Northern California has suffered a spate of severe wildfires over the last few years, destroying millions of acres and tens of thousands of residences. Experts say that grass fire season could start even earlier than usual this year thanks to offshore wind and weather patterns, meaning that if you live in a fire-prone area, it might be time to reconsider what kind of insulation you use in your home.

Fire-resistant insulation

At Ace Insulation Inc., we use Roxul batt insulation to help safeguard homes against fires. This type of insulation is also called mineral wool, rock wool or slag wool insulation (Roxul is the most common brand name), and it’s designed to be fire resistant in excess of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fire-resistant insulation can protect your home—depending on which kind you choose—for up to two hours against wildfires. As we know all too well, firefighters are spread thin during massive wildfires, and every second of protection counts. Compare this to traditional fiberglass insulation, which will melt and allow smoke to pass through into the house.

Roxul batt insulation is not only good for your exteriors, thanks to its fire-resistant nature, but you might consider using it to insulate your interior walls as well. This helps with what’s called “passive fire resistance” (as opposed to active fire resistance using devices like sprinklers and fire extinguishers), where the goal is to prevent the fire from spreading as much as possible by preventing smoke, gas and fire from moving from room to room. When you compartmentalize your home this way, you can cut down on the havoc a potential fire will wreak.

It also provides all the traditional benefits of insulation. First, it has a strong R-value, meaning it will help stabilize your home’s interior temperature no matter what the weather outside is like, which is the main use for insulation. Second, it offers superior soundproofing capabilities, whether you’d like to keep the noise in or out of your home. Finally, it’s easier to install and holds its shape better than fiberglass batt insulation, saving you time and labor costs.

For us, the choice is clear, especially considering that there is apparently no end in sight to the devastating California wildfire season. If you live in the line of fire, consider replacing your insulation with fire-resistant Roxul batt insulation today.

Insulation installation in Northern California

Ace Insulation Inc. has been offering high-quality insulation installation in Northern California since 2011. Having the right kind of insulation for your home will not only save you money on your utility bills, but it could also help save your vulnerable home from fire damage. Our family owned and operated business is passionate about providing great service at affordable prices, so you can save money all year long. Are you interested in learning more about how Roxul batt insulation can protect your home from wildfires? Get in touch with Ace Insulation Inc. today to learn more and get a quote on new insulation for your home.

Homeowners choose to install insulation in their Northern California homes for one main reason: to protect their living spaces from outside air. You might be thinking to yourself that your walls and attic are already insulated, so you don’t need to install insulation. However, this may not be the case. Keep in mind that many older homes can actually benefit from new or additional insulation material, while the owners of newly-built homes need to carefully consider their options during the design phase.

However, poor insulation is not the only cause of cold drafts in the winter. Drafts can be found around doors, windows, pipes, attics and crawlspaces. And cold air is not the only thing that can get inside your house through the smallest openings and uninsulated spaces— moisture and pests can, too.

Don’t let ice-cold winter wind chills get you down—get ahead of them instead! Here are some tried and true ways to draft-proof your home’s windows and doors:

• New weather-stripping: The type of weather-stripping designed for use on windows and doors keeps outside air out and inside air in. It does this by sealing drafty door and window borders, and starts working as soon as it’s applied. Just about all brands of weather-stripping are inexpensive and very easy for homeowners to install themselves.
• Door sweeps: Replacing old or damaged door sweeps with new ones can make a huge difference in the draft department. Door sweeps attach to the very bottom of exterior-facing doors. They can look like thin little brooms, almost bristly, or be more like a gentle scraper or shield made of rubber. You can also get wooden door sweepers to match your door.
• Foam tape: While weather-stripping is ideal for sealing around doors and windows, it can be difficult to use on doors that are slightly warped. A good weather-proofing alternative is a sticky foam tape. All you have to do is cut it to size and secure it in the areas that are drafty.
• Insulate around frames: Assessing insulation behind enclosed walls is not as easy as glancing around at the insulation in an attic. But, if you feel cold drafts coming from around window or door frames, it could be worth the time and money to have your insulation checked and possibly replaced.
• DIY window film: Single-, dual- and triple-pane window glass can all benefit from window film. This film resembles plastic wrap before being adhered to the glass and heated with a hair dryer—it shrinks and seals over drafty windows. When installed correctly, this DIY window film works great.
• Hang insulated curtains: Insulated curtains, also called thermal curtains, can help retain heat in your home during the cold winter months, but they have to be drawn shut to be effective. This may not be a good option for you if you prefer natural light shining into your house.

If you are ready for the pros to come out and install insulation in your Northern California home, make sure your first call is to Ace Insulation Inc. Contact us anytime for more information!

