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How does foil faced insulation work?

Jan. 06, 2025

Agriculture

unfaced or foil faced insulation? that is the question

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Reading time: 4 minutes ǀ Simon Borrows

The world is changing so fast and so are we. No wonder why we are looking for ever easier solutions, often products that solve 2 problems at once. Same with a insulation. When it comes to choose one, we will certainly want to find a product that will solve all our doubts. Foil faced insulation certainly is one of them. But before that, there was plain unfaced insulation. In this article we will try to show you all the differences between unfaced and foil faced insulation materials. We hope this will help you make the right decision. Let's Rock and Roll.

Pictrure credit:folnet.pl

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNFACED OR FOIL FACED INSULATION. THAT IS THE QUESTION

UNFACED INSULATION. YEARS AGO THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS

FOIL FACED INSULATION. GAME CHANGER PRODUCT

FOIL FACED INSULATION. IT CAN&#;T BE THAT GOOD. WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES ?

Standard insulation insulation works by trapping air within the insulation material. The purpose of this insulation is to slow the transfer of the heat from inside your home to outside&#; This story was dragged on for many years. We used to buy cheap insulation, we paid pathetic low money for its installation. And we used to pay relatively low gas bills. However, hard times were ahead.
Years ago, there was no need for a better insulation product, which certainly was unfaced insulation. Unfaced insulation was doing its job until a certain point. Global warming has given us hot summers. The sun's rays heat our attics to very high temperatures, reaching 40-50 degrees.

So unfaced insulation is no longer good enough. It heats up throughout its thickness, warm air finally begins to penetrate through its surface. Air conditioning units start to come into place. That's not all!
Many years ago we did not have modern technologies that would allow us to produce airtight windows such as Velux. In most cases the wind was blowing through the windows, and frost was coming through.

Picture credit:clerawindows.com

Rising gas bills forced us to buy modern windows, which in turn served us another problem such as condensation. The amount of steam produced could not be controlled anymore. Higher moisture levels simply started to penetrate deep into the structure of the building such as rafters or insulation itself.

Settling water vapour reduces the life of insulation. This means that it will be destroyed much faster than it should. We know well that water is the enemy of insulation. Even the smallest amount of it in a long time causes its complete destruction.
So we have come to the conclusion that we need a material that, in return will reflect heat like a mirror, and will not allow moisture to penetrate into its structure. What's else? There&#;s more to it than that&#;

Fibreglass or stone wool is often associated with itching and skin irritation. Back in the day, people didn't take care of their health the way they do today. So the need to create a completely new product arose. Therefore, foil faced insulation was invented.

Foil faced insulation is a real game changer. It affects the result of an insulation game very much. Foil faced insulation alters insulation business strategy and conceives an entirely new plan of action. Aluminium foil bonded to insulation has a big and important effect on insulation, usually making the difference between unfaced insulation. You are free to copy and share the text from this blog, as long as you provide proper credit and a link to the original source - https://insulationgo.co.uk/.
Foil faced insulation not only slows the transfer of the heat but also acts like a mirror reflecting heat back to where it came from. In fact, it reflects about 95% of the infrared heat that hits its surface. Those 95% of the infrared rays that strike aluminium's surface are REFLECTED rather than ABSORBED(unfaced insulation). Aluminium foil bonded to insulation happened to be very handy to do just that!

Picture credit:environmentalcoatings.com.au

That's what would really work, because you're reflecting the heat before it even gets into your house.
Aluminium faced insulation can also work as a Vapour Control Layer called VCL. It can also be used as a vapour barrier as it is relatively waterproof and unaffected by moisture. Generally speaking, all foil-faced insulation such as Rockwool RW or Knauf RS range may be used as a VCL provided all joints are properly taped with a suitable foil tape. Foil faced insulation is typically used in first-time applications, such as in walls, ceilings and floors. Any time you use a faced insulation, the foil needs to be facing toward the living space. So in a loft the foil faces downward.
Foil faced insulation is generally blanket-like insulation that can be made out of fibreglass, stone wool, PIR, EPS or phenolic. Foil faced insulation consists of a vapour retarder (the facing) that will block moisture movement from one space to another. While unfaced insulation such as fibreglass can be itchy to install, foil faced insulation is a way better material to work with. It stops almost 80% of that horrible stuff that can get stuck in your lungs. It is also non-toxic and non-carcinogenic, making it safer and easy to install with the use of less safety equipment. You are free to copy and share the text from this blog, as long as you provide proper credit and a link to the original source - https://insulationgo.co.uk/. The aluminium film also protects your eyes, especially when mounted in the ceiling.
Moreover, unlike unfaced insulation, it does not degrade over time due to compacting, disintegration, or from absorbing moisture.

