No matter where you live, every homeowner knows that insulation is an essential element of every home. Insulation helps improve the integrity of your walls, keeps moisture out, reduces noise and keeps warm air in during the winter and cold air in during the summer. What most homeowners are less certain of is what type of insulation they should get.
Spray foam and fiberglass are two of the most common forms of insulation, and they both have certain pros and cons. At Ace Insulation Inc., your local source for insulation installation in Petaluma, CA, we’ve often discussed with our customers the differences between spray foam and fiberglass insulation. With our experience with this topic, we’ve decided to put together a homeowner’s guide to spray foam vs. fiberglass.
Cost
Fiberglass insulation is significantly cheaper than spray foam, although the difference in cost has been diminishing over the years. On average, fiberglass costs about $0.40 per square foot, while spray foam costs $3.
Installation
Fiberglass is also less expensive to install. It requires less special equipment and less expertise. In fact, in some cases, fiberglass can be self-installed, depending on your skill level and where the insulation needs to be installed. Fiberglass insulation can be purchased at most home improvement stores. While spray foam may cost more to install, it is ideal when insulation needs to be installed in hard-to-reach or cramped spaces because it can simply be sprayed into areas that are difficult to access.
Performance
While spray foam may cost more than fiberglass insulation, it also performs better. Fiberglass insulation is less effective than spray foam, particularly in extremely cold temperatures. Fiberglass uses air pockets to create insulation to help keep cold air out, while keeping warm air in. Spray foam, on the other hand, creates an airtight seal. Because of this, the temperature is usually more consistent throughout your home with spray foam. Spray foam can also help reduce your energy costs, since your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Return on investment
Finally, which type of insulation offers a greater return on investment? While fiberglass costs less up front, it does not offer the same savings in the long run as spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation not only reduces your energy bill, but it can also help reduce home maintenance costs, such as replacing your furnace or having to deal with mold and mildew problems. Spray foam insulation also lasts longer, which means you can save money on having to replace your insulation.
Overall, while fiberglass has a lower up front cost, both in product and installation costs, it does not offer the long-term quality of spray foam insulation. Which insulation you decide to go with depends on your long-term goals and budget. Regardless of which type of insulation you choose, Ace Insulation Inc. can help. We offer both spray foam and fiberglass insulation installation in Petaluma, CA. Just call us today to learn more or to schedule your installation service!
You’re just settling in for a warm winter’s night, relaxing on the couch with your favorite warm drink and Netflix series, when you suddenly feel a chill. Despite your blanket and warm drink, you definitely feel as if a draft is wafting through your home. You check the windows, the doors and the thermostat, but everything seems to be in order. Your home should be warm and toasty, but have you checked your insulation lately?
If your home’s insulation isn’t in good order, it may be the reason why your blanket and hot drink aren’t enough to keep you warm this winter. Replacing your home’s insulation with spray foam insulation has many benefits, including a warmer, more comfortable home. Want to know more? Here’s how spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA can help make your winter more comfortable.
Consistent indoor temperature
One of the main complaints regarding old insulation is that it allows cold air to seep into your home, which often creates cold pockets (areas that feel cooler than the rest of your home) throughout your house. Cold pockets are what makes you think someone left a door or window open. If you want to enjoy a consistent indoor temperature throughout your home, spray foam insulation can help. Spray foam offers superior insulation quality, which keeps the cold air out and the warm air in.
Lower your energy bill
Traditional forms of insulation allow warm air to escape, which means your heating system needs to work harder to keep your home warm. Spray foam insulation helps take some of the pressure off of your heating system, which in turn means your system can run more efficiently, saving you money on your energy bill.
Keep moisture out
While mold growth is not a major concern in the winter, it certainly can be in the warmer and humid months. Spray foam insulation helps keep moisture out of your home, which helps reduce the risk of mold and mildew all year round. If you have any leaks in your roof, attic or walls, spray foam helps create an airtight seal, so you can know that your home will stay dry.
Reduce noise
If you live on a busy street, near a school or simply have noisy neighbors, spray foam can help reduce the amount of outdoor noise that enters your home. Spray foam also reduces noise between rooms in your home, which means that you won’t have to worry about waking up your partner in the morning or disturbing sleeping children at night.
If you are interested in improving your indoor comfort, reducing your energy bill and keeping noise and moisture out of your home this winter, then you should consider investing in spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA. For spray foam insulation and all your other insulation needs, be sure to call Ace Insulation Inc. We offer fast, affordable, high-quality work in Petaluma and all surrounding areas. Call us today for your free consultation—we look forward to working with you soon!
It doesn’t matter if you’re building a new home, updating an existing one or remodeling a space—everyone needs insulation. Wall insulation acts as a protective barrier to heat loss and gain. It’s a practical and effective way to make the house more energy efficient by keeping the space cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Each project will require a different type of insulation. Existing walls will need to be insulated differently than newly constructed ones. The insulation type will also vary for home remodeling projects. The key is to find the right insulation type best suited for the task at hand.
Let’s take a closer look at the best insulation options for new homes, existing homes and remodeling projects.
New homes
Start off your life in your new home on the right foot with efficient attic insulation in Petaluma, CA! Unfortunately, many homeowners choose to skip on insulation to keep costs low. They don’t realize that sufficient insulation actually comes with a lifetime of savings. For new homes, the best option is spray foam insulation. The insulation is sprayed directly into the cavity. It will move with your home and maintain the air seal even as the walls settle and shift.
Existing homes
The insulation needs to be installed from the outside in an existing home. This will require an external wall insulation, like injection foam insulation or blown-in cellulose. The technician will drill a hole into the stud cavity, inject the insulation and then plug up the hole. The additional insulation will stop heat transfer and airflow, which will improve energy efficiency and the comfort level inside of the home.
