Insulation Strapping – Perfect for Wall, Ceiling and Underfloor Installs
Insulation strapping is particularly useful where uneven joist spacing can result in the insulation falling back out both during and immediately after installing. If the insulation batt sits firmly in place without the aid of any strapping, this is often called a ‘friction fit’. But even so we always recommend running strapping at a 90 degree angle across the joists, and stapling these up against the joists. This will ensure that even if the insulation should slip down over time, it will remain between the joists and be an effective insulator for the life of your home.
Insulation Strapping for Walls
We recommend using strapping when installing thermal wall batts with an R1.5 or R2.0 rating. These thermal batts are less rigid than the acoustic and high-density batts and therefore require strapping to keep them in place. Insulation strapping is not needed when using rigid acoustic insulation in wall cavities, providing that the insulation is cut to the correct size and fits snugly between the joists.
Insulation Strapping for Ceilings
If you are installing ceiling batts before plaster than we recommend strapping the ceiling batts in place. This will prevent them from falling before or during the installation of the plaster boards. A small gap between batts will greatly reduce the thermal efficiency of the insulation. Strapping is obviously not needed when installing insulation from within the roof space. In this case it is simply a matter of laying the batts on top of the plaster below.
Insulation Strapping for Underfloors
Strapping is a necessity when installing underfloor insulation batts, as these will not have the support of plaster to keep them in place over the years. Strapping should be pulled tight and stapled in place to prevent underfloor insulation from falling out from between the joists.