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Faced vs. Unfaced Insulation: Choosing the Right Option for Your Metal Building

Posted by Edward Fritz · January 21, 2025

When insulating a metal building, one of the most common questions we encounter is whether customers should use faced or unfaced insulation. The answer depends largely on your building’s intended use, climate control needs, and the type of radiant barrier insulation you’re installing. Let’s explore the key considerations to help you make the best choice for your metal building.

R-Value and Climate Control Needs

For buildings that are not climate-controlled year-round, traditional R-value insulation isn’t always necessary. In non-conditioned or semi-conditioned spaces, radiant barriers like BlueTex™ metal building insulation products are the most effective insulation solution for controlling heat gain and loss.

Additionally, BlueTex™ creates an interior vapor barrier to help you control moisture inside the building, when installed properly. Radiant barriers work by reflecting up to 97% of radiant heat, keeping your building cooler in summer and warmer in winter without the need for thick layers of insulation. Since R-value is specifically designed to resist conductive heat flow, it’s best suited for fully conditioned spaces where heating or cooling is maintained year-round.

If your building will be fully climate-controlled, R-value insulation becomes beneficial. In this case, you’ll want to ensure that:

The radiant barrier layer is installed closest to the exterior metal surface, with an air gap between the metal and the foil surface to maximize its effectiveness.
The R-value insulation is placed on the interior side, closest to the living or working space, to contain heated or cooled air efficiently.

Layering Insulation in a Metal Building

For optimal performance, the insulation process in a metal building should follow these steps:

Install the radiant barrier: Use a product like BlueTex™ 2mm Pro or BlueTex™ Thermal Wrap, which both include a built-in vapor barrier. Ensure there’s an air gap between the foil layer and the exterior metal for maximum heat reflection.
Add R-value insulation if needed: If your building will be fully conditioned, install batt or other R-value insulation between the framing. Spray foam insulation works great with the Thermal Wrap product. This dual-layering helps resist conductive heat transfer through the framing, while the radiant barrier tackles radiant heat coming off the sheet metal.

Faced vs. Unfaced Insulation

Once the radiant barrier is in place, the next step is deciding between faced or unfaced insulation. Here’s how to determine the best option for your building:

If you’re using BlueTex™ 2mm Pro or Thermal Wrap:
These products already include a vapor barrier, so there’s no need to add faced insulation. Using unfaced insulation is sufficient because the vapor barrier function is handled by the BlueTex™ layer.
If you’re using BlueTex™ Foil Only (micro-perforated):
The Foil Only product allows for vapor permeability, so you can choose either faced or unfaced insulation depending on your preference. If you opt for faced insulation, the facing should always point toward the interior of the building. This aligns with best practices recommended by professionals in the building science community, including Green Building Advisor, ensuring that moisture control is maintained effectively.

Why Vapor Barriers Matter

Moisture management is a critical aspect of insulating metal buildings. Without proper vapor control, condensation can build up inside the walls or roof, leading to mold, mildew, rust, or other structural issues.

If you’re using BlueTex™ products with an integrated vapor barrier, you’re already a step ahead in preventing moisture problems. However, if your building has a history of high humidity or is located in a region prone to moisture buildup, you’ll want to ensure your insulation layers are installed correctly to avoid trapping moisture.

Conclusion

Choosing between faced and unfaced insulation depends on the type of radiant barrier you’re using and the climate control needs of your metal building. For non-conditioned spaces, BlueTex™ radiant barriers alone are often sufficient. In fully conditioned buildings, R-value insulation should complement the radiant barrier, with the radiant layer closest to the exterior metal surface.

If your radiant barrier includes a vapor barrier, such as the BlueTex™ 2mm Pro or Thermal Wrap, unfaced insulation is typically the best choice. For micro-perforated products like BlueTex™ Foil Only, the decision between faced and unfaced comes down to preference and specific moisture control needs.

For more information and step-by-step guides to insulating your metal building, visit BlueTexInsulation.com. Our team is here to help you create a comfortable, energy-efficient space that meets your unique requirements.

Using BlueTex in a Carport to Prevent Condensation

Posted by Edward Fritz · September 04, 2024

Condensation can be a common issue in carports, especially those with metal roofs. The formation of moisture not only creates a damp environment but can also lead to rust and other damage to vehicles and stored items. One effective solution to combat your moisture problem inside your carport is using BlueTex™ metal building insulation.

Why BlueTex ™?

BlueTex™ is a reflective insulation that not only helps in maintaining temperature but also acts as an air and vapor barrier against condensation. By reflecting radiant heat, it keeps the metal surfaces of your carport warmer on sunny days, reducing the chances of moisture forming when the temperature drops. This is particularly beneficial in carports where the roof and walls are often exposed to varying temperatures throughout the day.

BlueTex™ also creates an internal air barrier, separating the air inside your carport from the metal skin. This separation reduces your chances of condensation, since the BlueTex™ can stay warmer than the metal framing and skin.

