Looking for info on the installation sequence of fiberglass insulation in a ceiling/attic space built with 2×4 truss members. Specifically, is it better to install the insulation prior to installing the ceiling sheetrock or afterword? My thoughts are to install the insulation prior to the sheetrock by placeing rolls of R25 perpendicular to the bottom chords, then by stapleing rolls of R13 between the bottom chords, adding the sheetrock as a final step. Any comments on this approach?
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Your idea sounds more labor intensive than putting up the drywall first. Also you will be getting fiberglass all over yourself while putting it up.
Around here they still commonly run Kraft face rolls, paper towards living space, stapled to the trusses. Unfaced batts are then run perpendicular to the rolls on top. I'm always afraid of someone stepping through the ceiling so I like to finish before the sheetrock. Some still blow chopped FG afterward.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
IMHO it depends primarily on how easy it is to move around the attic.
If the attic is open and the trusses allow you to work upright it might be easiest to staple up a poly vapor barrier from below before the drywall goes up and use unfaced batts slid into place from above. Fairly easy if the attic space and openings accommodates standing up and moving large bundles of insulation.
Sometimes this can be made easier if you place a couple of planks across the trusses. A broom can be used to stuff the insulation out under the rafter tails and other tight spots.
Remember even if it is an attic you can walk in if it is a long distance toting bundles of insulation this can eat up any labor savings. Adding a strategically located second, or third, attic access hatch might make sense and can come in handy for later service work.
Post a diagram on the flip side of the main attic access so the others don't get forgotten. Got to love climbing a couple hundred feet through a tight attic only to find out, unknown at the time, a second hatch was only ten feet away from where you had to work in the attic.
In a tight attic it might be easier to staple up faced batts from below, to form the vapor barrier, even though your underneath it and subject to all the flyings falling on you. Wear a loose fitting long-sleeve shirt, goggles and a dust mask.
what I did was install a sheet of drywall on ceiling then add insulation bat, then go to next sheet. after finish I then blew 2 feet of paper insulation on top.
Thank you all for your comments. I don't have much space to move around in the attic as the trusses are on 16" centers and the truss elements/members don't leave much space to move around. I think I'll try to install everything from below; the unfaced batts first, and then the kraft faced rolls between the lower truss chords.