Whether you’re in the insulation business or a building owner getting ready for renovations, you may have heard of firestopping insulation. But what is it, and what do you need to know about it? Read on for some details regarding the use of firestopping insulation. When you’re ready to invest in insulation installation in Northern California, this may prove to be a good option!

What is firestopping insulation?

Firestopping insulation is designed to stop fire from spreading. Even in the most extreme temperatures, this material can resist heat and melting. A unique characteristic of this particular firestopping insulation is that it doesn’t produce smoke, which makes it a great option for commercial and industrial applications. It upgrades your building to a stronger R-value insulation while also fulfilling fire safety requirements.

Firestopping insulation is lightweight and semi-rigid, made from stone wool and created to provide firestopping and acoustical properties for a variety of buildings. It fills perimeter gaps between concrete flooring, floor and ceiling slabs, exterior walls and firewalls, and can be installed around conduit pipes and duct openings running through floors and walls. Not only it is fire resistant and non-combustible, it also won’t create toxic smoke or allow flames to spread. Other benefits include its ability to increase a building’s energy efficiency, improve thermal stability and control noise coming into and leaving the building.

Three common misconceptions

Although firestopping insulation is highly praised in the industry, not everything you may have heard about it is true. Let’s break down the three most common myths surrounding firestopping insulation to set the record straight:

• Caulks and sealant have to be red: One of the top misunderstandings about firestopping caulks and sealants is that they must be red in color. This is not true, as there are no code requirements that enforce it. The truth is that firestopping sealants and caulks come in many different colors in order to differentiate the types of products and how they are to be used.
• Polyurethane foam is a firestopping material: Not all insulation materials are firestopping products—they must bear the correct markings from a third-party testing agency. This is important to know, since low-density polymer foams can ignite easily and be taken over by fire. That said, polyurethane foam, unless specifically formulated and tested for firestopping use, is a terrible choice as a fire barrier insulation material.
• All pipe insulation is similarly firestopped: This statement is simply not true. Keep in mind that the fire protection performance of pipe insulation materials can vary dramatically. For instance, some non-combustible insulation materials like mineral wool can resist fire and actually help during the firestopping process. But since low-density polymer foam insulation can be challenging generally to firestop, the firestopping material used on pipe insulation also needs careful consideration.

If you’re a homeowner or building owner who wants more information about firestopping insulation installation in Northern California, feel free to contact the team at Ace Insulation Inc. Reach out to us for all of your insulation needs!

You probably know you have several building insulation material options to choose from. But which one is best for your home or commercial building? After all, there are many significant benefits to some of the available options, while others can leave you wishing for more. Here’s a look at some of the key differences between spray foam insulation and other forms of traditional insulation installation in Northern California.

The main difference

Spray foam insulation differs from more traditional types, like fiberglass and cellulose, in that it’s an air barrier and thermal barrier all rolled into one. Traditional forms of insulation don’t provide any barriers to the flow of air.

Attic insulation options

Before upgrading your attic insulation, you want to be sure you are choosing the right type of insulation for your needs, energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Below are the three main types of insulation materials:

• Spray foam insulation: When it comes to easy-to-install insulation, spray foam takes the cake. This dense foam is applied onto the surfaces in need of insulation and expands to fill the space around it. Unlike rolled fiberglass and blown-in materials, foam seals air leaks and creates a barrier from moisture. Closed-cell foam is generally more rigid and hardens after application, while open-cell is spongy and a bit softer. If you need to access an area coated in the foam, it must be removed by cutting or scraping. Afterward, replacement is as simple as respraying the affected area. The foam will naturally close the gaps as it expands.
• Batt insulation (fiberglass): It’s generally pink, looks like cotton candy and is always itchy if you’re unlucky enough to get any on you—this is batt insulation. This is a tried and true solution to the needs of millions of American homes, but it has something to be desired when it comes to longevity, moisture protections and performance in nooks and crannies. It’s fairly easy to install and doesn’t require any curing time or special magic to get it working. If you need to work on an area with this type of insulation, simply roll it up and try not to let it touch your bare skin.
• Blown-in insulation: Blown-in insulation is another popular option these days, but it’s way messier than batt or spray foam insulations. Essentially, blown-in insulation is cellulose that is pumped into spaces like attics. Because it is largely made of paper, it isn’t great at sealing out moisture or killing air leaks once and for all. In fact, it does the exact opposite and can soak water up. This can mean wet material sitting around in your attic waiting to grow mold and cause rot. Working on an area with this insulation will require scooping it out by hand before work can proceed.

So, which is better? Talking to Ace Insulation Inc. is a great place to start. Not every house is an ideal candidate for every type of insulation, so be sure to do your homework before making an investment in insulation installation in Northern California. Otherwise, the wrong choice could have you regretting your decision down the line!