Kevin writes from Poughkeepsie, New York: "I have Kraft-faced batts between my basement and main floor. The faced side of the insulation rests against hot water pipes and has developed burn marks from the pipes. Is this a fire hazard?"

Answer: Kraft and standard foil facings will burn and must not be left exposed. It also needs to be protected from open flame or other heat sources. The facing should be installed in substantial contact with the finish material (such as drywall or the subfloor) or covered with a code-approved finish.