Underfloor insulation in your home could increase your property value while also providing practical benefits. This article explains everything that you need to know. 

Are you thinking about improving your home? You might be interested in increasing the insulation. Typically, insulation projects will focus on exterior walls or even the attic. However, it’s important to be aware that you could also benefit from insulating the space underneath the floors. 

Underfloor insulation could save you a fortune on your heating and cooling bills. You might think that underfloor insulation isn’t going to be suitable for your property. However, you might be surprised at how versatile floor insulation options can be. 

It can work with a variety of materials whether you have a hardwood floor or need insulation under ceramic tiles. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits. 

Benefits of Floor Insulations

There are numerous benefits of adding underfloor insulation to your home. First, it can ensure that you can eliminate drafts. This can be useful and necessary if you live in a home that is elevated above the ground. If this is the case, then you should consider adding insulation panels or batt insulation between the joists of the floor. 

This job can be quite difficult and you will need the help of a contractor. If your joists are enclosed, then consider using a spray.

As already mentioned, this type of insulation will also help ensure that you can prevent heat loss. It’s going to make your floors warmer too and that will be perfect through the colder months of the year. While it won’t provide a heated floor effect, the change will be noticeable when you make this altercation to your home.

Insulated floors can even stop your pipes from freezing. This can be an expensive issue and one that you want to avoid through the winter. By insulating your floor, you can make sure that your pipes are protected from severe drops in temperature that could cause damage.

Underfloor Insulation Options 

There are numerous underfloor insulation options to consider and different materials available on the market. For instance, foam insulation is popular because it’s easy to install and budget-friendly. However, if you have a larger budget to use then you can consider air sealing insulation. This is going to have a larger impact on your energy bills. 

Can You Use Insulation Under Ceramic Floor Tiles and Hardwood Floor?

You might be interested in whether you can use underfloor insulation flooring on various types of materials such as under a ceramic floor or hardwood floor. The answer is that underfloor insulation can be used underneath a wide range of materials. 

hardwood floor insulation can help with reducing heat loss during the colder months. Tile floors can benefit in the same way wood floors, however, the impact that you see may vary. You should also research the best type of insulation for your specific flooring material. 

If you are interested in learning more about underfloor insulation options please do not hesitate to contact us today. A friendly member of our team will be more than happy to help and ensure that you do make the right choice for your home.

Professional insulation services may seem expensive but attempting to DIY could be a massive mistake. This article explains why. 

Your home insulation is a key and vital part of your property. The right insulation will help ensure that your energy bills don’t go through the roof and guarantee that your home remains comfortable. 

As such insulation improvements are popular home renovation projects. However, it’s important that you approach a project like this the right way. 

It can be tempting to complete a home renovation project without outside help and that’s understandable. You might do this to try and save money, but this would be a mistake. It could end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for. 

Can I Install Insulation Myself?

Do It yourself installation is technically a possibility. However, it does depend on the type of insulation that you are using. 

For instance, you might decide to use foam spray insulation. This is a popular choice and it works quite well. It’s also easy to install but some of the other options are more complicated and will require tools that you probably don’t have. 

The Dangers of Do-it-Yourself Insulation 

You might assume that there’s no danger involved in DIY insulation however this is not the case. Insulations can be messy and certainly dangerous if they are not handled the right way. Part of the reason for this is that insulation involves different chemicals. If you breathe the fibers in, then they could harm your health. 

This is why if you use a professional contractor for your insulation you will often find that they do use protective gear. You probably don’t have gear like this around your home. 

What Is the Best Way to Install Insulation?

The best way to install insulation is always going to be using a pro and there are a few reasons for this. First, you won’t know the tricks and the important steps that insulation contractors know. As an example, when installing insulation, it’s important to maintain the right level of airflow. If you don’t do this, then it can lead to issues with condensation as well as environmental problems in your home. 

There are guides online but they might not provide all the steps that you need to follow. As well if insulation is installed incorrectly, then it could actually damage the value of your property. This is just one of the ways that a DIY job for insulation could end up costing you a lot more than paying for a professional. 

