Category: Home Insulation

There’s more than one way to insulate a home. Insulation is available in several different materials and application types. There’s fiberglass insulation, spray foam insulation and even reflective barrier insulation, but one of the more lesser-known types is denim insulation.

Denim insulation or recycled denim insulation is just what it sounds like: home insulation made from recycled denim blue jeans. This might seem odd at first, but consider that denim is a cotton-based material that provides an efficient thermal barrier between what’s inside of it and what’s outside of it.

In this article, we’ll examine some of the pros and cons of denim insulation.

Pros

There are several reasons you may want to use recycled denim insulation in your home, and we’ll cover some of them below:

• Eco-friendly: If you care about the environment, then denim insulation is the home insulation material for you. Made entirely from recycled jeans, denim insulation is a green solution that you can use to insulate your home. For manufacturing, the metal portions of the jeans are removed, and the denim is broken down to its cotton-based form. It’s then treated, bonded and heated before being made into sheets that you can buy as insulation.
• Sound-muffling: Most people don’t think about sound nullification in relation to their home’s insulation, but maybe they should. If you live in a busy area or near train tracks, you’ll be happy to know that denim insulation prevents unwanted sounds from entering your home. Some estimates state that denim insulation is 30 percent more effective at reducing exterior noise than fiberglass insulation.
• High R-value: An insulation’s R-value is a rating that details how well it resists conductive heat flow. Recycled denim insulation is available in a wide range of R-values (from R-5 to R-30) that are on par with or greater than other types of insulation like fiberglass.

Cons

There’s no such thing as the perfect home insulation material, and recycled denim insulation is no exception. Here are a few drawbacks that you may face if you implement denim insulation:

• Difficult to cut: If you’re trying to cut and install denim insulation yourself, you’ll soon find that it’s not always easy to cut. The sheets are usually 3.5 inches thick, and the material is dense, making it harder to slice with a utility knife. They’ve begun to make denim insulation with built-in perforations à la paper towels, so be on the lookout for those.
• Costlier: Because of the involved manufacturing process, recycled denim insulation will usually run at least 10 percent higher than standard insulation materials with the same R-value rating like fiberglass.
• Requires a vapor barrier: Have you ever gotten rained on when you’re wearing jeans? You’ll probably recall that it took them a long time to completely dry out. Denim insulation can be susceptible to the same issue. Because of this, you’ll have to install a vapor barrier to prevent water and moisture from contacting it, and this is an extra expense that is unique to recycled denim insulation.

Call to discuss your denim insulation today

For the green homeowners who aren’t as concerned with costs, recycled denim insulation can be a viable way to insulate their home. If you’d like to discuss denim and other types of insulation, call us at Ace Insulation Inc. We have over 100 years of combined experience in the insulation industry and pride ourselves on doing quality work for a reasonable price, so call us today.

Even though it’s often hidden behind walls and ceilings, insulation is one of the most crucial components of any home. Our houses would be chillier in the winter and warmer in the summer without it. Plus, energy bills would skyrocket if our houses didn’t have adequate insulation.

Needless to say, new-home building insulation should be on your mind if you’re in the middle of building a new house. This post will cover the top types of insulation to choose for different areas of your new house.

Attics

Attic insulation is crucial for keeping our homes comfortable and our energy bills low. Under-insulated attics allow heat to flow freely out through the roof as heat comes up through the lower levels. The top insulation choices for attics are cellulose, fiberglass or spray foam:

• Cellulose: Cellulose is one of the oldest types of insulation and is usually made of recycled materials, like newspaper. This type of insulation can either be blown-in or installed as loose-fill insulation on the attic floor. It’s an inexpensive type of insulation, but it doesn’t form an airtight seal in your attic.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass is the least expensive new-home building insulation on the market, but you get what you pay for. Fiberglass is also the least effective. Batts or rolls of fiberglass insulation still allow for airflow into and out of your attic.
• Spray foam: For the most effective attic insulation out there, be sure to go with spray foam insulation. This is a newer type of insulation made from organic chemical compounds. Once installed, the foam expands up to 100 times its original size to fill in all of the nooks and crannies in your attic. While it is more expensive, spray foam carries a class-1 fire rating and resists mold and mildew.

