An insulated garage means less noise, better temperature control and the decreased likelihood of toxic fumes entering your home. When you decide to make your garage into a better space through insulation, it is common for your contractor to offer many options. This can seem confusing at first, but making a decision is often balanced between needs and budget. Here is an overview of three types of insulation often installed in garages to help you decide which will work best for you.
Batt insulation
The combination of fiberglass and cotton makes batt insulation in Petaluma, CA a cost‑effective option. It is often a popular choice for garages because some households do not use them much except for storage, and that is seen as a good reason to only use low‑cost options. Another advantage is its easy installation—contractors only need to wedge it between the studs.
However, depending on how your garage is put together, there may be additional steps. If your garage is very bare-bones with no drywall, your contractor may have to do a complete remodel first. For those who do a lot of woodwork or any other craft projects that require stains and other odorous chemicals, you may also need a vapor barrier so those fumes do not enter your home.
Blown-in insulation
If you do not have drywall but want to pass on a remodel, blown-in insulation is a good choice. All a contractor needs to do is put a hole in the wall and blow in a cellulose insulating material. Afterwards, the hole gets patched and you get to enjoy all the benefits of an insulated garage. This installation is not only quick, but it is also desirable due to the fact that garages are often cluttered spaces.
Unlike other forms of insulation, you will not have to move cars, washers and dryers, power tools or storage before the contractor arrives. You will pay more, but you’ll also invest less time in preparatory labor. That is frequently worth it for many customers.
Foam board
Another option for those uninterested in drywall but lacking the budget for blown-in is foam board. It is a rigid board that does not require any other type of support—it is simply secured to the garage walls. However, it is also not always allowed under building code, and installing it without checking first can leave you vulnerable to penalties. You also want to be careful to choose a variety that is flame-tested and, when in doubt, add a radiant barrier.
The type of insulation that works best for you will depend on the activities that take place in your garage and your budget. People who simply store cars and do laundry in their garages will have a different insulation need than those who perform large projects with lots of chemicals or power tools. Bring up any special requests or circumstances when discussing insulation with a contractor.
Ace Insulation Inc offers insulation in Petaluma, CA for attics, garages and the living areas of your home or business. Call us today to see what will work best for you.
There are many contractors who provide insulation service in Petaluma, CA. The overwhelming aspect that often enters the picture is how to distinguish between them. You want the skills and materials you can afford, but also want someone with whom you feel comfortable working in your home. Here are five steps you can take to assure you hire the best insulation contractor for your project:
Ask friends for referrals: Start with people you know and trust the most. Someone in your circle has likely hired out for insulation, and that individual will have a recommendation of whom to use—or whom to avoid. Start with friends, family and coworkers. Even if they have never hired an insulation contractor, they likely know someone who did recently, and that information can also help you.
Surf the web: The U.S. Department of Energy contains a directory for insulation contractors. This can be a good starting point, as that is an agency devoted to energy savings. If that is your goal, finding a contractor who embraces those values can be important. You will also learn more about insulation as you visit that site. Other places to check will be the contractor’s board and the Better Business Bureau. Trade organizations can also help, so look at their websites, too.
Check for thoroughness: If a contractor offers an estimate, the review of the area you want insulated and any specific needs should be thorough. This does not always include a home visit, as phone inquiries can be detailed with the right questions. Beware if the attention paid to your project is only cursory. Not only can it mean rising costs as the project continues, but it can also indicate that the work will not always be performed with quality in mind.
Call the references: Once you meet a contractor and receive a bid, request references. Calling other homeowners who also had work done by the contractor is a great way to check the quality, timeliness and customer service during that job. Yelp and other online review sites are also helpful. While there are customers on those sites that are never satisfied with anything, you will find it easy to assess workmanship through context. If a contractor will not provide references, consider someone else. There is likely a good reason for that refusal.
Confirm certification and insurance: You will also want to inquire about certification and insurance. Insulation contractors have insurance and bond requirements, and must also meet certain certification levels. If a contractor is unwilling to provide this information, move on to someone else. Insurance coverage is vital, as your home’s personal liability policy can be charged if a worker is injured while performing a job. You do not want someone else’s oversight to raise your premiums and threaten future coverage.
Ace Insulation Inc offers skilled insulation service in Petaluma, CA. We are willing to answer questions and give estimates to help reassure you. Call us today to start the process of insulating your home for cost savings and a better indoor living environment.
For most homeowners, judging your home’s efficiency is simple: does your home keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, without driving you to bankruptcy when the utility bill comes in the mail? This might seem like a good standard to gauge your home by, but it’s hardly one that’s going to give you any data in terms of how well your home is performing by modern efficiency standards!
Today, home efficiency actually has a standard and a scale—it’s called an R-value. In simplest terms, an R-value is a measurement of your home’s ability to retain forced air temperatures, via its insulation, windows, roofing and other construction components. The higher the R-value your home has, the better of a job it’s going to do in insulating you against exterior temperatures and the less money you’ll spend to achieve these results!
Now, while there are many components that contribute to a home’s overall R-value, this number is largely dictated by the unseen insulation that’s protecting you. Depending on what’s between your walls and packed into your attic, you could be seeing your home’s R-value raise or lower based on your insulation in Petaluma, CA. But just because you know what type of insulation you might have in your home, doesn’t mean you know if it’s doing its job in keeping your R-value high.
