FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
How-To

Putting Fiberglass Insulation in Its Place

Careful installation of fiberglass batts is likely to have a bigger impact on your life than tight-fitting miters.

By Bob Kilian Issue 119

Synopsis: Fiberglass batt insulation works as advertised only when it’s installed correctly, and this article explains how to do it. A sidebar in the PDF below discusses possible health problems associated with fiberglass insulation, although new research makes it somewhat out of date.

I like to play golf. It gives me an excuse to get outdoors, knock the ball around and get some sun. I also like golf because it’s a difficult game. If I want improve my handicap, I have to work hard to avoid hooking the ball into the jungle or losing it in a water hazard.

Installing fiberglass insulation has nothing in common with golf except that it also challenges me to do better. Some people think that you can just pack the itchy stuff into a house any old way, but if you don’t pay attention to some key details, the insulation can’t do its job. That means you’ve just wasted valuable time and money that could have been spent doing other things. Although fiberglass faces increasing competition from other types of insulation and although there’s been a fair amount of debate on the health hazards of fiberglass, it’s still the most widely used insulation in the country. So if you’re going to the trouble of installing it, you should know the proper techniques.

Get the right batts for the job—There are two basic types of fiberglass insulation: faced and unfaced. Each type comes either in continuous rolls or in packages of precut lengths called batts. Both types are roughly equal in price per square foot, but I prefer to use unfaced batts for most applications because they’re faster to install; I take the batts out of the bag and friction-fit them into the bays, cutting only when necessary. Although I do use faced insulation for basement walls and some ceilings, it must be stapled to the framing, a time-consuming process, and it’s easy to rip the paper covering, which defeats its purpose as a vapor retardant. Faced insulation is also flammable and cannot be used near potential heat sources.

To estimate the amount of insulation I need for a job, I measure the ceilings and walls to determine the square footage and divide by the number of square feet in a package. The coverage of each package of insulation varies according to manufacturer, R-value and width. For example, I prefer to use 16-in. wide, 4-ft. long R-19 unfaced batts; each package of batts covers approximately 100 sq. ft.

You’ll notice that I specify 16 in. instead of the typical 15-in. wide batts. Usually available in most common R-values, these wider batts are made for walls framed with thinner-width metal studs; when used with wooden framing, that extra inch of width makes a good, snug fit between studs. You can usually get the wider widths from distributors that carry commercial in sulation. Before I start the major areas, I make sure that any openings between floors are fire-stopped with fireproof caulk, unfaced fiberglass or rock wool. Plumbing and wiring chases, flue chases, hearths and chimneys all need fire-stops. It’s a good idea to check your local building code to find out what materials are specified for fire-stops and where you need to put them.

For more photos and details on installing fiberglass insulation, click the View PDF button below. 

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Trip-Saving Tool Hauler

This combination wheelbarrow and dolly from Worx shines as a tool cart.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Get an overview of the process of creating a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes from experienced mason Mike Mehaffey.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 535: Air-Sealing Cape Houses, Smart Watches for Builders, and Repairing Spalling Concrete
  • Insulating a Roof: Getting Higher R-Value
  • Podcast 531: Member's-only Aftershow — ADUs Are a Solution
  • Podcast 527: Sloping Decks, Brick-Filled Framing, and Skylights

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • Podcast 531: Member's-only Aftershow — ADUs Are a Solution
  • Podcast 505: Dirty Band Joists, Taping Roof Sheathing, and Affordable High-Performance Windows
  • Podcast 483: Recalled Electrical Panels, Drainage Behind Brick, and Lazy Additions
  • Squeak-Free Subfloor Installation
View All

New Construction

View All New Construction Articles
  • Dealing With a Faulty Basement Slab
  • High school students help on FHB House KS
    A New Generation of Builders Take Part in FHB House KS
  • FHB House SC front and back elevations
    Journey to Building a New Old Home
  • Illustration of FHB House SC
    Introducing FHB House South Carolina
View All New Construction Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in