Open wall cavities

All exterior walls must also be properly insulated to reduce heat transfer and help block out some street noise. For these open wall cavities, we recommend using fiberglass, wet-applied cellulose or spray foam:

• Fiberglass: If you’re looking to save some money on insulation, fiberglass is a good way to go—but expect your house to be a bit drafty in the winter and warmer in the summer if you choose fiberglass.
• Wet-applied cellulose: Wet-applied cellulose is applied differently than the construction insulation mentioned above. This product is mixed with a bonding agent before being sprayed into the wall cavity. The wet cellulose sticks to the cavity and stays there for the long haul.
• Spray foam: Again, it’s tough to top spray foam. Be sure to go with open-cell spray foam as opposed to closed-cell for wall cavities. This is because open-cell foam will move with your home as it shifts and settles.

Get the best insulation from Ace Insulation Inc.

If you’re in the middle of a new build, talk to our team at Ace Insulation Inc. about your construction insulation. From spray foam insulation to loose-fill insulation, we have all of the insulation products your new home needs.

Every homeowner should have a basic understanding of the importance of insulation—it’s what keeps the elements out and your energy bills low. There are tons of different types of insulation out there, all with different R-values, a rating of the insulation’s effectiveness.

Keep reading to learn more about each type and the best insulation for homes:

• Loose-fill insulation: Also known as blown-in insulation, loose-fill insulation is installed using a blowing machine to spread insulation throughout a large area. You’ll often find this insulation used up in attics or in hard-to-reach areas. Loose-fill insulation has an R-value of up to R 8, depending on the insulation material.
• Insulation batts: This type of insulation is essentially an insulation blanket. It comes in precut sections of insulation, typically made of fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool. This is a fantastic insulation for home improvement enthusiasts, as it can be installed without the help of a professional. Standard fiberglass batts have an R-value of R 9 to R 3.8, but there are higher-density batts out there with higher R-values.
• Rolled insulation: The main difference between rolled insulation and batts is that rolls are rolled out between walls and ceiling frames, while batts are installed in pieces. High-density rolls have an R-value of up to R 3 per inch, so they’re highly effective for the price. Plus, these rolls can be cut to any necessary width for a snug fit between studs and joists.
• Foam board insulation: Foam boards are some of the most common types of insulation out there. These rigid boards can be made of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyurethane, and they can be installed anywhere from the roof to the foundation. Depending on the type of material they’re made of, foam boards can have a very high R-value and are fairly inexpensive.
• Spray foam insulation: With R-values ranging from R 4 to R 5 per inch of thickness, spray foam is possibly the overall best insulation for homes. As this insulation is sprayed into an open crevice, it expands to fill every square inch of available space. This is a more expensive type of insulation, but it can pay for itself over time due to your energy savings.
• Radiant barriers: A radiant barrier is some of the best insulation for attics, but it works differently than the types of insulation mentioned above. Instead of reducing heat flow out of your home, radiant barriers reflect heat from your house. This insulation is made of aluminum foil over a foam board and will keep your home cool on even the hottest days. Another thing that sets radiant barriers apart is that they’re not measured in R-value.

Get your insulation today

Now that you know more about the best insulation for attics and homes, it’s time to install some in your house. While installing some insulation can be a DIY chore, we recommend leaving it up to our pros at Ace Insulation Inc. Contact us today to get a quote for your spray foam or blown-in insulation.

While you might assume that your insulation is fine, the reality is that under insulation affects 90 percent of American homes, according to one industry study. If you haven’t added insulation to your home, it probably doesn’t have enough.

That’s because builders tend to get by with only providing the minimum amount of insulation required by law. This saves them money, but in the long run, you pay the cost in higher energy bills.

Let’s look at some of the most obvious signs of bad insulation and what to do about it.

