The Ultimate Insulation Buying Guide for Home Builders

October 21, 2020

Experienced home builders know the importance of installing quality insulation throughout a newly-built house. Properly installed insulation can reduce energy costs for the homeowner and ensure comfort throughout the year. There are a ton of different insulation options for homes in Northern California, some of which are better than others.

If you’re choosing which insulation is right for a new home, here are a few important things you should consider before buying.

  • Maximize budget: In the insulation industry, the R-value is how a manufacturer measures how well a type of insulation reduces heat flow. The higher an insulation’s R-value, the better. However, products with a higher R-value tend to be more expensive. Talk to your client about their budget for insulation and find a product that can maximize their budget while still ensuring their home is comfortable and energy efficient.
  • Minimize air leaks: Choosing insulation for home builders in Northern California is just the start of ensuring a home is adequately insulated. You also have to make sure it’s installed correctly! Unless you’re using spray foam insulation—which expands to fill every gap—you’ll want to seal all the insulation in walls and floors with caulk or house wrap. This practice will help ensure that air doesn’t slip through the cracks, making the home uncomfortable.
  • Consider product settling: Loose-fill fiberglass and mineral wool insulation will both settle once they’re installed. Over time, this could mean they’re less-effective insulators than batts or spray foam insulation, neither of which settles. Talk to an insulation contractor about properly installing insulation to minimize any movement after the insulation is installed.
  • Research UV stability: The sun’s ultraviolet rays don’t just give us sunburns when we’re outside—they can also affect a home’s insulation. Spray foam insulation could shrink due to UV rays and extreme summer temperatures. As you can imagine, any insulation shrinkage lowers its effectiveness. Although you should keep this in mind while choosing insulation for home builders in Northern California, don’t let the possibility of shrinkage alone deter you from picking spray foam insulation.
  • Acoustic control: Insulation can also play a big factor in blocking external noises from disturbing residents in their own homes. If the property is near a busy street or located in an area that might be loud, consider spray foam insulation. Spray foam is a highly effective sound barrier and can block out even the loudest noises. Just make sure it’s installed properly for the best results.
  • Moisture and mold: Mold and mildew growing and feeding on insulation is a big concern for a lot of homeowners. Spray foam insulation can help prevent against this. Since spray foam is made of an inert polymer, it can deter mold and mildew, even if it gets wet.

Don’t purchase your insulation from anyone but Ace Insulation, Inc. No other company in the area has a larger selection of insulation options for homes in Northern California than we do! Whether you’re a home builder constructing a new subdivision or a homeowner adding some extra insulation to your attic, we have just the product you need.

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Ace Insulation Inc.