Fiberglass has become one of the most popular production materials on the planet. It’s used in everything from boat hulls and car bodies to stoplights and sports equipment. However, one of its most common uses is hidden inside the walls of your home. It’s estimated that fiberglass is used for insulation in 85 percent of houses across the country. Nowadays, there are numerous materials that are used for insulation, but fiberglass remains the most popular for a variety of reasons.
What is fiberglass insulation?
Fiberglass insulation is made from glass fibers that are woven in a method similar to how cotton candy is made, eventually resulting a wool-like material. It can be installed in a few different ways to insulate the walls of your home. It can come in precut and covered bags called batts, in large rolls that can be cut to specific dimensions, or as loose fill, which is usually used to insulate attics. The material works by trapping hot or cool air from escaping your home, which increases energy efficiency and keeps your home at the desired temperature and comfort level. Fiberglass insulation in Petaluma, CA has become the most popular choice for home insulation for the following reasons:
It’s inexpensive: At a cost of around 40 cents per square foot, fiberglass insulation is the least expensive insulation material on the market.
It’s easy to install: Fiberglass insulation can be installed by anyone who’s willing to do the work. That being said, it’s recommended that you hire a professional to complete the assignment, as it can be a dangerous material. Batts of fiberglass aren’t a problem because fibers can’t escape the plastic, but rolls and loose fill can be a problem for your lungs if you install it without a mask. The shards of glass in the insulation will irritate your skin if you don’t wear gloves.
It’s fire retardant: Hopefully your home never catches fire, but if it does, you can rest assured that the fiberglass insulation in your home won’t catch fire, too. In fact, the material serves to slow the spread of fire, making it an attractive safety feature.
Pests won’t eat it: Bug infestations are another part of homeownership that you’d like to avoid. Luckily bugs and other critters can’t get any nutritional value from fiberglass insulation, so there’s no risk of pests destroying the material.
Its ecological footprint is small: Many types of fiberglass insulation that you’ll find at a home improvement store are made in part (or entirely) with recycled glass. The recycled glass lowers the material’s overall price, and helps the environment at the same time.
It offers multiple installation options: While batts of fiberglass are great, they usually can’t cover every square inch of a room. Fortunately, professionals can cut rolls of fiberglass in order to fill all of the nooks and crannies in a home that batts can’t cover.
Ace Insulation Inc. has been installing fiberglass insulation for new home and renovations for more than five years. Contact us today to learn more about fiberglass insulation in Petaluma, CA and about all of our other services!
Adding new and sufficient insulation to a home, regardless of whether it’s old or new construction, can significantly improve the comfort level of the home, in addition to drastically reducing your energy bills. Your home should be properly insulated from the roof all the way to the foundation to ensure the maximum amount of energy efficiency. Usually, insulating the attic, walls and flooring are the best way to keep the warm air trapped in your home and the cold air outside where it belongs. Even if you already knew this, you may be questioning why these areas are especially important when it comes to insulation in Petaluma, CA.
Here’s why you’ll always want to keep your attic, walls and floors adequately insulated, regardless of the season.
Attic
The attic should always be the top concern when it comes to insulation. This space between your roof and your home is often one of the most vulnerable points where valuable heat can escape outside. In addition, the outside air can also seep in through the attic, which subsequently cools the rest of your home from the top down. Most professional insulation specialists will recommend installing quality loose fill or batt insulation to keep the air from escaping. Loose fill is the cheaper option, but it is much less effective if it is not properly installed by a professional.
Wall
The exterior walls of your home are the main barriers between the inside and outside of your home. During the cold winter months, heat can seep out through the walls to the outdoors, which means your heater will be working overtime to maintain a consistent temperature within your home. Not only will this drive up energy costs, but it will also put unnecessary strain on your heater, which can lead to expensive repairs. Properly insulated walls will help prevent the cycle of heat gain and loss. Options such as batt and spray foam insulation tend to be the best choices for walls. This insulation project tends to be the most costly and shouldn’t be attempted by anyone other than a professional with experience in installing insulation in Petaluma, CA.
Floors
Typically, most homeowners do not heat their garages or crawl spaces. But that doesn’t mean these areas can go without adequate insulation. In fact, these two areas are easy access points for cold air to enter into your home unnoticed. Installing spray foam insulation will keep the cold air from rising up through the floor and into your home. Not only will this help keep energy costs low, but proper flooring insulation will also reduce the likelihood of moisture, insect infestation and mold problems.
With winter on its way, ensuring that these three areas are properly insulated is the most important thing a homeowner can do to reduce energy costs and increase the overall comfort level. Ace Insulation Inc. is here to help prepare your home for winter through a variety of services, including spray foam insulation installation. Call us today to find out more about how new insulation can benefit you.
As California residents, we’re lucky because much of our state doesn’t have to deal with icy roads or big snow falls. But that doesn’t mean Californians are safe from winter. Much like notoriously cold states, the cost of the heating bill still increases as the outside temperatures get lower. Many families rely on cranking up their thermostat to high temperatures in order to keep their homes warm.
Unfortunately, the temperature doesn’t matter if you do not have proper insulation in Petaluma, CA. Usually, insulation works to trap the heat within your home, but that warmth can easily escape through small openings and walls if your home is lacking this vital barrier. Installing or checking to ensure your insulation is up to snuff will not only keep your home warm all winter long, but also help keep your electricity bill lower throughout the entire season.
Here are three ways you can get a head start on preparing your home for winter when it comes to insulation in Petaluma, CA.
Check the current insulation
Fall is the perfect time to check throughout your home for any potential problem areas. Take a look in your attic to determine if there are any bare or compromised spots that could use the help of insulation if they don’t already have it. This is especially important because insulation is the best barrier for keeping the warm air within your house, while also preventing the cold air from seeping in. Running the heater is fruitless without adequate insulation!
