One of the biggest DIY projects homeowners decide to undertake is finishing their basement. Not only does it give them a wealth of DIY experience, it’s also not part of the living space—which means they can take as long as they want or make as many mistakes as they need to before getting things right.
Just because basement finishing is a good DIY project doesn’t mean it’s without its pitfalls, though. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners tend to make when refinishing their basement has to do with insulation. Often, they don’t have all of the essential information or foresight that a professional contractor does, leading to some costly and invasive headaches if the project is done wrong.
We’re here to provide some tips on what to do and what not to do when you install insulation in Petaluma, CA for your basement.
The Proper Process
Before we break down tips for basement insulation, it’s important to get a grip on the overall process. Here’s what it looks like in most cases:
- The base concrete or cinderblock basement walls are cleaned and treated for water
- Foam board insulation is glued to the base and exposed walls and left to properly dry
- The walls of the basement are framed directly against the foam board insulation
- Plumbing and electrical are run through the newly framed walls
- The walls are insulated with batting
- Sheet rock or water-resistant drywall is used to finish the walls
As you can see, there are actually two types of insulation commonly used. Moreover, they’re used in a specific order. Here’s why:
- Foam board insulation is placed directly against the bare walls because it’s inert—meaning it won’t mold or become soggy if there is water leakage in the basement. This is important for avoiding rot.
- Batt insulation is used after the walls are framed to provide true insulation properties to the basement, while also preserving an air barrier. It’s also the most affordable option.
Again, this is most cases. In many newer homes or in homes with larger budgets, spray foam insulation is absolutely an option and provides the same, if not better, benefits with even better longevity.
Tips to Keep in Mind
For DIY homeowners about to install insulation in Petaluma, CA, there’s more to the process than just following the steps. Here are a few unspoken tips to keep in mind:
- When gluing foam board insulation, make sure to use glue specially made for foam applications. Regular commercial glue will degenerate the foam over time.
- Have a building inspector or code compliance inspector observe your foam board and framing before proceeding. Then, have them inspect again after the batting is installed, to make sure everything is up to code.
- Don’t even think about insulating your basement until you’re certain there are absolutely no leaks present!
Finishing a basement is a great confidence booster for the aspiring DIY enthusiast. Even though there is room for mistakes, however, it’s best to avoid them by doing this right the first time. Consider the above tips when it comes to framing and insulation.
Most residential homes have an attic that is used mainly for storage, but there’s so much more to your attic than that. If you look around up in your attic right now you will see that the floors, and oftentimes the walls, have a layer of insulation. You’ll also notice the wood making up the underside of the roof. The attic plays an important role in keeping your home warm or cool, so it’s a good idea to inspect its condition at the beginning of each new season, or anytime you suspect there may a problem.
Some attics are large, while others are more like crawlspaces. Whether big or small, you need to keep this area maintained and in good shape. That means problems need to be taken care of as soon as possible to ensure indoor comfort and to avoid costly repair bills. With this in mind, here are some tips for basic attic maintenance that every homeowner should know.
Make sure it’s insulated
The first step in making your home more energy efficient is to make sure your attic is properly insulated. Not only does the insulation material insulate the attic, it also preserves the condition of the roof. Before inspecting, dress in long sleeves and pants and wear gloves and a facemask to prevent contact with materials. Check that your attic floor is totally covered with insulation and see to it that bare spots get filled in. Keep in mind that, the older the insulation, the greater its chance at getting damaged, such as acquiring water stains, being compressed or simply falling apart.
If you are unsure of the condition of your insulation or think you could use more materials in some places, call your local insulation service in Petaluma, CA.
Repair cracks
Many homeowners don’t notice an attic leak until water starts coming into the house or exterior issues arise. It’s very common for attic leaks to originate from cracks in the roofing, which lets water drip in, or from water overflowing onto the roof due to clogged rain gutters, which causes pooling. Before the rainy season arrives, scan your attic during the daytime and look for streaks of light coming in through cracks and holes. Patch up damaged areas immediately to avoid bigger problems later on, or contact a professional to perform an inspection.
Keep mold away
A leaky roof is the number one cause of mold growth on attic insulation. Rain that gets in becomes trapped as moisture, leading to mold damage and allergen production. To prevent attic mold from taking hold, inspect the roof for damaged or missing shingles and cracks on the inside.
Look for signs of pests
Pests like rats, bats, birds, insects and other critters are known to take up residence in attics, using insulation and other available materials to make nests. If attic pests are not dealt with, they can pose a health risk and cause all sorts of costly damage.
Maintaining the attic area can improve your household’s comfort, safety and health. Contact the professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. to schedule an inspection or other insulation service in Petaluma, CA today!
As a homeowner, home maintenance should be important to you. There are tasks that need to be done annually, and others more often, to ensure your home stays in good condition. Some things need to be accomplished on a seasonal basis to account for changes in the weather. From installing quality insulation in Petaluma, CA to stopping air leaks, here are a few ways to keep your home warm this winter:
- Check the insulation: Statistics show that up to 25 percent or more of your home’s indoor heat is lost through the roof, which is due to a poorly insulated attic. Un-insulated or under-insulated walls also account for a percentage of lost heat. To maximize your energy savings and heat retaining potential, check that you have adequate insulation material installed in the attic. You may need to add insulation to fill in bare spots on the attic floor, which is worth it since it will keep your home warmer throughout the cold winter months.
- Replace old insulation: Another thing you might consider hiring an insulation contractor to do is replace old insulation materials. Old insulation does not work as well as newer materials, because aged insulation tends to compress down, shift over time or fall victim to moisture and mold. Talk to an insulation expert to find the material that will benefit your attic the most.
