Insulating your attic is a big step toward keeping your energy bills low. It also helps to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. But installing insulation yourself isn’t as simple as it seems. It’s messy, dangerous and time-consuming.
The Right Tools & Materials
Insulating your home can be an expensive, time-consuming and dangerous project. It doesn’t have to be that way if you do it right. One of the biggest reasons people don’t DIY attic insulation is they don’t have the right tools for the job. The wrong tools can lead to unnecessary fatigue, mistakes and waste. And depending on the type of insulation you use, you may also need to seal small holes around plumbing pipes and vents. Fill these with caulk or expandable foam spray. This is a good way to keep moist air from leaking into your attic and freezing inside the walls. If the gaps are larger than 3 inches, you can stuff fiberglass insulation into them to increase their R-value. If you’re going to attempt this DIY, you’ll need to make sure you’ve done your research and know how to install the insulation properly. This is because if you do it wrong, your insulation may not be as effective or it could damage the building.
The Experience
Attic insulation is an important part of any home. It can improve energy efficiency by lowering heating and cooling costs while keeping the home comfortable. However, installing attic insulation is a complex task that requires experience and specialized tools. Unless you’re familiar with all the ins and outs of insulation installation, you should leave it to a professional. In addition, removing and replacing your own insulation could put you in violation of building codes. This could negatively impact the sale of your home and cause you to pay fines or fees. Another major problem with DIY attic insulation is the risk of fires. This is because insulation may contain paper or foil that can easily catch fire if it’s not treated with flame retardants.
There’s a good chance your home doesn’t have enough insulation. If you built your house or renovated it, it’s likely that it doesn’t have enough to keep you comfortable and save on energy bills. This is especially true if you live in an area with cold winters. In these cases, poor insulation can lead to ice damming which can cause serious issues on your roof and gutters.
High Energy Bills
High energy bills are one of the biggest signs that your home is under-insulated. A home that is under-insulated forces the HVAC system to work harder to keep the home at even temperatures. If your energy bills are climbing rapidly, it’s time to investigate what might be causing it. A qualified home energy assessor can do a thermal scan of the walls to determine how well your home is insulated.A good insulation solution can be expensive, but it’s an investment worth making if your home is not well insulated.
Uncomfortable Temperatures
If your floors, walls, and ceilings are cold to the touch, you likely need more insulation in your home. Insulation stops heat and air from escaping through gaps. Another sign that your home is under-insulated is that you’re feeling warmer in one room and colder in others. This could mean that your heater isn’t keeping you as warm as it should, or that it’s not delivering enough energy to keep all parts of your house at the same temperature. Frozen pipes can also be a tell-tale sign that your home is under-insulated. If your exterior walls are poorly insulated, it can lead to pipes freezing and then bursting, which can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Cold Drafts
Besides being uncomfortable, cold drafts can also cause your energy bill to skyrocket throughout the winter months. These can come from windows and doors that are not properly sealed. Insulation is a thick material that protects your home from the cold air outside. Usually, the amount of insulation required by code is enough to keep your home comfortable and save you money on energy bills, but if it isn’t, you might want to consider investing in additional insulation. You can check your windows and doors for drafts by looking at the caulking around the wood frames or the glazing that holds glass windowpanes together. If you notice cracks, it’s time to fix them. You can also stand near a door or window and feel if cold air is making its way through the cracks.
Uneven Temperatures
If you notice that some rooms are consistently warmer than others, this could indicate that your home is under-insulated. Often, this can occur when blown-in insulation settles over time or if the ductwork isn’t sized correctly. Another sign of a poorly-insulated home is ice dams during the winter. When heat rises from the roof, it melts the snow and turns it into a dam of ice that can wreak havoc on your siding and gutters. Similarly, if your pipes aren’t properly insulated in the crawl space or walls, freezing winter temperatures can cause them to freeze and burst. This can be a major pain and cost you money.
Noisy Rooms
If your rooms are noisy and you hear echoes of everything from the TV to the vacuum, your home may be under-insulated. This can make your room a stressful place to be, and can even negatively affect your health. Your home may also be noisy if you have rooms with hard surfaces like walls, floors or doors that can cause reverberation and noise transfer. Adding sound-absorbing materials or products should definitely help!
If you’re looking to insulate your commercial property, there are several types of insulation available. Knowing which one is right for your building will help ensure the best performance possible and save you money on your energy bills. The types of commercial insulation include fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam. They all have different R-values and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass, made of tiny glass fibers, is a widely used insulation material for residential and commercial buildings. It slows the spread of heat, cold and sound to improve energy efficiency. Besides being fireproof, fiberglass is also naturally sound-absorbent2 and reduces sound transmission in wall, ceiling, floor, and HVAC assemblies. For example, the first inch of fiberglass can increase an assembly’s sound transmission class (STC) value by three or four points in some constructions.
It is also available in blanket form, known as batts, in bags that contain pre-cut lengths and widths or loose fill, which can be blown into attic, wall, and floor cavities. It is most commonly installed in new home construction, gut renovations, and commercial building renovations, but can be used in other types of buildings as well. And while fiberglass insulation has proven to be an affordable option for homeowners, fiberglass is not as durable as other insulating materials and can become ineffective if it gets wet. It is also prone to air gaps, which can drive down performance.