In order to determine if your insulation in Petaluma, CA is keeping forced air temperatures steady in your home, you’ll need to have the R-value of your home measured by a professional—then, you’ll need it broken down to determine what your insulation’s contribution is. Often, this is done by heat mapping your home, to figure out where transference is occurring. And, once the R-value of your home is determine and juxtaposed with the heat map, conclusions can be made about the effectiveness of your insulation in a viable way!
If your home’s insulation is performing at respected levels, it can ensure the overall R-value of your home remains high—or, if your home’s R-value is lacking while insulation is performing well, it could indicate fault elsewhere, such as with outdated windows. If your insulation is the problem, however, it could signal that it’s time to replace or reassess your insulation situation. Generally, this is as easy as having new insulation blown in or, in more dramatic cases, it could mean replacing downtrodden existing installations with a more viable, efficient medium.
If you’re concerned about your home’s R-value or want to determine if your insulation is helping to get the job done to its fullest abilities, consider calling an expert at Ace Insulation Inc. today to have your home’s R-value assessed!
We’ll help you achieve optimal efficiency in your home in regards to your insulation and can help you to save big bucks on monthly utility costs by pinpointing and eliminating superfluous costs that might be the product of poor insulation in Petaluma, CA.
Picking the right insulation for your home is no small endeavor and one that has huge ramifications in regards to your comfort and quality of life. Luckily, today’s modern insulation options are highly efficient and can be tailored to fit your home, no matter what your insulation needs might be. One such option happens to be loose fill insulation in Petaluma, CA, and it’s one that every homeowner should consider as they look to upgrade their home’s R-value.
Loose fill insulation is actually a form of cellulose—organic matter insulation—that is proven to dramatically raise your home’s ability to properly mitigate heat loss. Loose fill insulation is often comprised of recycled paper products, cardboard and other wastepaper products. The entire batch of insulation is shredded down into pellets and chemically treated, to make it fire- and insect-resistant.
What makes loose fill insulation in Petaluma, CA such an optimal choice—aside from its clear environmental benefits—is the high effectiveness of the product when it’s in place. Because the fibers of loose fill will not expand and contract with the season and are packed in such a way that prevents settling over time, they retain their composure decades after installation, making loose fill a truly viable option for homeowners seeking to improve the effectiveness of their home’s insulation.
Thanks to loose fill insulation’s small size, yet prolific capacity when filled into gaps between walls, it’s tremendously effective at trapping heat and preventing its escape to the outside world. The layering effect that loose fill has when sprayed in reduces pockets that can form with other types of insulation and creates a more even barrier of protection to keep homeowners comfortable throughout the year.
Finally, there’s proven science behind loose fill insulation in Petaluma, CA that makes it an optimal choice for homeowners who are swayed by hard facts and data. The R-value of loose fill—on a per square footage basis—comes in at about 2.5. On the R-scale, this would put loose fill above regular building materials such as brick, stone or plywood, as well as other insulation materials, including regular fiberglass insulation strips.
Depending on your home, the cost of loose fill may be lower or higher than other options, since it’s largely determined on how thick your insulation area is and how many layers are required to fill that area. Generally, however, loose fill will come in at a comparable cost to other traditional insulation options, making it a consideration that should be looked at more closely on most accounts.
To learn more about loose fill insulation, it’s properties or its benefits, don’t be afraid to consult with an expert insulation contractor today! The professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. have a depth of experience with loose fill insulation and can explain to you the properties and benefits to having this revolutionary insulation option installed in your home. We’re always happy to help homeowners realize the true benefits of the insulation option that will best benefit their living space.
There are many different decisions that come into play when completing a construction or remodeling project for your home or business. One of the most important choices you will have to make is what type of insulation to install. Insulation is the padding between a structure’s walls that stops the transfer of air from the inside to the outside, and vice versa. This important part of your property helps regulate temperature and energy efficiency.
While there are several popular forms of insulation, each type offers unique benefits. Whether you’re looking for fiberglass or spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA, it is important to know the differences between various types so that you can make the right choice for your property.
Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA is a relatively new type of material that can be used as a primary or supportive method of insulation for a property. The insulation process starts with the foam being sprayed onto open walls and ceilings. There, the polyurethane material expands, making an air-tight and sometimes moisture-tight seal. This type of material can be applied in small areas around windows and door frames, or throughout the interior of every wall and ceiling in a building. For larger projects, professional help is essential in correctly installing the insulation.
Spray foams can be expensive when compared to other kinds of insulation, and their installation can be messy or difficult if you try to do it yourself. However, this type of foam is one of the best choices if you are looking for an energy efficient and long-lasting insulation option. Because it expands once it touches a surface, the foam is able to fill corners and cracks that other insulation cannot reach. This means, when properly installed, it offers more protection against air leaks.
Fiberglass insulation
Fiberglass insulation is a more traditional option for property owners. Most people are familiar with this type of insulation, and it is especially common in residential properties. Fiberglass contains many glass fibers and is available in blankets or rolls that can be placed into new construction and attics. During its installation, the insulation is carefully cut and fitted to the frame of a building, and provides a loose fit into its structure.
Fiberglass is one of the most affordable types of insulation, and is comparatively easy to install. Also, many people choose this type of insulation because they are most familiar with it, and have used it previously. However, there can be certain drawbacks to fiberglass insulation. In some cases, fiberglass is not as effective as spray foam at preventing leaks in the flow of air in and out of your home. Also, this type of insulation disintegrates at a faster rate after installation than polyurethane spray foam.
If you are working on a construction or remodeling project and need to decide which type of insulation is best for your property, it is wise to consult a professional for guidance. For more information on insulation installation, please call the professionals at Ace Insulation Inc today.
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