Installing home insulation might seem like an easy task but the reality is there are unseen pitfalls here that you need to be wary of. The DIY insulation materials you use might not provide the same benefits that you would get if you did invest in a professional installation completed by a trained expert. Professionals also get discounts on the materials that could cost you an absolute fortune so in the long run hiring a pro could save you a great deal. 

Your existing insulation also needs to be disposed of properly. If you have fiberglass insulation or blown-in insulation, you will need to make sure you are following the local disposal guidelines.

Installing insulation yourself might seem like a good way to save money, but there are many things you might not know how to do. The experts at A+ Insulation will make sure that your insulation is installed correctly and will help maximize your home’s energy efficiency.

No matter what the temperature is outdoors, you need to make sure that you obtain the same level of comfort indoors. Upgrading your home insulation in Kansas City is necessary when your current one doesn’t retain a comfortable indoor atmosphere.

You need good heat retention before the winter comes and consistently cool rooms during summer. Lack of indoor comfort can also mean skyrocketing utility bills because the HVAC system is compensating for less-than-efficient insulation. Either way, an insulation upgrade is worth the time and money.

Blown-in insulation is rated to last 50+ years, so undertaking a project now will give you a lifetime of comfort in your home. But before you earmark a portion of your yearly budget for insulation, it’s best to do an energy audit first to know whether you need an upgrade or a total replacement.

Pinpointing the Problem

Knowing that your insulation has a problem is one thing. Knowing the location or depth of the problem is another. That’s why you need an energy auditor to come by, and do an evaluation. An audit can reveal your usage pattern, where your energy bills are going, and provide ideas on how to make your house more efficient. Your auditor will also educate you about indoor air quality in your home, and if you need to improve your house’s ventilation capabilities.

Energy audits usually come with an insulation service request, so don’t worry about missing out on important pre-project details.

Knowing About R-Value

R-value is a common characteristic of insulation materials. It provides information about the durability of the material, how well it can hold up against heat penetration, and how thick it is. A higher R-value means better insulation and more expensive.

Rest assured that your contractor will help you get to know the R-value of each insulation material. The climate in your area is the primary determinant of the material, but your contractor will also keep your preferred budget in mind when recommending insulation foam.

Your Insulation Options

Once you’re sure that you need an insulation upgrade or replacement, you’ll move on to your options. And while there are several characteristics you need to know, you’ll mainly choose between the foam materials.

Fiberglass – This material comes in rolls, blankets or batts. Some fiberglass insulation also comes as loose fill. (Pros: inexpensive, easy installation, low R-value; Cons: vulnerable to moisture, requires special installation equipment)

Polyurethane foam – Available in low- and high-density variants, polyurethane foam is made of furniture stuffing or bedding. It’s a common insulation material, which you can spray or inject. (Pros: inexpensive, preferred material for tight spaces, good R-value; Cons: toxic for the installer, requires special installation equipment)

Cellulose – Made of recycled paper and needs borate treatment to be fire-retardant. (Pros: cheap, easy to install, good R-value; Cons: takes time to settle, subject to moisture, requires special equipment)

There are other kinds of insulation materials, like reflective insulation and foam board, but contractors rarely recommend them to homeowners. As for the costs, there are tools available online that can provide a rough estimate of the expenses.

At A+ Insulation, we treat your home like our home. So we don’t just help you save money, our insulation technicians will pick the right materials, meet local and building codes on energy efficiency, and perform diligent, efficient work to ensure indoor comfort all year round.

Call us today to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection and estimate.

Old houses hold a nostalgic appeal for their architectural features unique to a bygone era. But the aesthetic could come at a cost: dated structures have a higher chance of containing harmful materials like asbestos.

Asbestos dates back to ancient Rome, where it was used in building construction. The practice continued to modern times where it was widely used in US house construction during the post-war manufacturing boom. It was a popular manufacturing material then because it was inexpensive and fire-retardant. It could also store heat, maintain dryness in damp areas, and keep cement strong.

It’s not all upsides to this building material, though. It has its dark side, as well.