Seal off vulnerable points with insulation
Air drafts, small openings and leaks within your home easily allow the warm air to escape. This means your heater will then have to work twice as hard to maintain a warm temperature in your home. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to carefully examine possibly vulnerable points within your home for any air leaks. Once you find them, seal them off with spray foam insulation. Pay special attention to the openings around the windows and doors, because these tend to be the most common areas for the warm air to leak out.
Prepare your home for winter now!
The simplest way to ensure your home is ready for winter is to start preparing the insulation in your home immediately! As previously noted, insulation is your first line of defense when keeping the warm air inside and the cold air outside. Have a professional insulation specialist from Ace Insulation Inc. visit your home to check that every opening is properly sealed with a high quality and durable insulation material, such as spray foam insulation. Having this check early before the weather reaches freezing will keep your family warm and your utility bills low.
Taking care of any issues in advance will leave plenty of time for everything to be resolved at a non-emergency pace and, as a result, a lower cost. Call Ace Insulation Inc. today to schedule your annual insulation check. We look forward to helping you and your family stay warm and comfortable this winter!
If you’re looking for a great way to keep your home insulated and your utility bills down this winter, it might be time to think about installing spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA. An experienced insulation company can get the job done in no time, and you’ll be enjoying a warm home all winter long before you know it.
What is spray foam insulation?
Spray polyurethane foam, often abbreviated as SPF, is created through a mixture of chemicals that, when activated, turn into foam. This foam in turn provides an effective barrier against air and moisture that can often seep in through small cracks, joints or seams.
It is particularly effective for walls, curved surfaces and corners, as it can fill in even the smallest areas effectively.
How is it created?
There are two liquids that come in different containers (usually referred to as “A” and “B” sides). The “A” side generally has methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI). The “B” side generally contains a variety of ingredients, including surfactant, polyols, flame retardant, catalysts and a blowing agent. This side also has ingredients to help the reaction produce good foam bubbles in the required specifications.
When the drums of liquid are mixed together, they react immediately and produce foam that rapidly hardens.
How can it help me?
More and more homeowners each year are finding that SPF is a very efficient option for insulation, as it cuts down on energy costs and makes their homes more comfortable. If you want to ensure that all the little crevices of your home are covered, and that you are getting good quality insulation, SPF just might be your top option.
What else should I know?
If you decide to go with SPF, you have a variety of options! This is where it’s a great idea to call in a professional company that has experience with spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA. They will be able to advise you on your best options.
For example, SPF can come in both high-pressure and low-pressure varieties, and can be closed-cell or open-cell foam. Closed-cell spray foam has a higher rigidity strength, and medium density. Open-cell foam has lower rigidity and is best applied in spaces where water won’t get in. Both types are good for absorbing sound and blocking air from leaking into the house. Your insulation company can give you all the details and make an informed recommendation for you.
A note on safety
Spray foam is incredibly effective insulation option, but it’s also one that must be treated with respect. Due to its chemical nature, it is best to have a professional perform its installation. The process involves special equipment and ventilation, and you’ll want to plan ahead to leave the home for as long as your contractor recommends while they perform the installation and cleanup.
Ace Insulation Inc. is here to meet all of your insulation needs, including spray foam insulation installation. Give us a call or stop by to find out more about what we can do for you.
With cooler weather just around the corner, now is a great time to make sure your home insulation in Petaluma, CA is up to the task of keeping your family protected from the elements. If you’re building a new home, renovating or redoing the insulation, one great option you might want to consider is “drill and fill.”
Below, we’ll take a look at this type of insulation and explain how to use it in your home. And remember, it’s always a good idea to call your trusted insulation company with any questions or installation help.
What is drill and fill?
Drill and fill is the process of drilling holes through your walls, and then blowing cellulose insulation into those halls to fill the empty spaces behind.
How can it help me?
If you took away the drywall of your home and looked behind, you’d see that there are gaps and cavities. This is because of the way the house is constructed, and it’s natural to have some spaces like this. However, it is not a great idea to leave a large space un-insulated, as this can let in heat and cold air all year, spiking your utility bill and worse. When an experienced insulation company uses the drill and fill method to insulate your home, you will notice it is much easier to moderate temperature and retain heat and cool air.
How do I install it?
First, you’ll need to move all the furniture out of the area. Then, lay down drop cloths; these will capture the dust created when you drill through sheetrock. Now you’re ready for the next step: locating the studs behind your walls. You can use a battery-powered stud finder, available at your local hardware store, to speed up this process. Grab your pencil and mark the drill targets in between the studs.
Next, get your power drill and attach a four-inch hole saw to the end. Drill slowly and cautiously—you don’t want to hit a stud. You might want to wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling dust and debris particles.
Now it’s time to get started on the insulation. You’ll need to use an insulation blowing machine, which will come with a long attachment that you will insert into each hole. Find a stick that you can use to press any loose insulation down as you go along. Fill each hole with the cellulose insulation.
The last step is repair. Get some mudding to fill the holds, let it dry and then sand it so it’s smooth and flat against the rest of the wall surface. You’ll probably need to install a backstop, as well, so the mudding is secured. Then grab a paintbrush, paint everything over and enjoy your newly insulated walls!
With projects like this, it’s sometimes best to call in a respected company to help with your home insulation in Petaluma, CA. Ace Insulation Inc. is here if you need us—just give us a call or stop by anytime.
Areas Served
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Certificate of Approved Applicator from SWD, approved to install quik-shield polyurethane foam and coating products in residential and commercial applications according to the standards and guidelines as set forth by SWD Urethane
