What Is BIBS Insulation, and How Does It Compare to Batts?

BIBS stands for Blow-In Blanket System. Installers staple a mesh fabric over the open wall cavity and blow loose insulation in behind it until the cavity is packed full. Batts are the other common choice: pre-cut pieces of insulation that are fitted into each cavity by hand.

Both work. What matters most is how well the insulation fills the cavity.

What Wolf installs

Wolf homes use batt insulation, and hypoallergenic batts are available if anyone in the household is sensitive to standard insulation. On shed-roof homes, where the rafters are I-joists or 2×10s, the ceiling gets a layer of foam plus batts to reach its R-value. The Options Book lists R-24 in the 2×6 walls, R-30 in the floors, and R-50 in the ceiling, with spray foam sealing around the utilities. Those R-values meet or beat the state energy code minimums. Your written proposal confirms the insulation for your model and site, including any cold-climate upgrades.

Why gaps matter

Insulation only works when it touches the surfaces it is supposed to protect. Small gaps around wires, boxes, plumbing, corners, and odd framing pockets can create cold spots and air movement. In the Pacific Northwest, that can mean a home feels draftier than it should even when the wall technically has insulation in it.

BIBS fills around the shape of the framing because it’s blown in. Batts do the same job when the installer cuts them to fit around wiring and boxes instead of compressing them or leaving voids, and spray foam closes the small openings where pipes and wires pass through.

Why factory installation helps

The method matters, but so does the environment. In our Battle Ground factory, insulation is installed indoors, out of the rain, with the same crews and quality checks every day.

That gives us a few advantages:

• Dry materials from start to finish.
• Better visibility while the walls are open.
• Consistent install conditions.
• Easier inspection before drywall closes the wall.
• Less weather-driven schedule pressure.

The R-value on the spec sheet assumes the insulation is installed well, so the install conditions matter.

What owners notice

Owners usually do not talk about insulation by name after move-in. They talk about comfort. A well-insulated home is easier to heat, easier to cool, quieter, and less prone to cold corners.

That is especially important in a compact ADU (accessory dwelling unit) or cottage, where every room is close to an exterior wall and comfort problems are easy to feel.

Insulation is part of the whole system

Insulation is one part of the building envelope. Windows, doors, air sealing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), the roof assembly, and installation quality all affect performance. A good wall package can still underperform if the rest of the home is poorly detailed.

That’s why we treat insulation as part of the whole build. The home is framed, roughed in, insulated, dried in, finished, and checked by one team in one building, before it ever reaches your property.