Discover the Benefits of Vinyl Fiberglass Insulation Rolls

Various names, including fiberglass batt, WMP fiberglass facings, VR and VR-R facings, among others, are commonly used for vinyl fiberglass insulation rolls. It is the most popular insulation type for metal buildings, shops, and industrial facilities due to its ease of installation and high energy efficiency. It is precut by certified fiberglass laminators to fit between steel building frames, pole barn wall studs, and floor joists. It is made of fine glass fibers that are spun and bonded with a resin. When a roll is cut, the proper name is batt.

Most fiberglass roll orders in length or batt lengths typically range from 16 feet to 100 feet. Orders of lower lengths usually incur an additional cost from a laminator. The typical widths are 3′, 4′, 5′, and 6′ for steel buildings and 2′ to 4′ for pole barns. The vinyl fiberglass insulation rolls can come with or without a facing. Since the facings protector adds little to the cost, it would be best for you to include it in your order. These facings act as a vapor barrier and tear resistance protections.

How Vinyl Fiberglass Insulation Rolls Protect Your Structure

A consumer primarily orders vinyl fiberglass insulation rolls for their thermal effect, vapor barrier, and tear-resistant applications. An additional reason would be for sound dampening.

Vapor Barrier: Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air turns into liquid water. The initial cause is when a warmer temperature comes into contact with a cooler surface. A vinyl face roll adds a vapor barrier. Without this protection, rust, mold, and mildew can occur. This may result in structural damage to the building and/or damage to stored items due to moisture. Unfaced fiberglass will allow moisture through. The vinyl facing is what makes the insulation a moisture barrier, not just thermal.
Thermal Protection refers to the vinyl insulation’s ability to retain heat during winter and prevent heat loss during summer. All this reduces heating and cooling costs. The vinyl facing doesn’t directly add much R-value, but it plays a critical support role in thermal protection by helping the insulation system perform optimally over time.
Insulation Protection: The key feature of vinyl-reinforced insulation is to provide your insulation with tear and damage resistance, as well as prevent sagging.

Vinyl Fiberglass Insulation Rolls installed as a Double-layer or Single-layer system

Double-layer systems:

A dual-layer insulation system, such as the one shown above, usually ranges between R-Value 30 to R-Value 43 for most steel structures or pole barns. The vapor barrier offers enhanced performance, making it ideal for climate-controlled or high-efficiency buildings—certified laminators custom-cut fiberglass to fit snugly within steel or wood supports.

Double-Layer Fiberglass Insulation Installation

To increase the R-value beyond R-19, a second layer of fiberglass insulation can be added. The bottom layer (faced with reinforced backing) is installed between purlins or girts, filling the cavity based on purlin depth for optimal efficiency.

Banding is screwed to the underside of purlins to hold this layer in place. A top layer of unfaced insulation is then laid over the purlins, creating a high-performance, double-layer system.

Single-layer systems:

Vinyl-faced batts installed between framing members. These thicknesses are typically 3-6 inches. Going above this thickness level can cause canning or waffling of the sheeting. This is when there are visible distortions in the metal sheeting of a pole barn or steel building. It looks like the metal is warped or wavy.

Single-Layer Fiberglass Insulation Installation

Lay the insulation rolls over roof purlins and/or wall girts before installing exterior metal panels. The insulation is sandwiched between interior framing and outer sheeting, with the vapor barrier (typically white) facing inward for a clean finish. We reinforce this facing for added durability.

This single-layer setup can achieve an R-value of up to R-19. Rolls feature 3” tabs for easy stapling, and each order includes double-sided tape for quick installation as well as patch tape for minor repairs.