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Question: Should we use faced or unfaced insulation?

Mike writes from Chesterland, Ohio: "I have 1" FOAMULAR rigid foam boards installed in my below grade basement. There have been no moisture or water issues. We just had the basement framed with 2x4 walls in front of the rigid foam. We would like to insulate these walls before it is covered with drywall. I see conflicting reports about what to use for insulation in these walls before the drywall goes up. Should we use batted/faced or unfaced insulation? If using batted, which directions should it face? I am concerned about a double vapor barrier, would this create one? Also, since this is in a basement and will be open on the top and above a dropped ceiling, does that makes a difference with the vapor barrier?"

Answer: I recommend paper-faced insulation. You will want to face the paper inside so you see it after the insulation is installed. From there you put the drywall up. FOAMULAR® insulation is not considered a vapor retarder in the thickness you have (one inch).

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Question: Where can I find R-30 in Spring Valley, New York?

Manny writes from Spring Valley, New York: "looking to buy R30 in Spring Valley NY"

Answer: Below are a few dealers in your area that can order R-30 if they don't have it in stock. You can find more at www.itseasytoinsulate.com.

Home Depot 1261
43 Hutton Avenue
Nanuet, NY 10954
914-627-0726

Home Depot 1217
2024 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994
845-348-0566

Lowe's 1192
206 Route 303
Orangeburg, NY 10962
845-613-6000

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Question: What can we do about the smell?

Patricia writes from West Boylston, Massachusetts: "I, too, have just put a new addition on my house and insulated with fiberglass insulation. It is yellow and unbacked so I don't know if it is Corning or not but I do need to know what to do about this horrible smell. The walls are all now plastered but we can still smell the bad smell. What can we do now?"

Answer: The insulation you have is probably not made by Owens Corning. All Owens Corning insulation for residential applications is PINK. The odor you smell most likely comes from the binder in the insulation. During the manufacturing process the insulation is cured in an oven. In some cases, however, not all of the binder is cured and what is left will out-gas over time causing the odor you detect. This odor should dissipate over time, depending on the weather and conditions in the home such as humidity.

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Question: Do you have information about glass fireplace fronts?

Ernie writes again from Redwood City, California: "We have a gas fireplace and I believe that we should put a glass fireplace door to seal off the front and prevent warm house air escaping up the chimney vent. My wife doesn't like the look of the glass fireplace door and believes that an insignificant amount of warm house air escapes. Do you have any factual material that I can show her to convince her that a glass fireplace front is worth the reduction in living room looks? I believe that we have a six inch vent going up the chimney."

Answer: Owens Corning does not produce fireplace doors so we don't have any information about their use. I suggest contacting a manufacturer of such doors to request information.

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Question: Is there anything I can do to insulate my condo?

Janet writes from East Brunswick, New Jersey: "I live in a bottom floor condo and find that most of my heat and AC leak out because of poor insulation. My condo community is about 20 years old and the insulation in the walls seems non-existence. Is there anything that I can do to better insulate my condo?"

Answer: There are actually quite a few options, but your ability to implement them will depend on your condo's regulations. For example, you could apply FOAMULAR® insulation on the inside and cover it with a 15-minute fire rated material such as drywall. You could hire a contractor to discuss blowing fiberglass insulation into the walls. Those are just a couple options. Check with your condo association to see if any of its regulations apply.

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