How to Insulate With Rolls of Insulation
- 1). Open a roll of insulation by cutting across the plastic with a utility knife. When the plastic is cut away, the compressed batts will pop out of the package.
- 2). Remove a batt from the roll and insert it into the bay between two studs in the wall, or rafters in the ceiling. If the insulation has a backing, install the insulation with the backing facing you. Fit it snugly against one end of the bay. Unfold the edges of the paper so that they lay across the edges of the wood studs on either side. Staple this paper to the wood, using one staple about every 12 inches along the length of the batt.
- 3). Cut a second batt to fit into the rest of the bay. Measure the length you need, then lay the batt on a flat surface with the paper facing you. Mark the length on the paper. Lay a straightedge across the width of the batt and push down on it to compress the insulation. When you compress the insulation, you can cut the batt with a single pass of a utility knife along the straight edge.
- 4). Insert the cut piece of insulation into the bay. It should fit closely against the first batt without overlapping, and completely fill the rest of the bay. Staple it to the faces of the studs or rafters on either side.
- 5). Cut small pieces of insulation and stuff them into gaps around water pipes and electrical wires that haven't been filled by the batts. Do the same in small corners or gaps between windows or doors and the framing.
- 6). Cut batts to fit into cavities with a smaller width than the batts. Cut the batt about an inch wider than the cavity and stuff it in, allowing friction to hold it in place. Use this method also when installing batt insulation without backing.
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