Loose-Fill
Loose-fill insulation, also called blown-in insulation, is an excellent choice for residential and commercial properties. It uses recycled materials like cellulose and fiberglass to create a solid barrier that prevents air leakage and provides superior insulation. Cellulose is made from recycled paper products, such as discarded newsprint and cardboard. It is treated for fire resistance and pest-resistant properties, making it a good option for those who are concerned about the environment.
Cellulose
Cellulose insulation is an environmentally friendly form that can be installed on many commercial buildings. It is made from recycled paper products, primarily newsprint. The cellulose fibers are treated with borate compounds to resist fire, insects, and mold. It is also considered a green product since it uses much less energy than fiberglass. It is a highly recyclable material, containing as much as 80% post-consumer waste. Cellulose can be blown into open attics and enclosed cavities or sprayed into wall cavities. It can be used for both new and retrofit construction.
Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation is a great option for commercial buildings that have unique shapes and size constraints. This type of insulation can be used to seal cracks and gaps and help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the property. It also helps to soundproof a building, reducing noise from outside the property and ensuring a peaceful work environment. Using this type of insulation can improve the value of your property while also lowering your energy costs.
Compared to other types of insulation, spray foam is extremely flexible and can be easily sprayed into small spaces. It can be used in new construction, rim joists, and even in attics. It is an excellent choice for commercial buildings because it can help to save money on energy costs and ensure a comfortable work environment. It can also help to protect equipment in sensitive rooms such as server rooms and prevent damage from temperature fluctuations.
Insulation slows down the flow of heat by blocking it from entering or escaping your home. This keeps your home more comfortable in both winter and summer and lowers your energy bills. Insulating your home also helps you stay healthier and prevents the buildup of mold indoors. Similarly, insulation also helps to keep outdoor contaminants out of your home, such as pollen and dust.
Energy Savings
Insulation keeps your home warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer, which can save you money on utility bills. It also decreases the number of times your heating system has to work hard. Insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to make your house more energy efficient!Homes with poor insulation and air leaks can cost up to 15% more to heat and cool than homes that are properly insulated. Getting rid of air leaks and adding insulation to your attic, floors over crawl spaces and basements can make an enormous difference in your energy bill. Insulation comes in many different materials, including fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam. It’s a simple home improvement that can pay for itself over time.
Increased Comfort
Insulation helps to keep the temperature in your home at a consistent level, regardless of the time of year. This ensures that your family’s comfort levels remain high while your heating and cooling costs stay low. Insulation also reduces drafts and air leakage in your home. These drafts can be uncomfortable and lead to energy loss, contributing to lower heating and cooling bills. You can add insulation to your home in a number of places, including exterior walls, ceilings/attics, foundation and windows.
Healthier Home, Healthier Planet
Insulation is a smart way to save money and help the planet. It also can improve the overall health of your home by helping keep allergens, dust, and toxins out of your living space. In addition, it helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature that decreases the chances of you getting sick. And that’s a big deal. It also helps prevent mold from growing, which can lead to mildew and odors in your home. And because insulation reduces heat loss and improves your home’s energy efficiency, it’s also an effective way to reduce the carbon footprint of your home. In fact, if all homes were properly insulated worldwide, we could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 293.5 billion pounds per year, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. It’s an easy upgrade to make and one that will pay for itself in energy savings over time. But before you do, be sure to choose the right type of insulation for your home.
The garage is no longer that extra structure that keeps our vehicle protected from the elements or an extra storage area for old clothes and seasonal decorations. Today, the garage is becoming a more versatile and optional living space. Those changes have also been the primary reasons why you should insulate your garage and questions regarding the right types of insulation for your garage (aka man cave, lady shack, workshop, etc.).
It doesn’t matter if you spend time working on your vehicle in the garage, hold meetings or game nights, or use your garage as a workshop or crafting area. If you heat your garage, then you should insulate your garage. Insulation will not only provide comfort but will also make it easier to heat, resulting in less work for your heating sources.
Types of Insulation for Your Garage
Most of the same types of processes and types of insulation you use for your home, you can also use to insulate your garage. Choosing the right option for your garage will depend on many factors, but ultimately, it will be the option that best meets your needs and budget.
Fiberglass
The most widely used and easiest for DIY insulation projects, this is also the most affordable insulation option too. The one caution when using fiberglass is that it is susceptible to moisture, so that needs to be a consideration in planning your garage installation project.
Foam (Rigid Foam Board)
This insulation option is a popular choice for insulating garage doors. Rigid foam works well as a sound barrier too. This type of insulation is cut to fit, so it doesn’t offer some of the flexibility as other options.
Spray Foam
Another popular type of insulation spray foam is highly effective and offers mold and insect-resistant benefits. Spray foam is professionally installed and is one of the more expensive insulation options, although it is air-tight and energy efficient.
Other types of insulation options include garage door kits and cellulose (typically used for filling holes, gaps, etc.). Insulating your garage will not only make it a more comfortable area but can be an important step in transforming your garage into a living space.
Ace Insulation Inc.
Welcome to Ace Insulation Inc. At Ace Insulation Inc., we have provided our customers with professional and expert insulation services. Locally owned and operated, we take pride in our work and in delivering the highest quality products, installation, and services.
Whether you are building a new home or renovating your existing space, we can help. We have many materials to choose from, including fiberglass and spray foam. Contact us if you have any questions or to schedule a consultation today.
Areas Served
Proudly providing residential and commercial insulation installation to Petaluma, CA and the surrounding areas including:
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
