What is the difference in two products labeled R-13?
Rick writes from Franklin, Indiana: “When I go to my local home improvement store I see R13 batt insulation and R13 rolled insulation that is labeled “Utility”. The batts are recommended for walls and crawl spaces but the rolled doesn’t say anything about walls and just says around doors, basement etc. What is the difference? Isn’t R13 R13?” Answer: You are correct – R-13 is R-13. For some projects it may be easier to work with batts than rolls, and vice versa. Some projects need a vapor retarder and others do not. Be sure to get Kraft-faced product if you are insulating exterior walls. The paper is installed toward the warm-in- winter side of the wall.