Temperature instability

If your home is well insulated, temperatures throughout the home should be consistent. If you’re freezing in the living room but too hot in the bedroom, this is a sign of under insulation. When your home is properly insulated, it’s easy to set your thermostat at the temperature you want and then enjoy the comfort.

High energy bills

One of the most noticeable signs of bad insulation is that your energy bills are higher than expected. If you’re noticing spikes compared to prior years and energy prices haven’t gone up, then insulation is likely the culprit.

That’s because insulation is responsible for keeping the indoor air, well, indoors. Poorly-insulated homes will let in hot outdoor air in the summer and cold outdoor air in the winter. Plus, all the work your HVAC unit has done to cool or heat the home will be rendered moot if that air simply escapes.

Water leaks

If part of your attic is consistently becoming wet and moldy following heavy rain, it’s likely that your insulation has been damaged. This means it’s time to fix the leak and replace the wet insulation with new material.

Drafts

If you’re experiencing fluctuating temperatures, you may notice that winds are penetrating the house. Many homeowners are surprised that these drafts are actually due to poor insulation. For those struggling with mysterious drafts whipping through the home, it’s time to invest in new insulation.

Too much noise

Insulation works behind the scenes to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter—but it serves other functions as well. One of those is muffling noises that come from within the home and from outside. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night due to outdoor noises, it could be due to a lack of insulation.

Cold interior walls

Are your interior walls cold to the touch? You might think this is normal, but it’s actually not. A lack of insulation is often the culprit if the walls, floors or ceilings are noticeably cold.

Are you looking for the leader in insulation services? Then look no further. Ace Insulation Inc. has been serving customers for more than a decade. Our combined 100-plus years of experience in the industry means we’ve seen it all. We have the knowledge and resources to get the job done right the first time, every time. Give us a call today to find out more and ask for a free estimate.

When you look at a house, insulation might not be the first thing that comes to mind. As it’s not visible in the home, it doesn’t command much of our attention.

But the advantages of home insulation are numerous—and without it, you won’t be able to effectively cool or heat your home.

Let’s look at the importance of home insulation.

Comfort

One of the biggest benefits of home insulation is that you and your family will be more comfortable. During the hot months of the summer, you want the cool air your HVAC unit is pumping out to stay in the home. Quality insulation ensures that the air outdoors only comes inside if you want it to, like when you leave the windows open. Without home insulation, get ready to rely on fans during the summer and bundle up during the colder months.

Energy efficiency

In many cases of poor home insulation, your response will likely be to fiddle with the thermostat. The fact is that a home that is not well insulated will lose up to 30 percent of the air pumped in. Air leaks out via poorly-insulated windows and through attics that are not insulated enough. This leads to higher cooling and heating bills. The importance of home insulation becomes clear when you get an energy bill at the end of the month.

Health benefits

One of the more surprising advantages of home insulation is the health benefits. The fact is that proper home insulation means a better-functioning HVAC unit, which will improve your respiratory health. On cold nights, you won’t have to pump up the heat, which will help your immune system fight off viruses. One study found that insulation led to 240 fewer premature deaths every year, along with fewer sick days and asthma attacks.

Property value

Home buyers are more and more interested in energy efficiency. Whether they’re concerned about lowering their carbon footprint or saving money (or both!), people are more aware of how much energy they’re using. Investing in home insulation means that you’re using less energy to cool and heat your home. In fact, home values increase at a rate of $20 for every dollar you save on annual utility bills—so you get to save money now and more money later when you sell your home!

Sound

You might not realize it, but insulation has a major impact on sound traveling through the home. With more people working at home than ever before, you may find it important to muffle sounds that reverberate and prove distracting. Insulation helps absorb the sounds that bounce around off the walls, floors and ceiling, making your home a quieter and more peaceful place to be.

Whether you’re building a new home or investing in your current home, Ace Insulation Inc. is here as your premier insulation experts. Our team is proud to be a locally-owned and -operated business offering quality products and skilled services. Contact us today to learn more about our services and request a free quote.