Foil faced insulation comes in many formats such as:

foil backed fibreglass wool,
foil backed rock mineral wool such as Rockwool RW or Knauf RS,
foil backed polystyrene (EPS),
foil backed PIR such as Celotex or Kingspan.

It is also worth to point out 3 main disadvantages of foil faced insulation such as:

It is generally more expensive due to being a metal-based product.
It is also important to note that in order for foil insulation to work correctly, it must be kept free of any dust. This means in some areas, such as roofs, it may require being cleaned of dust from time to time to ensure maximum efficiency. For this reason, it is best to keep the reflective side facing downwards or in a vertical orientation to prevent any dust or dirt buildups.
There is the potential of reflective insulation becoming an electrical hazard should a wiring fault occur. After all, it is a metal and conducts electricity.

Related articles:

7 EASY TIPS FOR INSTALLING FOIL FACED INSULATION THE RIGHT WAY

MINERAL WOOL INSULATION. THE UGLY TRUTH?

HOW TO PREVENT WINDOW CONDENSATION

FIRE BATT INSTALLATION

HOW TO CUT FIBREGLASS INSULATION

ROCKWOOL® HEAVY DENSITY INSULATION

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The information presented on this blog should not be considered as professional advice or a substitute for consulting relevant experts. Before making any purchase decisions or taking action based on the information presented here, it is strongly recommended to contact the product manufacturer directly to verify the details and ensure its suitability for your specific needs.
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Does Foil Insulation Really Work?

DOES FOIL INSULATION REALLY WORK?

Are you wondering whether or not radiant barriers really work? If so, you are not alone. Many people want to understand this important aspect of insulation. A radiant barrier performs the task of reducing the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic. Radiant barriers typically work best when they are perpendicular to the radiant energy that is striking it. If you live in a warm, sunny climate, you can certainly stand to benefit from reduced cooling costs. Your cooling costs could go down as much as five to ten percent.

When to use foil insulation

The company is the world’s best aluminum foil faced insulation supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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Foil insulation tends to work best in areas where space might be too restricted to use other types of insulation. This type of insulation is also best used in hotter climates, where it will best reduce the radiant heat coming off the underside of your roof. It will also retain heat better when the weather cools off.

What is the purpose of foil faced insulation?

Installing foil-faced insulation is good if you want to reduce radiant heat in your attic. Unlike other insulation, it doesn&#;t absorb heat. Instead, it has stronger reflective properties to reduce heat. It&#;s also useful for noise reduction. Typically, foil insulation is installed with the foil side facing the warm air surface. The foil reflects the heat toward the interior of the building. It will reduce heat radiation in the summer and retain it in the winter.

Can foil faced insulation be left exposed?

When installing foil-faced insulation, it cannot be left exposed. This is because the foils used in it are often combustible. Leaving the insulation exposed can create a fire hazard. When the installation is installed, it should be in contact with an approved ceiling, wall, or flooring material. There is only one type of flame retardant foil insulation&#;FSK-25&#;that can be left exposed.

Is foil insulation flammable?

Although foil insulation can be valuable in hot climates if it is not installed correctly and left exposed, a fire hazard is created. Not all foil materials, however, are flammable. FSK-25 materials are flame retardant. Many other types of insulation are not combustible but can smoke and release toxic chemicals. One of the chief risks with the combustible materials is the heat increase when there is a fire. This heat increase accelerates fires. Also, the more insulation there is in a room, the higher temperature a fire will be. Insulation wrapped around wiring or other heat-producing devices puts those materials at greater risk of overheating.

Is foil insulation waterproof?

One of the advantages of foil insulation has over other types of insulation is that it is largely waterproof. It also serves as a vapor barrier. If there is a roof leak or plumbing leak, the foil is less likely to degrade or develop mold and mildew.

Can you paint over foil insulation?

If you want to paint over foil insulation, you can, although because it is non-porous, it&#;s less adhesive so you will have to follow some steps to make sure the paint stays on. Before you attempt to paint in an area that might be poorly ventilated, you&#;ll want to wear a respirator.

First dust the foil face using sticky tack cloths.
Make sure to protect the area around the insulation with painters tape and drop cloths.
Use a roller to coat the foil with a water-based metal self-etching primer.
Smooth the primer with a polyester paintbrush to ensure there are no flaws.
Let the primer dry for about four hours.
After you wash the brush and roller, coat the foil with satin or semi-gloss latex paint with the roller.
Smooth the paint with the brush.
Wait two hours to let the paint dry.

What is the best foil insulation?

There are many good brands of foil insulation on the market today. Several of them consistently get ranked highly by professionals. Some of those include: