John writes from Hudson, Ohio: "About 8 years ago I bought OC insulation that had a perforated plastic wrapper around the fiber glass. This wrapper was not a traditional vapor barrier, but did cut down on the fibers in the air and itching when it was handled. The plastic wrap allowed vapor to pass through, similar to a plain, unfaced piece of insulation. All I can find now is the plain unfaced or kraft faced insulation in rolls or batts. Is this product on the market still and if yes, where can I buy it?"

Answer: The product you are asking about was called Miraflex insulation. It was a good product for the reasons you cite but not enough people bought it to justify continued production. Owens Corning stopped producing the product several years ago. If you buy one of the products the company makes today, follow a few simple procedures and you should have no problem.

When installing fiber glass insulation wear a long sleeved shirt that is loose at the neck and wrists, long pants, gloves and a cap. Wear eye protection (safety goggles, safety glasses or a face shield or a combination of these, as appropriate). And wear a disposable dust respirator to minimize the inhalation of dust. When you finish the job, launder the clothes you wore separately and take a warm-water shower with soap. Most people report no problems when they follow these procedures.