Tapered batt insulation

[WolffG]

Is there a way to make tapered batt insulation?
This is often necessary at truss ends when I don't use an "energy" truss.
I've been using filled regions but that gets a bit messy

[sbrown]

I just use the insulation tool and change the size to a smaller width. You could create a detail component too.

[iru69]

Any other thoughts on this issue? This is extremely common scenario in residential construction.

I'm not even sure how you would use fill regions... go in between the bits of plywood and roofing and white those out?

[Scott Hopkins]

I just use the insulation tool and change the size to a smaller width.

Same here...

[iru69]

Scott H., thanks for the response and example - I was wondering if that's what Scott B. was really suggesting... I guess that works.

I was ultimately able to achieve "good enough" with a combination of cut profiles, filled regions, detail lines, etc. - it's just a drag to think of doing it for more than one section.

[sbrown]

Yes, thats exactly what I do.

[ita]

"Squeezing" the insulation blanket is poor building practice and produces very poor energy efficiency - to the point where the cast of the insulation is questionable! this is what is being communicated in tapering the insulation barrier over structure.

Any reduction in the thickness of the blanket reduces the efficiency of the insulation layer significantly. The insulation blanket thickness has to be maintained - probably by counter battening - to prevent squeezing. Even reflective foil papers and cellular insulation rely on at least a 20mm air layer "attached" to their respective surfaces to be effective insulators.

It would seem that good detailing and construction practice alleviates the need for a detail method of "reducing "the thickness of the blanket - at the same time saving a client the cost of the additional energy for heating/cooling over the life of the structure.

[WolffG]

I agree that squeezing the insulation is not great practice, but there are times when it is unavoidable.

[sbrown]

Does the insulation baffle help when you "squeeze the insulation? Or is its sole job to provide a ventilation route for outside air.

[iru69]

Does the insulation baffle help when you "squeeze the insulation? Or is its sole job to provide a ventilation route for outside air.

As far as I understand, solely to provide a ventilation route.

It would seem that good detailing and construction practice alleviates the need for a detail method of "reducing "the thickness of the blanket - at the same time saving a client the cost of the additional energy for heating/cooling over the life of the structure.

Admirable sentiments, and certainly something worth consideration. However, not very realistic in my neck of the woods (I have to pick my battles with subcontractors - and that's not going to be one of them considering our mild climate). Also, I almost always indicate batt insulation, but blow-in insulation is also commonly used (which is what really necessitates a baffle).