Batt Insulation University of Alberta Edmonton

Mineral wool and fibreglass batts in University of Alberta walls and ceilings

Most of what separates good batt work from bad in University of Alberta is invisible once the drywall is on. That is exactly why it is worth doing carefully: nobody can inspect it later without opening the wall, and the difference shows up as a cold room rather than as a visible defect.

• Vapour control detailed before the board goes on
• Split and fitted around wiring and electrical boxes
• Batts friction-fit to full cavity width, not compressed
• Rim joists insulated and air-sealed
• Odd bays cut to fit rather than packed
• Mineral wool where fire or sound performance matters

Batt Insulation University of Alberta Edmonton

Vapour control, and why the order matters

University of Alberta drywall in context

Cathedral ceilings and leaving the air gap

Wiring, boxes and the gaps behind them

Cathedral ceilings and the ventilation gap

Garage-to-house walls and ceilings

Compression is the most common University of Alberta mistake

Simple, clean, on schedule — Batt Insulation in University Of Alberta Edmonton

Batt Insulation University of Alberta Edmonton: your questions answered

There is a water pipe in my exterior wall. What happens to it?

Wherever the plumbing allows, the insulation goes behind the pipe so the pipe stays on the heated side. If it cannot, we flag it rather than boarding over a line we know is exposed to freezing.

Should I use mineral wool or fibreglass?

Fibreglass fitted well beats mineral wool fitted badly for an ordinary partition. Mineral wool is worth the difference on party walls, bedrooms and anywhere sound or fire performance matters — it is denser and holds its shape in the cavity.

Do you insulate knee walls and attic hatches?

Yes, and they matter more than their size suggests. They are direct openings between heated and unheated space, and a well-insulated wall next to a bare knee wall performs like the weaker of the two.

Do you install the vapour barrier as well?

Yes, and the order matters. Insulation is completed first, the barrier goes on the warm side and is sealed at penetrations before boarding. None of it can be corrected once the drywall is up.

Can you fill my vaulted ceiling completely?

No, and it matters. There has to be an air channel between the insulation and the roof sheathing so the roof can dry. Packing it tight leads to damp sheathing and eventually rot, none of it visible until it is expensive.

Can batts go straight against my University of Alberta basement concrete?

No. Against bare concrete they sit on the cold side where moisture cannot dry, and that is the usual reason a finished basement smells musty a year later. The framing is held off, or a rigid layer goes on first, so the batts stay on the warm side.