Faced vs. Unfaced Insulation: Pros, Cons, and Cost

If your home stays warm in the summer and frigid in the winter, and you know your HVAC system is in tip-top shape, it’s time to check your insulation. Cold walls, high energy bills, and drafty rooms are just a few signs that your home needs insulation—but you may be wondering which insulation is best for your house. Here’s what you need to know about faced versus unfaced insulation.

Most Common Locations for Batt and Roll Insulation

Both faced and unfaced insulation are types of batt and roll. According to Angi data, nearly 44% of homeowners report installing batt and roll insulation in their attics. Other common insulation locations include inside walls and ceilings.

Key Differences Between Faced and Unfaced Insulation

The main difference between faced and unfaced insulation is that faced insulation has an additional moisture barrier, called a face, while unfaced insulation does not. This additional barrier makes a large difference in moisture retention with a minimal increase in cost.

What Is Faced Insulation?

Faced insulation earned its name for the thin vapor barrier that’s attached to one side of the insulation material. In some ways, it may look like someone hasn’t removed the packaging, but it’s meant to be that way.  

Homeowners should install faced insulation wherever humidity and moisture are potential risk factors for their home. Install faced insulation in the following locations:

• Attics

• Basements

• Exterior walls

Common materials for faced insulation include:

• Vinyl

• Kraft paper

• Aluminum foil

Vinyl is ideal for homes in moist climates or climate zones at risk of wildfires, whereas kraft paper is flammable and may pose a greater fire risk. Aluminum insulation, also called reflective insulation, is fire-resistant, reflects solar heat, and protects from water vapor. But alone, it’s not enough to insulate homes in colder climates.

Faced insulation costs anywhere from $0.50 to $2 per square foot, including installation. How much you’ll pay depends on your climate zone and the R-value, which is the amount of heat transfer your home requires.

Best for: Homes in high-to-medium moisture areas that require good insulation properties and moisture containment.   

Pros of Faced Insulation

Faced insulation offers several benefits, including protection from moisture damage, which helps keep the house protected from mold and other moisture-related growths. The aluminum foil used in some faced insulation types reflects heat away from the home, which can improve energy efficiency. Additionally, faced insulation is relatively easy to install, making it a solid choice for a weekend DIY project.

Cons of Faced Insulation

Faced insulation isn’t without some drawbacks, but they’re relatively minor and outweighed by the benefits. This type of insulation costs more than unfaced and has a tendency to trap moisture in small cracks and crevices—doubly so if installed incorrectly.

You can’t layer faced insulation. Also, the face of faced insulation adds another combustible element, making it just slightly more susceptible to fire risk than unfaced.

What Is Unfaced Insulation?

Unfaced insulation simply lacks the facing material that faced insulation has—but this doesn’t mean unfaced insulation is less effective. You’ll find that different areas of your home require different types of insulation. For example, unfaced insulation should be installed in dry, interior locations to provide insulation against outdoor temperatures. Unfaced insulation is commonly installed in the following areas:

• Interior walls

• Under floors

• Ceilings

• Attic floors

• Crawl spaces

Unfaced insulation comes in a variety of materials, including:

• Fiberglass

• Mineral wool

• Plastic

• Polystyrene

• Polyurethane

• Foam boards

• Cellulose, and more

Unfaced insulation costs $0.50 to $1.75 per square foot, with prices on the higher side for colder regions that require more heat-resistant materials.

Best for: Interior spaces that don’t require any form of moisture resistance. 

Pros of Unfaced Insulation

Unfaced insulation offers several benefits for homeowners. It helps keep your home warm by providing a barrier that reduces heat loss and cancels out a wide range of sounds. This makes it a good choice for soundproofing, which can make a big difference in loud areas. 

Additionally, unfaced insulation is fire-resistant. It can be layered for greater insulation effectiveness and comes in a variety of materials. Unfaced insulation is less expensive than faced, and not much more difficult to install. 

Cons of Unfaced Insulation

Unfaced insulation installation is more difficult than faced, which can be rolled into place quite easily. Unfaced is especially difficult in confined areas, where working cleanly becomes more difficult. This type of insulation offers almost no moisture resistance, which can be a real concern in humid climates or for those wanting a good moisture seal in their homes. 

Unfaced vs. Faced Insulation: Every Factor, Compared

So now that we know the specifics of faced versus unfaced insulation, how do the two stack up against each other?

Appearance: Tie

Faced insulation comes in rolls or batts and has a thin layer of faced material on one side of the insulation. Unfaced insulation can also come in rolls or batts, but it does not have a faced material on one side. Unfaced insulation comes in other forms, too, like blown-in insulation or loose-fill insulation.  

Efficiency: Unfaced 

Faced insulation is better at preventing moisture damage; however, it can’t be layered like unfaced insulation. For this reason, unfaced insulation is better for keeping your house warm in the winter. It also offers better sound protection. However, when it comes to insulation R-values, both faced and unfaced insulation have similar R-values, but unfaced insulation’s R-value can become less effective if water damage occurs.

Durability: Faced

Faced insulation is more durable than unfaced insulation thanks to its protective layer, but the insulation’s durability depends mostly on the material you choose. Fiberglass insulation can last for up to 80 to 100 years, but you should still check your insulation after the 10-year mark to make sure you don’t need to replace your insulation.

Cost: Unfaced

Faced insulation costs more than unfaced insulation due to the extra material added to it. Expect to pay anywhere from $0.50 to $2 per square foot for faced fiberglass insulation and $0.50 to $1.75 per square foot for unfaced fiberglass batts.

Fire Resistance: Unfaced 

Some faced insulation, such as kraft-faced insulation, poses a safety hazard, whereas aluminum-faced fiberglass insulation is fire-resistant. Unfaced insulation, like fiberglass and mineral wool insulation, is fire-resistant. Depending on where you live, you may wish to factor this into your purchases. 

Water-Resistance: Faced

Unfaced insulation has no protection against water, which can affect its effectiveness and lead to mold issues. Faced insulation is designed to prevent water from seeping into the insulation.

Ease of Installation: Faced

Both faced and unfaced insulation are easy to install, but faced insulation is even easier because the faced material adds stability to the batts while you unroll and install them. Unfaced insulation tears more easily and is harder to secure since it lacks this extra material. 

Unfaced spray foam insulation is best installed by an insulation company near you, as it requires skill in knowing how thick to apply the material and which safety equipment to wear.

Ease of Repair: Tie

Though some minor repairs can be DIYed if you know what you’re doing, repairing torn or damaged insulation—regardless of whether it’s faced or unfaced—is best handled by a pro who knows the ins and outs of repairing insulation.

Maintenance: Faced

Since unfaced insulation lacks the extra cohesive layer that faced insulation has, you’ll need to check unfaced materials more regularly to make sure the insulation is still doing its job and hasn’t fallen down. The Department of Energy recommends inspecting the insulation annually to check for gaps, cracks, and insulation levels.

Life Span: Tie

Fiberglass insulation that’s faced or unfaced can last up to 100 years, but if you choose a different material for your unfaced insulation, such as cellulose, it might only last a few decades.