When insulating floors, particularly using faced batt insulation between joists, one common method involves stapling the facing to the sides of the joists. This technique is often referred to as face stapling.
Understanding Face Stapling
Face stapling is a method where the flange or facing material of the insulation batt is attached to the face (side) of the floor joist or framing member using staples.
According to the provided reference, Face stapling helps avoid compression and provides more continuous vapor retarders.
This means:
- Avoiding Compression: Stapling the facing to the side of the joist allows the main body of the insulation batt to remain fluffy and fill the cavity effectively. Compressing insulation significantly reduces its R-value (insulating power).
- Continuous Vapor Retarder: If the insulation has a vapor retarder facing, face stapling helps create a more continuous barrier against moisture migration when installed correctly and sealed at seams.
Stapling Technique
Regardless of the specific insulation type or location, the reference emphasizes key details about how the staples themselves should be driven:
- Placement: Make sure the staples are driven in flat.
- Depth: And are flush with the surface.
This ensures the staples securely hold the facing without damaging it or protruding, which could snag or create inconsistencies.
Practical Application for Floor Insulation
When installing faced batt insulation between floor joists using the face stapling method:
- Cut the insulation batt to fit snugly between the joists, typically about 1/2 inch wider than the cavity width.
- Position the batt in the cavity with the facing towards the heated side of the floor (usually upwards, towards the subfloor in colder climates, or downwards, towards the crawl space/basement in hot, humid climates, depending on local building codes and moisture flow analysis).
- Align the facing flange along the side of the floor joist.
- Using a staple gun, staple the facing to the side of the joist. Place staples frequently enough (e.g., every 6-8 inches) to hold the insulation securely in place.
- As highlighted in the reference, ensure each staple is driven flat and flush with the surface of the facing and joist.
- Repeat this process along both sides of the jojoist cavity.
- Butt the ends of subsequent batts tightly together to avoid gaps. If the facing is intended as a vapor barrier, seal the seams between facing flanges with appropriate tape (e.g., specific insulation or house wrap tape).
Following these steps, incorporating the face stapling technique and ensuring staples are properly driven, helps achieve effective insulation installation under floors.
| Key Aspect | Benefit (as per reference) | Staple Requirement (as per reference) |
|---|---|---|
| Face Stapling | Avoids compression | Driven flat |
| Provides more continuous vapor retarders | Flush with the surface | |
| Proper Stapling | Securely holds insulation |
By adhering to these principles, you help ensure your floor insulation performs correctly, providing optimal thermal resistance and moisture control where applicable.
