Category: Spray foam insulation

Keeping cool in Northern California’s sweltering summer months is more of a science than anything else. We know when to run the AC, when to go for a swim and when to re-evaluate our homes’ insulation. Keeping cool in these parts takes more than a well-maintained air conditioning unit—it also means having the right insulation within the walls of your home to preserve that precious cool air while keeping the heat at bay. With summers seeming to be getting hotter every year, isn’t it time you made sure your insulation is pulling its weight?

If you are wondering how spray foam insulation in Northern California works to keep your home cool during the hot summer months, here’s what you need to know.

What is spray foam insulation?

Spray foam is exactly what it sounds like: it’s an expanding foam that is literally sprayed into the areas in need of insulation. Unlike more traditional insulation, like rollout fiberglass or blown-in insulation, foam works by completely expanding into the space in which it’s applied. For example, if a professional were to use this foam behind drywall, they’d shoot the foam directly into the space, allow it to expand and trim off any excess before placing the drywall.

How spray foam helps strengthen the building envelope

Your home is basically a series of spaces separated from the outside world. Places like your attic and basement may be inside the house, but they don’t necessarily share the same comforts as, say, your living room. Insulation helps to create barriers within the larger space to effectively save money while making your home as comfortable as possible. Any professional insulation expert will tell you that a home can have leaks and gaps, regardless of its age.

Why you should seal off crawlspaces

Speaking of leaks, crawlspaces are one prime example of a commonly overlooked area that could be costing you money every year on heating and cooling. Sealing these areas can have multiple benefits, not the least of which is a cooler home in the summer. Additionally, pests often take up residence in these spaces and will stop at nothing to make themselves at home. Secondly, left unchecked, they can be a haven for moisture and rot. Sealing them up with foam insulation takes care of all of these problems.

The deal with spray foam and ventilation

If you’ve ever had work done on the vents in your attic with blown-in insulation, then you’ve likely had the headache of cleaning up nasty dust long after the work was done. With spray foam, you have none of that mess to worry about. The foam encases the vents and helps to keep cold air cold and hot air hot as it travels through your HVAC system. If repairs are ever needed, the foam is easy to get through and even easier to replace.

Call the team at Ace Insulation Inc. today to learn more about the benefits of installing spray foam insulation in your Northern California home, or to schedule any other insulation service.

Insulation is essential when it comes to protecting homes from the elements and keeping families comfortable. Unfortunately, a lot of homes are not insulated properly or have insulation that’s old, worn down and not performing the way that it should. Whether you’re upgrading an older home or you’re building a new home altogether, you need to select the appropriate insulation material. Depending on the specifics of your project, you should consider spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA. Read on to find out more about spray foam insulation so that you can determine whether it’s the right option for your specific project.

Spray foam insulation basics

Spray foam insulation is a type of insulation that’s applied as a liquid to a surface, at which point it expands and hardens to create a solid, airtight barrier that completely fills the surfaces and cavities where it is applied. Spray foam insulation is popular for use around electrical outlets, in crawl spaces, between rim joists, around windows and doors and in attics. Unlike other fibrous types of insulation, spray foam insulation will remain rigid and maintain its shape and won’t sag or settle over time. Because of that, spray foam insulation can deliver a consistent level of efficiency and effectiveness for years.

Benefits and considerations

Spray foam insulation is popular because of how effectively it restricts airflow between interior walls and the exterior of a home. Other types of insulation become less effective when there is airflow coming from the outside, but spray foam insulation locks in indoor temperatures by creating a rigid barrier that isn’t susceptible to wind beating against the exterior of the home.

Using spray foam insulation can help reduce energy bills significantly and give homeowners much more control over the temperature in their home. Even applying spray foam insulation in a few areas of a home can make a difference when it comes to minimizing energy loss and maximizing the efficiency of HVAC systems. Because of how effective spray foam insulation is, installing it in attics and other areas can even improve the overall value of a home.

There are a lot of great benefits that come with using spray foam insulation; however, it’s important to keep in mind that spray foam insulation is not ideal for every project or home. Depending on the age of your home, spray foam insulation may contribute to increased moisture accumulation and potential water damage. Because spray foam insulation isn’t always the right choice, you should always consult with an insulation contractor before you select a type of insulation for your project.

Learn more about spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA

You can find out more about spray foam insulation in Petaluma, CA by reaching out to the team at Ace Insulation Inc. today. Since 2011, we have been proud to provide our customers with comprehensive insulation services, including installation of a wide variety of different insulation materials. As a locally owned and operated company, we are dedicated to the satisfaction of our customers and the quality of our workmanship. You can find out more about everything that we have to offer by giving our team a call today.

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!

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!