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BATT & ROLL INSULATIONInsulating your walls and ceilings is a great way to save on energy costs, which makes batt and roll insulation a very appealing option for homeowners.
What is batt and roll insulation? Batt and roll insulation consists of two types of materials: batt or blanket insulation, which is typically made from fiberglass, and rolled or rigid insulation boards, such as polystyrene. These products are installed in building cavities between the studs, sometimes in combination with other forms of wall cavity insulation such as spray foam. In ceilings or attics they can also be installed under roof joists, but often batt and roll insulation used here is loose-fill cellulose material that's blown in using special blowing equipment. |
Batt and roll insulation has slightly different performance characteristics than other insulation materials, and should be installed by a professional. Frisco Spray Foam Insulation is your local expert and can offer you a precise estimate free of charge.
Batt insulation refers to pieces of insulation precut to fit between standard stud distances of 16 or 24 inches on center. They generally come in depths from 2-inches up to 12-inches, a thermal performance range similar to that of fiberglass batt. Batt insulation also comes in widths up to 10-inches wide making it well suited for use as exterior wall insulation.
Batt and roll insulation comes in two varieties: unfaced batt or batt with paper covering on one side, which can be installed in either direction for use outside/inside walls or ceilings. Foil-faced batt insulation has a reflective foil facing that should only be installed facing outward in order to reflect heat back into the home. This batt and roll insulation is not recommended for exterior walls where it might get wet periodically.
Rolled blanket insulation
Rigid foam boards are often referred to as rolled blanket insulation when they are used for cavity wall fill instead of standard batt insulation because they are much larger than common batts at up to 48-inches wide, ranging from 4 feet up to 8 feet in length, depending on the depth of the insulation. This form of insulation is laid in place between studs or joists directly after installing the wallboard in a new home build.
Rigid batt and roll insulation boards are available in different thicknesses with greater thermal resistance, meaning they perform better at keeping heat inside your home during winter months. The thicker batt and roll insulation boards can also help to provide fire protection when installed close to potential ignition sources such as recessed lights and electrical outlets located within cavities (see our article on wall cavity fire barriers for more information).
Although batt and rolls may seem like an easier choice than fiberglass batts because their width matches that of standard stud spacing, there are a few factors you should take into consideration before deciding whether batt and rolls are a better choice for your home. These include:
Infrastructure requirements: batt and roll insulation requires a separate vapor barrier that is typically stapled to the studs or joists in order to keep any moisture that might get through from affecting the batt insulation's thermal performance. This can add another $3-$5 per sheet of batt and roll insulation installed above the cost of laying fiberglass batt alone, making batt and rolls more expensive than common fiberglass batts. It may be difficult for an amateur do-it yourselfer to install batt and roll insulation due to its size and weight compared with common fiberglass batt.
General ease of installation: batt and roll insulation is also more difficult to install because the batt insulation boards are larger and bulkier than commonly sold batt insulation. In most cases they need to be installed by a professional installer working from a ladder or scaffold unless you have an extremely high ceiling that allows for easy access from above.
For more information on batt & roll insulation, contact Frisco Spray Foam Insulation at (214) 380-2360.
Batt insulation refers to pieces of insulation precut to fit between standard stud distances of 16 or 24 inches on center. They generally come in depths from 2-inches up to 12-inches, a thermal performance range similar to that of fiberglass batt. Batt insulation also comes in widths up to 10-inches wide making it well suited for use as exterior wall insulation.
Batt and roll insulation comes in two varieties: unfaced batt or batt with paper covering on one side, which can be installed in either direction for use outside/inside walls or ceilings. Foil-faced batt insulation has a reflective foil facing that should only be installed facing outward in order to reflect heat back into the home. This batt and roll insulation is not recommended for exterior walls where it might get wet periodically.
Rolled blanket insulation
Rigid foam boards are often referred to as rolled blanket insulation when they are used for cavity wall fill instead of standard batt insulation because they are much larger than common batts at up to 48-inches wide, ranging from 4 feet up to 8 feet in length, depending on the depth of the insulation. This form of insulation is laid in place between studs or joists directly after installing the wallboard in a new home build.
Rigid batt and roll insulation boards are available in different thicknesses with greater thermal resistance, meaning they perform better at keeping heat inside your home during winter months. The thicker batt and roll insulation boards can also help to provide fire protection when installed close to potential ignition sources such as recessed lights and electrical outlets located within cavities (see our article on wall cavity fire barriers for more information).
Although batt and rolls may seem like an easier choice than fiberglass batts because their width matches that of standard stud spacing, there are a few factors you should take into consideration before deciding whether batt and rolls are a better choice for your home. These include:
Infrastructure requirements: batt and roll insulation requires a separate vapor barrier that is typically stapled to the studs or joists in order to keep any moisture that might get through from affecting the batt insulation's thermal performance. This can add another $3-$5 per sheet of batt and roll insulation installed above the cost of laying fiberglass batt alone, making batt and rolls more expensive than common fiberglass batts. It may be difficult for an amateur do-it yourselfer to install batt and roll insulation due to its size and weight compared with common fiberglass batt.
General ease of installation: batt and roll insulation is also more difficult to install because the batt insulation boards are larger and bulkier than commonly sold batt insulation. In most cases they need to be installed by a professional installer working from a ladder or scaffold unless you have an extremely high ceiling that allows for easy access from above.
For more information on batt & roll insulation, contact Frisco Spray Foam Insulation at (214) 380-2360.
