FAQ

Insulation is a material that stops the transfer of heat and helps increase the energy efficiency of your home. In the summer, it stops warm air from leaking in, and during the winter, it helps heat stay in your home rather than escaping out. How insulation stops heat depends on the type / material.

There are many different types of insulation available:

• Fiberglass insulation (loose-fill or blanket/batts and rolls)
• Cellulose insulation
• Spray foam insulation

A few factors determine how much insulation you need to install, including:

• Where you live
• How old your home is
• Area(s) of your home you need to insulate
• And more

It’s best to talk to a professional insulation contractor for your specific situation, but in general, your whole house should be insulated:

• Attic
• Basement
• Any crawl spaces in your home
• Interior and exterior walls
• And more

If you’ve ever talked to an insulation contractor, you’ve undoubtedly heard the term “R-value.” Basically, the R-value of a certain type of insulation refers to how effective it is at stopping heat transfer! The R-value depends on the material, thickness, and density of the insulation, and of course, installation (improperly installed insulation is almost like having no insulation at all!)

The biggest reason to install insulation is energy savings. Besides helping you save money and increase the energy efficiency of your home, insulation can help reduce noise and improve interior comfort levels.

New construction insulation is installed in new homes and buildings being constructed while reinsulation refers to installing insulation in existing homes and buildings. Typically, the same insulation materials are used for both types of insulation projects.

Commonly used, this insulation comes in the form of batts and rolls. It consists of flexible fibers—generally fiberglass. However, batts and rolls can also be made from mineral wool, plastic fibers and natural fibers, such as cotton or sheep’s wool.

The amount of insulation energy savings you’ll see will depend on a few factors:

• The materials you use
• The area of your home that you choose to insulate
• The size of your home
• And more

Here are some signs that you may need to insulate your attic:

• Higher than normal energy bills
• Visible floor joists in the attic
• Overly warm second story
• Ice dams on the roof
• Snow melting too quickly off the roof

When insulation is old or damaged by mold, insects, water, fire or something else, your insulation should be completely replaced!

Batt insulation is the type of insulation that comes in large fiberglass rolls, while “blown-in” is installed with a special blowing device.

Spray foam consists of two liquid chemical components and is made by mixing and reacting the chemicals to create the foam.

Insulation reduces the transmission of sound from one area by creating a barrier that absorbs vibrations between the sources of the noise and surrounding areas.

Not every type of insulation is ideal for reducing outside noises. Cellulose and blown-in/loose-fill fiberglass insulation are great choices if you are interested in soundproofing benefits.

Cellulose can often be completely recovered and reused on site, leaving hardly any excess material to go to waste. Fiberglass can also be reclaimed from demolition debris and recycled into a new product.

Talking to a professional insulation company is the best way to determine if you need gutter repair or replacement, but there are some things you can look out for on your own, including:

• Frequent clogs
• Mildew or rust buildup
• Flaking or peeling
• And more

Standing water in your gutters is usually indicative of a leak (either in the gutters or a downspout), which can be caused by small sticks or twigs, tree branches, leaves, etc.