Should I staple insulation?

Use enough staples to hold the insulation firmly in place (about every 8") and avoid gaps and “fishmouths” between the flanges and framing.

Do you need to staple fiberglass insulation?

When installing fiberglass insulation batts with the built in Kraft paper, you will want to staple the insulation in place so that it doesn't fall. The paper covers the insulation plus enough left over on each side to staple it onto wall studs.

Does unfaced insulation need to be stapled?

No, you do not need to staple in insulation. The caveat is that you are consistant in the stud spacing.

What staples to use for insulation?

For best results, choose 10mm galvanised staples. 10mm will be sufficient to penetrate even the hardest of hardwood timbers. Allow 600 to 900 staples per PACK of insulation.

How do you secure insulation?

Gently tuck the insulation into the cavities between wall studs. Pay special attention to the corners and edges. The insulation should fit snugly in the cavity and leave no gaps. Make sure the vapor retarder on faced insulation is facing the conditioned interior space unless building codes specify otherwise.

Insulation Stapling Techniques

Can I use air stapler for insulation?

People use pneumatic staplers to attach materials that might become easily dislodged if they were attached with a small nail. These include: insulation, house wrap, roofing felt, and hardwood flooring or engineered flooring underlayment.

Should insulation seams be taped?

Yes, you tape any insulation's lateral seams, especially any fluffy stuff... aluminum HVAC tape lasts the longest. The fluffy stuff really only works best in dead air space. Which also means the un-faced side (where you don't tape anything).

Can you use crown staples for insulation?

You can use most clean, regulated, dry compressed air between 60 psi and 100 psi. As far as staples go, you have your pick of 18 crown wire gauge staples. It takes ¼”, 5/16”, ⅜”, ½”, 17/32” or 9/16”. The manufacturer recommended ones are the Surebonder # 4, Arrow T50, or Stanley TRA700 Series Heavy Duty Staples.

What are the flaps on insulation for?

Inset stapling compresses insulation and leaves spaces between the drywall and the insulation. This compression reduces the R-value of both the insulation material itself and the overall R-value of the wall, ceiling or floor in which it's installed.

Can you leave insulation exposed?

"Fiberglass insulation should never be left exposed in an occupied area, according to the American Lung Association," says ALA's Godfrey. "Exposed fiberglass insulation, once in the air, does cause respiratory reactions, such as dry, scratchy throat and coughing, as well as acting as a skin and eye irritant.

Can you use duct tape on insulation?

Although it may technically offer slightly more protection against exposed wires than no covering at all, duct tape is NOT an electrically insulating material and is entirely unsuitable for proper protection against live current.

What tape sticks to insulation?

HomeSealR Tape is used to tape the joints of FOAMULAR extruded polystyrene (XPS) board in residential vertical wall applications when it is used as continuous insulation over steel or wood wall framing. Owens Corning HomeSealR Foam Joint Tape provides reliable adhesion to FOAMULAR XPS insulation.

Where do you staple insulation batts?

To secure, flatten the strip or tabs flat against the inside of the wall studs. Using your staple gun, staple them in place. If the batts have tabs, simply apply a staple wherever these are positioned. If the batts have a strip, apply a staple every 8-12 inches from the top of the stud to the bottom.

When would you use a pneumatic stapler?

A: Pneumatic staplers are used to attach materials to a workpiece. It's usually useful in cases where attaching the material with a nail would be a less than ideal solution as the material or workpiece might get damaged or the material could get dislodged.

Should you put plastic over insulation?

Without a vapor barrier in place, condensation inside the walls could ruin the insulation and promote the growth of harmful mold and bacteria. Plastic, specifically 6-mil polyethylene plastic, is the most commonly used vapor barrier.

What side of insulation faces out?

Picking the right face is essential with fiberglass insulation that has a vapor barrier (meaning with Kraft paper or foil attached on one side). It should always face the warm-in-winter side. Thus, in cold climates, it should face the interior; in hot humid climates, it should face the exterior.