Attic Insulation

Using the proper attic insulation is the best thing for preventing heat loss in the winter and retaining cool air in the summer. So if you want to find out if your house is leaking money via a drafty or unsealed attic, you have to conduct an energy audit and/or use a thermal camera to find cool spots up there. If you want to fill those holes, or replacing all of your attic insulation, you can do that depending on the age of your insulation.

Why attic insulation is important

A lot of research shows that half of your home’s energy for heating and cooling can go to waste if you don’t use the proper insulation. Proper insulation is very important when it comes to having a healthy comfortable home. You already know that warm air rises, especially in the winter when you’re trying your hardest to keep your home warm. By not having insulated your home, you will see yourself in the cold, spending money, and damaging your home.

Putting a “hood” on your thermal boundary by installing attic insulation is a great way to maximize your energy savings, prevent mould growth and also keep out unwanted noise, prevent warm air from escaping through the ceiling and forming moisture, relieving some strain on your wallet and on your heating and cooling units. Another reason why attic insulation is the best thing is that will also help extend the life of your furnaces and air conditioners. They will run fewer hours to maintain comfortable temperatures. Once you will insulate the attic with the proper insulation, the less frequently you’ll need to call the repairman.

The R-60 Value is what we recommend to use in your attic because it will help keep the temperature and airflow even.

Why you should replace old insulation

1. You always have high energy bills

This is a sign that the insulation in your home is not performing optimally. 

2. Your air conditioner is running all the time

Without the proper insulation in the home, hot summer air can infiltrate your home placing strain on the AC system to keep up. 

3. Your furnace is constantly running during the winter months

Your furnace may be working overtime due to exterior cold air infiltrating your home. 

4. Your entire home is either too hot or too cold

This means that you didn’t insulate your home properly or the existing insulation is not a good one.

5. The walls of your property are cold

The cold winter air will go to the smallest gaps in the wall and make the home a very uncomfortable place to stay.

6. Frozen pipes in the crawlspace 

If the pipes under your home are freezing, your crawl space needs proper insulation. 

7. Pests and bacteria

If pests and bacteria have made their way into the home, they can make their way to fiberglass or cellulose insulation. This means poor insulation quality, coverage issues, potential health issues.

8. Ice dams on the roof

If the heat exchange melts snow in areas of the roof, ice dams are formed. The most common reason is poor attic insulation.

9. Your current insulation is 15 or more years old

If you have insulated your home for 15 years, it means that it is time for you to change the insulation in your house. Adding new materials, working with professionals keeps your home safe.

10. Allergies seem to get worse when you are at the home

The Benefits of using Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation works as an insulator by blocking cracks and gaps where air can get in or out. 

Spray foam insulation outperforms other types of insulation because it can expand and tightly fill those spaces that might otherwise have been left exposed by using different types of insulation. Spray foam has the highest ranking on the market, R-60 and it means that has the highest resistance value to protect your property.

The insulation can create a powerful bond to the roof, it can strengthen its resistance to wind and pressurization.

In those areas where condensation accumulates the most, Spray foam is very effective. Too much moisture can cause mold and weaken the structural integrity of buildings. Spray foam is so effective for reducing sound, providing a barrier against road traffic, and other loud noises.

Properties that are insulated with spray foam have better protection against mildew and mould. Spray foam does not provide a food source for mold or bacteria. It also provides a barrier from external moisture, preventing mold from growing. When spray foam insulation is inside of the walls, it provides additional strength to the building.

Spray foam insulation expands and can fill up all of the cracks and holes in attics and crawl spaces. In cold or hot weather, the air coming through small cracks and holes throughout a house is the main cause of energy loss. It provides a moisture barrier, keeping water from seeping through cracks, holes, and crevices and damaging walls and floors.

When properties are insulated with spray foam, owners save a significant amount on energy costs, usually an average of 50% or more. Choosing the right insulation system for the home can be difficult, especially for homeowners who have never done this before. 

It prevents moisture

Water can easily go through little holes in your wall, attic, and damage your entire house. Not only the structure but also it brings bacterias pests and after that, your home is going to be an unfriendly environment. Spray foam also can fit into even the tiniest nooks and crannies, so there’s little chance water will get in your home.

It Improves Comfort for the environment 

As soon as you apply spray foam to your property, you will understand the value of this product. In the winter the cold air remains outside and your home is going to be so warm in the winter. During the summer the hot air is not going to bother you.  Other insulation options don’t do this because, unlike spray foam, they don’t stick to every surface.

The chemical mixture won’t release harmful contaminants, such as formaldehyde, into your home or office.

Easy installation

Every time of the year, spray foam is super simple to install, even if you need insulation in a hard-to-reach area, such as a crawl space. The insulation dries quickly, so it will be ready in about a day’s time.

Eco Friendly

Another important thing is that spray foam helps you save energy and spend less money. 

It Lasts

Spray foam has a high R-value, meaning it’s heat resistant. When you choose spray foam insulation, you know you won’t have to upgrade or replace it for several years at a time.