Remodeling projects
The insulation type and installation process will depend on the intensity of the remodeling project. A kitchen or bathroom remodel involving electrical wiring and piping is usually the most intensive. The work needs to be done before the insulation can be installed to avoid vulnerable pockets. The same procedure as building a new home would be followed if new walls are built as part of the renovation. Drywall that won’t be affected by the renovation will need to have the new insulation installed from the outside. An insulation specialist can identify the best insulation type based on the requirements of the project.
Improve your new or existing home with insulation
Ultimately, the goal is to keep your existing, new or renovated home comfortable and energy efficient all year long with the help of good wall insulation. The professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. are here to help, whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one. We specialize in installing all types of insulation, including fiberglass, loose fill and spray foam attic insulation in Petaluma, CA. Give us a call today and one of our insulation experts will be able to recommend the best insulation solution for your specific project following a free consultation. We look forward to working with you to help you enjoy an energy efficient, cost effective and comfortable space!
Are you tired of hearing the TV blaring from the living room while you’re trying to sleep at night? Does it seem like your monthly energy bills have surged over the past year? Are you always cold in some rooms in your home? Over time, your existing insulation can begin to break down and lose its effectiveness, which results in heat transfer and lets sound through. Adding insulation to the interior walls of your home may be the answer to all of these problems.
Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize adding insulation in Petaluma, CA to existing walls without causing any damage is even an option. However, a professional insulation specialist can easily install new insulation without having to tear off the drywall and destroy the wall. This simple upgrade can actually significantly improve the comfort level of the space and provide some relief to residents who are sick of hearing their housemates or neighbors. Let’s take a look at how insulation is added to pre-existing walls, and how it can benefit you.
Why insulate interior walls?
Adding more insulation to an interior wall has the following benefits:
Improved energy efficiency: The interior walls play a major role in keeping a home properly heated or cooled. The insulation reduces heat transfer, which keeps the treated air in and the outside air out. Because of this, the air conditioner or furnace won’t have to work as hard to maintain the set temperature. This could reduce your monthly energy costs.
Dampens sound: Insulating interior walls will reduce the transfer of sound between rooms. Sound can easily travel through an uninsulated wood frame. The insulation acts as a barrier to dampen the sound by up to 80 percent.
Masks smells: Outside smells can be dangerous to your health. Many of the smells found in most garages—like gasoline, paint and exhaust—can seep through the wall and into the home, leading to asthma attacks and other serious health issues. Insulating any walls attached to the garage will keep the emissions from entering the home. It will also keep allergens out.
How is new insulation added to existing walls?
There are a few different options for insulating interior walls that are already in place. The most common insulation choice for this type of job is spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA. The foam is forced into difficult areas, such as around wires and boxes. Other insulation types tend to get stuck around any obstructions. An insulation specialist will simply create a small hole in the wall and spray in the new foam insulation before patching and painting the entry point. The whole process is very simple and requires very little disruption to the wall. Another option is blown insulation. This is more cost effective than spray foam insulation, but it can settle in hollow spaces and cling to any obstructions within the wall.
Ace Insulation Inc. is here to help
Do you have any more questions about insulation in Petaluma, CA for interior walls? Then call Ace Insulation Inc. today. As a locally owned insulation company, we specialize in providing the right insulation for your needs, whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing space. Call us today to schedule your free consultation!
As you look through your insulation options for your home, you’ll find you have a number of different choices for the type of insulation and the processes used to install it. Two of the most popular types are blown-in and spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA.
If you’re going to go with one of these types of insulating materials, you’ll need to understand how they stack up to each other to choose the best for your particular needs. With this in mind, here’s a quick overview of each of these insulation materials, their strengths and how they differ from each other.
Blown-in insulation
Blown-in insulation typically comes in the form of fiberglass and/or cellulose, and gets installed in smaller chunks with the use of a machine and a hose that runs up into the attic. This is a process you cannot take on yourself—you’ll need professional insulation contractors to get the job done correctly, safely and efficiently.
Neither fiberglass nor cellulose has particularly good R-values when compared to the R-values of spray foam insulation. Typically you’ll find R-values of about three or four per inch, and sometimes even a little less than that.
That doesn’t mean blown-in insulation can’t be effective, though—you’ll find it does not leave as much of a gap as other types of insulation do, including batt insulation. It is also more environmentally friendly than other types of insulation, because cellulose is made from recycled paper. This helps you cut back on your environmental impact when performing a new insulation job. It is also more cost-effective than a material like cotton.
If you use fiberglass insulation with the blown-in method, there are some potential health risks—breathing in fiberglass particles could result in respiratory conditions. In addition, the insulation isn’t meant for lifetime use—it’ll usually only last about 10 to 25 years, and prolonged exposure of the insulation to moisture could lead to decaying and mold growth, which could also cause respiratory issues.
Spray foam insulation
Like blown-in insulation, spray foam insulation installation requires the services of experienced contractors to complete the job effectively and safely. This type of insulation is usually made of polyurethane. It fills cracks and gaps in spaces to create a hermetically sealed barrier. In fact, when you spray it out, it expands to become up to 10 times its previous size, which is what makes it so beneficial for filling these cracks.
Another big benefit of spray foam insulation is its R-value, which is the highest you’ll find in the world of insulation. Closed cell spray foam delivers an R-value of about six or seven per inch. What’s more, this benefit will last a lifetime—up to 80 years, so long as the insulation is done properly.
Finally, closed cell spray foam offers an effective barrier against moisture, and prevents mold and mildew growth.
For more information about how blown-in and spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA compare to each other, contact Ace Insulation Inc. today. We look forward to helping you!
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
