well for reasons that they do not fill out spaces well enough. It is necessary, for best performance, that they fill out the whole space with no gaps, voids, compressions, or incompletely filled out areas no matter how small or inconsequential they could be.

Types

Fiber insulation has many types of pre-cut batts. The unfaced has insulation showing on both sides. Kraft face is the type with paper on one side to act as vapor barrier. The FSK is a batt with flame-resistant backing on one side.

The one with the dry right on one side is with the vapor barrier. The mold resistant variety has a special facing that had been treated to resist molds and mildew. The foil face is the one facing one side of the batt.

These batts can be cut out from continuous rolls, hand cut and trimmer to fit. Makers usually attach facings (like the Kraft paper or vinyl) for water vapor protection.

Batts with foil facing carry them on one side. Batts that are mold-resistant have special facings that had been treated to resist molds and mildew, while the dry batt has a small water vapor barrier on one side

Suited to wall studs spacing

Since batts and rolls are most sought-after, they are made available in widths suited to the standard spacing of the wall studs, attic trusses or rafter, and the floor joists. Continuous rolls can be hand-cut and trimmed according to fit.

Batts with special flame-resistant facing are available in various widths and are used in basement walls and other places where insulation are mostly exposed. The facing helps facilitate the fastening during installation. (Unfaced batts are actually a better choice when adding insulation over existing insulation.)

R value

Batts and fiberglass blankets usually have a thermal resistance (R-value) between 2.9 and 3.8 per inch of thickness.

Fiberglass blankets and batts have a thermal resistance (R-value) between 2.9 and 3.8 per inch of thickness. High performance fiberglass blankets and batts (those of medium and high densities) have R values between R3.7 and R4.3 per inch of thickness.

Depending on the thickness needed in houses, these values for insulation batts vary greatly.