In a cold climate where you're using heat, you want to consider the BlueTex™ 6mm Supreme product for maximum moisture control in your metal building. The Supreme is a foil-foam insulation that blocks radiant heat loss and helps the metal stay above the dew point. A layer of 6mm Supreme and a little heat can go a long way toward helping to stop a condensation problem in a carport.

Closing Up Your Carport

To maximize the benefits of BlueTex™, it's important to ensure that your carport is as sealed as possible. Enclosing the sides of your carport can significantly reduce the exposure to external elements, such as rain or snow, which contribute to moisture buildup.

By limiting airflow from the outside, you can better control the internal temperature and humidity levels, making the BlueTex™ insulation more effective. To learn more about how BlueTex™ helps stop moisture in metal buildings, read our Guide to Moisture Control for Metal Buildings.

Ventilation as an Alternative

If fully closing up your carport isn't an option, proper ventilation becomes key. A well-ventilated carport allows for adequate air circulation, which helps to disperse moisture-laden air and prevent condensation from settling on the metal surfaces. Installing vents at strategic points, such as near the roofline or at the end walls, can create a steady flow of air, minimizing the risk of dampness and the associated problems. This means your carport area will be very cold on cold days, but maintaining a temperature as close to outside air temperature as possible is how you will avoid moisture forming inside.

Conclusion

Whether you choose to fully enclose your carport or focus on improving ventilation, using BlueTex™ metal building insulation is a smart move to combat condensation. By understanding and controlling the environment inside your carport, you can protect your vehicles and belongings from the damaging effects of moisture. To learn more about moisture in metal buildings, start with our Guide to Moisture Management in Metal Buildings.

How does BlueTex™ Insulation compare to Dripstop®?

Posted by Joshua George · December 21, 2023

Comparing Moisture Control Insulation - Bluetex Insulation vs Dripstop

Dripstop® is a condensation control membrane made from a nonwoven fabric that has an adhesive backing. It comes pre-applied directly to the bottom of metal roofing panels for easy installation. Therefore, it can ONLY be used on new construction.

How does it work? First of all, it is NOT a vapor barrier. Dripstop® works like a sponge, so the metal will still get cold and wet. The DripStop® absorbs condensation (like a sponge) to keep it from dripping overnight, and then it dries out during day. It repeats this pattern over and over - absorbing and drying out. But, like a sponge, you have to have a method to dry it out.

This is the main disadvantage to Dripstop®; you MUST have a well-ventilated building for it to dry out. Which is fine, except if you're in a cold climate and you want to keep your building warmer than the outside temperature - then what? If you're in a cold climate and have to fully ventilate the building, your building interior will be RIPPING COLD. Period. While that may be fine for applications like cold storage, most buildings don't want a super-cold interior when it's cold out. Spaces being used for garages, sheds, barns, workshops or airplane hangars, want SOMETHING to keep it warmer (or cooler) than the outside temperature. So, this wouldn't be a good fit for those applications.

Another disadvantage of Dripstop® is that it offers no heat control (no radiant barrier is used in the product). Your building is still going to be HOT in the summer since it’s just a big bare metal box sitting in the sun.

Let us be clear, we don't think Dripstop® is a bad product, but we do think you can do better and we'll explain how below.

BlueTex™ insulation has the advantage of being able to be used in any building - both new construction and existing buildings so anyone can use it at anytime.

Furthermore, BlueTex™ insulation offers superior heat control in metal buildings compared to DripStop®, especially non-conditioned buildings. There's nothing better than a radiant barrier to take the edge off being inside a metal building in summer. Our pure aluminum layer will reflect 97% of the radiant heat coming off the roof and walls inside your building and redirect that heat back out. The end result is a cooler interior, even without A/C! The building will FEEL like it’s in the shade or it’s a cloudy day. If you're going to go through the process of installing insulation, why not use an insulation that has a radiant barrier too? You have nothing to lose by adding foil insulation to your building, and once you feel the difference, you'll agree. When it comes to condensation control, heat control plays a big part too, so a radiant barrier is a good option to include in your metal building insulation.

Even if you only plan to heat or cool the building occasionally, as needed, to take the edge off, BlueTex™ for metal buildings is still PERFECT for these “semi-conditioned” buildings (buildings that are heated or cooled every now and then). Think of BlueTex™ as a light jacket or a sweatshirt. It’s all you need to keep the building workable when it’s really hot or cold.

One more point about BlueTex™ being a better option than Dripstop® for condensation control. We tackle condensation from a different direction than Dripstop®. Rather than allow condensation to perpetuate daily and just catch and release it, BlueTex™ aims to actually stop the condensation process from happening at all. In our Guide to Moisture Management, we discuss how condensation forms in metal buildings (on metal surfaces) and how to use BlueTex™ insulation to stop condensation from forming on your metal surfaces. We want you to be confident that you can stop condensation from consistently raining inside your building with just a few supplies and a careful installation.

If you'd like more information on how BlueTex™ can help you stop heat gain, help you retain heat in winter, and be a solution to condensation problems in your building, contact us today.