It Provides Strength to Buildings

Spray foam is very dense because it’s a spray-applied plastic with strong adhesive qualities so it provides more strength to the residential or commercial property’s overall structure. It’s a layer of protection against humidity and wind, and floors, walls, and ceilings are going to be stronger. 

It Reduces Sound

Thanks to this product, you won’t have to hear road traffic or sounds from neighboring rooms. Spray foam fills cracks and crevices so absorbs sound waves and soundproofs your walls. Privacy from the outside means spray foam insulation.

It Saves You Money

Spray foam insulation may seem like an expensive option but it’s an investment and you are going to get the benefits after applying it.

You will spend less money on the bills, your home is going to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You are protecting your properties by using spray foam and that’s the best thing you can do.

So let’s make a summary:

Using spray foam insulation has these advantages: 

• Protects your home from the cold in winter
• Protects your home from the heat in the summer
• Limits entrances for pests, bacteria, and water
• Reduces energy usage and costs
• Keeps out pollutants
• Reduces drafts and noise
• Prevent mold and infestation
• Reclaims tour attic
• Gives strength to the walls and the entire building
• Comfort indoor environment
• Provides thermal protection

Types of spray foam insulation

There are two types of spray foam: open cell and closed cell.

Open-cell sprayed-in foam insulation, is a soft low-density material half pound density, non-structural and you can use it for interior applications, the underside of roof decks, attic, basement walls, and crawl spaces. Improves occupant comfort, a cleaner indoor environment, and greater noise reduction for properties.

Closed-cell spray insulation is a rigid medium-density material. You can use it in different properties in exterior applications such as continuous insulation applications, as well as interior applications. The term “closed-cell” comes from the cell structure of the finished insulation material.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation can save energy by up to 40%. This type of foam insulation has a higher R-value per inch which is very useful for small areas that require the highest possible R-value to meet building code requirements. 

The benefits of open-cell spray foam

As we mentioned before, open-cell foaming insulation is best suited for interior applications, giving us a lot of advantages. One of the biggest benefits of open cell foam is that it expands so much after it has been applied, which means that it can insulate nooks and crannies in a home. These kinds of areas are always a problem. It’s a little difficult to insulate them with closed cell foam. Open cell foam is the best for soundproofing and a single application can completely fill the area between studs. Open cell foam is also much more economical than closed cell foam, but it’s not ideal for locations with extreme weather temperatures.

The benefits of closed-cell insulation foam

While open-cell foamed insulation has many benefits over traditional insulation types, closed-cell sprayed-in insulation goes beyond to offer additional advantages.  Although closed-cell spray insulation foam has a higher per board foot cost, there are benefits that the material offers including:

Closed cell foam is the best choice when space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cells inside a standard wall. Its rigid nature, and gives the building additional strength. The closed cell also acts as a vapor barrier, so water and moisture don’t have a chance to get inside the home, and the foam itself is unharmed by water damage. It has Higher R-value and it fits in narrow spaces and can be applied at very low temperatures (as low as 5°F).

Spray Foam Insulation vs Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation or glass wool is made by pulling strands of glass into thin fibers. People can be affected by fiberglass when they are going to apply this product or when living in that specific building. If the insulation is not properly applied, it can get into air vents and circulate through the building. Fiberglass insulation is not considered to be dangerous, but it irritates the skin creating tiny cuts and respiratory systems by releasing tiny fibers and particles into the air. The National Toxicology Program’s 11th “Report on Carcinogens” lists glass fibers under the category “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. This implies that there is some evidence of fiberglass causing cancer, but no definite proof of an effect in humans.

The chemicals that spray foam contains, on the other hand, are very difficult to spread in the air or in the environment where you applied it. So this makes them very eco friendly

It is very difficult to install and it doesn’t fit everywhere like spray foam. And it won’t close those tiny holes that can cause a lot of problems because there is air leaking. With spray foam, this will not happen.

It can cost less but it doesn’t have the thickness that we need.

About the installation, spray foam is only applied by professionals so there is no place for mistakes, but since fiberglass is a product that you can place the sheets by yourself, it’s very likely that you will miss some spots.

Energy efficiency is one of the most important things. Using fiberglass the energy is less efficient, and using Spray foam of course that it will save up to 40% of energy. About the Extreme cold fiberglass loses heat quickly and spray foam doesn’t.

The R-Value is higher when using Spray foam and obviously lower when we use fiberglass losses R-value over its lifetime. Spray foam does not do that.

Speaking about lifetime, only 10-25yrs it can remain not damaged if the fiberglass stays dry, and then spray foam is more than 80 years. A lot of difference.

Fiberglass doesn’t have a sound barrier which is efficient, spray foam is known for the sound barrier.

The benefit of fiberglass is only one: low cost. But spray foam stops air and moisture infiltration – gives strength to the building structure – It is permanent – Keeps dust and pollen out – Reduces capacity requirements, etc.

The last thing is that using fiberglass won’t give the building additional strength, but spray foam gives strength to the walls and to the roof.

There are plenty of reasons why you should choose spray foam insulation. These are just some of them.