The Dangers of Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos could lead to health complications like asbestosis and lung cancer. Detecting the material is difficult, however, because its fibers are microscopic. People cannot see, smell, or taste them, so it’s easy to unwittingly inhale or swallow the dust. Furthermore, exposure to asbestos has no immediate symptoms; an asbestos-related illness may take about 20-50 years to develop.

Until the formal ban of the deadly mineral in 1999, asbestos was present in about 50% of all residential properties.

Adding to the complication is the fact that asbestos fibers are difficult to destroy. Once they enter the body, they’re difficult to break down. While some of the fibers may stay in the nose and throat where it is still possible to remove them, others can make their way to the lungs or digestive system.

Identifying Vermiculite Attic Insulation

Asbestos fibers can lurk in various corners of your home like floor tiles and water pipes. Sometimes, you might even find thousands of loose particles of asbestos inside walls or beneath attic floorboards. That’s why it helps to identify whether your attic insulation is a secret haven of the dangerous mineral.

The main source of asbestos danger comes from vermiculite insulation, a pellet-like mineral. While not all vermiculite poses a health risk, those that come from the Libby mine are risky because they contain tremolite, a mineral similar to asbestos.

Here are some signs to look out for to identify whether your property contains asbestos:

• Specific colors – Vermiculite insulation has a gray-brown or silver-gold color.
• Rough textures – The asbestos will have a piano-like appearance as a result of the particle puffing up.
• Flat appearance – Unlike loose-fill fiberglass insulation that looks fluffy, asbestos with insulation looks firm and flat.

Dealing with Asbestos Insulation

Any disturbance can release asbestos fibers into the air. If you really need to go to your attic, you should try to limit the number and length of the trips to lessen exposure.

If you suspect the presence of asbestos in your insulation, don’t panic. Asbestos fibers usually only have the worst effect when exposed to intense concentrations on a regular basis over a long period.

To limit the spread of the harmful mineral, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests you do the following:

• Limit the disturbance of asbestos insulation in your walls and attic
• Avoid storing boxes and other items in places with asbestos insulation
• Do not proceed with a do-it-yourself method of removal
• Get in touch with a professional contractor to safely remove the asbestos from your home

Without asbestos, attic insulation has significant benefits. It will improve the comfort of your home as well as its energy efficiency. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation energy evaluation.

One of the areas that homeowners want to be insulated in their home is the attic. Applying spray foam insulation in your attic helps residents save hundreds of dollars on their monthly energy bill and prevent long-term structural damage to moisture.

While insulating your attic improves the energy efficiency and comfort of your home, you may not realize that some areas in your home can benefit from an excellent insulation product. If you’re wondering about other places in your home where you can use spray foam insulation, these areas will be perfect.

Crawlspace

A place in your house that people sometimes overlook, but can most definitely benefit from spray foam insulation is the crawlspace. This space is where you would find your home’s heating and cooling system. If moisture builds up in the crawlspace, it can compromise air quality. By insulating your crawlspace, you protect your HVAC system and help preserve the quality of air in your house.

Newly Built Rooms

Homeowners sometimes overlook applying enough insulation on freshly built rooms or converted rooms. These new rooms may not have adequate insulation like the rest of the areas in your home. Using spray foam insulation in these rooms creates an effective air barrier that helps regulate temperature in your new space. Additionally, it keeps the temperature consistent with the rest of your house.

Entertainment or Media Rooms

When you decide to allocate a room for movie watching or music practice, you will want to keep the sound from travelling to other areas of your house. Making sure that the sound stays in these rooms is instrumental in making your home enjoyable for your family. Fortunately, you can use spray foam insulation for entertainment rooms, as this can minimize the transmission of airborne sound.

If you are looking for a professional to perform spray foam insulation in Kansas City for your crawlspace, entertainment rooms, and other areas in your house, count on A+ Insulation to get the job done. We perform a complimentary, no-obligation inspection of your home to determine which areas require insulation. Additionally, our insulation contractors will make sure to complete the project on time and budget.

Contact us today.