to insulate or not to insulate...

Hi, I am insulating my basement (using the great info I've gotten here on walls & vapor barriers). Now I want to fill the ceiling joists (for both thermal & sound reasons) - they are about 9" deep (16" centered). So my questions are: 1) I was planning on using unfaced batts. How do people keep them up? Something like chicken wire? 2) For such an application (fiberglass), what thickness/R value would you recommend? I think R-19 to R-25 would work, any suggestions? Thanks, Bob

I need to insulate the supply and return header pipes for my hot water baseboard heating system that run through my crawl space. The crawl space is almost 10 degrees warmer than the living space above it. I am wasting money heating my storage area. Our Ultra boiler stops firing when the water outlet temperature is about 186 degrees F. I believe I can change that set point by about 20 degrees in either direction. I have investigated my pipe insulation options. Closed cell ½” thick has an R value around 2.6 and can withstand about 220 degrees. The double foil insulation with the bubble wrap core has a much higher R value, the only problem is the bubble wrap will start to melt around 180 degrees. From a cost standpoint the foil is about 1/4 as much as closed cell. Rigid fiberglass with a foil scrim around it has an R value around 5 per inch and I think the cost is comparable to closed cell. There are some areas in the pipe run where I don’t have much clearance between the pipe and solid objects so rigid fiberglass won’t work everywhere. I am considering wrapping the foil around the closed cell insulation to protect the foil from the heat and raise the R value of the closed cell. Do you think this is a good idea? Tom Elam