- Seal up air leaks: There are several ways for outside air to get inside your house, such as through busted weather seals around doors and windows, and cracks in the attic. Once you seal up air leaks you will notice a difference right away.
- Install a programmable thermostat: Your heating system and home insulation work together to create a warm and comfortable living environment. The heater produces hot air and the insulation retains it inside. To keep your house warm—and lower your energy bills in the process—consider installing a programmable thermostat that lets you set the heater to maintain your ideal temperature.
- Open or close curtains: Even in fall and winter, the sun is bound to come out during the day. Therefore, an easy way to warm the inside of your house is to draw the curtains open when the sun is out and pull them shut when night falls. But not every window is positioned to let the sun in, so only open the curtains in rooms where the sunlight does shine through.
- Reverse ceiling fans: Look at your ceiling fans and make sure they are now on the winter setting, which will reverse the blades so they move clockwise. The clockwise-spinning fan blades will push the rising heat back down, adding extra warmth to the room. Play around with the fan speeds until you find the setting that seems to work best for pushing heat downward.
The condition and quality of your home insulation in Petaluma, CA plays a huge role in your home’s ability to keep its interior at a comfortable temperature. For more information about the different types of insulation materials or to schedule insulation service, call the experienced team at Ace Insulation Inc. today!
If you’ve lived in your home for a few years’ worth of seasons and your home insulation is good, then you are well aware of how different the temperature can be when you are inside versus being outside. That’s because your insulation is of good quality—able to keep the heat out in the summer and the cold from entering in the winter. Other homeowners, however, may benefit from new residential insulation installation—especially with the cooler months approaching. Still not sure whether replacing your home insulation is right for you? Let’s take a look at the advantages of having spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA during the cold winter months:
- Lowers heating bills: First and foremost, spray foam insulation can contribute to lowering your winter heating bills. In fact, you are sure to notice a significant decrease right away, and your furnace won’t have to work extra hard to maintain a consistent, comfortable indoor room temperature. That’s great news with the holidays coming up!
- Creates a consistent indoor temperature: In addition to spray foam insulation acting as a barrier to keep out undesired cold air, the insulation itself helps to create even temperatures throughout the house. This means that, unless you have a ductwork issue, there should be a consistent temperature in each room of the house. The wintertime benefit is that you will stay pleasantly warm.
- Keeps moisture out: Although mold growth is not as big of an issue during the winter as it is in the summer months, you do need to be aware of the potential for moisture. If there are leaks in the roof, ceilings, walls or flooring, you may run into problems this winter. The good news is that spray foam provides an airtight seal that lasts for years, even decades. It’s an exceptional moisture barrier, keeps water from getting inside and prevents costly damage. With a strong foam installation, there’s less worry when stormy winter weather arrives.
- Eliminates unpleasant cold drafts: Because spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA is airtight, that means it gets into every crack and tiny corner of the area where it’s installed. Foam provides an incredibly high quality seal in any room, but works especially well in attics and crawlspaces where a lot of air can sneak in.
- Reduces noise: Spray foam has the ability to reduce noise from entering the room where it is installed. An exterior facing wall will block out a majority of any outside noise—like street traffic, loud neighbors, loud music and road construction. It’s also a layer of insulation in between individual rooms of your house, as well as the plumbing in the walls.
The fact of the matter is that you and your family deserve to be comfortable in your own home. If there are drafts coming in through walls, it’s consistently cold inside, moisture is building up in spots and you can hear everything going on outside, there’s a good chance your home insulation material is inefficient. Call the professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. for more information about the benefits of spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA during the winter months—and all year round!
Although the fall season has just begun, there’s no better time than right now to consider the benefits of spray foam insulation installation for your home, or at least schedule a professional inspection of your current insulation materials. After all, insulation is the main barrier keeping the outside elements from entering your home, and you’ve gone through enough winters to know that chilly air is right around the corner. You may be wondering, why get new insulation when winter is still months away? Read on to learn more!
Here are six excellent reasons to install spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA before winter comes:
- Let the furnace rest longer: Like having to turn on the air conditioner with the arrival of the summer heat, there’s no question that you will be reaching for the furnace thermostat here shortly. But there is a way to delay having to power up the furnace early in the winter season or during the cooler fall months. Make sure your insulation is in good condition and still able to do its job before the weather gets really cold.
- Expand home storage space: As winter approaches, so do the holidays. Let’s say you want to get some household stuff into storage—like boxing up warm weather clothes to make room in closets for winter attire—or you are anticipating picking up more holiday decorations this year. If you insulate your unvented attic properly, you will be creating extra storage space to safely store your possessions now and later.
- Reduce uncomfortable drafts: You may have noticed warm drafts inside your house this past summer, which means cold drafts are inevitable this winter. The key to ensuring you remain in a comfortable indoor living environment all year long is to install spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA before uncomfortable cold drafts start.
- Keep hands and feet warm: Some folks choose to bundle up instead of turning on the heater. They wear socks, sweaters, fleece pants and even gloves to stay warm by choice. For those who have to bundle up when the heater is on, that means your home insulation may not be as efficient as it used to be. Get it checked early!
- Keep home improvement projects from piling up: Every homeowner has a to-do list that just seems to get longer and longer from one season to the next. If installing new insulation is on your list, call in the professionals to avoid having an unfinished project while hosting family for the holidays.
- Service appointments are still available: Insulation installers’ schedules will fill up fast in the colder months. Keep in mind they need to do an estimate before getting you on the schedule. Don’t wait to insulate!
If your home is poorly insulated or you’re dealing with old and inefficient insulation, then it is likely your household will experience things like cold drafts, freezing floors and an overall uncomfortable indoor temperature. Contact the experienced team at Ace Insulation Inc. to learn more about the benefits of residential spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA!
