Protect Your Home from Excess Heat & Moisture, and Keep It More Comfortable with Blown Insulation

What’s the Big Deal about Insulation?

Insulation’s not that big of a deal, is it? I mean, as long as your home has some type of insulation, then you’re good, right? Not necessarily! If you live in an older home, it’s very likely that your attic and home are UNDER-insulated! And even newer homes that meet minimum building codes for insulation may still not have optimal levels of insulation, either.

One Crucial Area of Insulation Focus: Your Attic

Attic insulation goes hand-in-hand with the insulation placed around other areas of your structure. Your attic almost certainly has some insulation, but it really may not be enough to keep you cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and better protected from the threats of moisture. A good rule of thumb is that you want to keep your attic temperature equivalent to the ambient air temperature outside, regardless of what season it is.

Heat Concerns in the Summer

If you live in the Southeastern U.S., then you know that the main concern in the summer is the heat. Extra heat that builds up under your roof decking can shorten the life expectancy of shingles or other roofing materials. An attic that isn’t properly insulated can easily reach temperatures of 120°-150° on a hot summer’s day. Another negative effect is that this will result in heating up your home’s living space too, meaning your A/C will have to run longer to try and keep your home cool.

Humidity & Moisture Concerns in the Winter

When it comes to your attic, the primary concern in the winter isn’t the cold – it’s the humidity & moisture. Surprised? Let me explain. When warm, humid attic air combines with the cooler air from outside, the result is condensation. This condensation can form on a number of surfaces on the roof and inside the attic, including on the insulation. One long term effect is that this moisture can lead to wood rot and mold growth around your roof and attic. And if the insulation itself gets wet, the moisture reduces its R-value, meaning you’re more likely to lose precious heat from inside your home during the winter as well.

So, What’s the Solution? Add Some Blown-In Insulation!

Blown-in insulation (also known as “loose-fill” or just plain “blown” insulation) works the way it sounds. Loose material (composed of fiberglass, mineral wool, and/or cellulose) is blown into attics, inside walls, and into other cavities with specialized equipment. Blown insulation can be added to existing insulation to help fill in gaps and boost R-value. It can also be used as a primary insulation method in its own right. And blown insulation can also help to regulate the level of humidity inside, and helps prevent moisture from seeping into different surfaces.

Benefits of Blown Insulation

What difference can blown insulation make? For starters, it has a higher R-value than rolled batting or foam boards. Blown insulation is also able to reach and fill more cracks and crevices, preventing more air leakage. Blown insulation is also designed to be both moisture-resistant and fire-resistant. What else is good about choosing to add blown insulation? Below is a more detailed summary of just some of the benefits:

• Great for filling in hard-to-reach spaces

• Helps prevent energy waste

• Can reduce utility costs anywhere from 20 to 50 percent, depending on existing levels of insulation and hour particular climate

• Resistant to mold, mildew, and fire

• Provides noise reduction

• Better humidity control

• Can be installed over existing insulation that has lost some of its R-value

• May qualify you for federal energy-efficient tax credits

Leave Blown Insulation to the Professionals

Selecting blown-in insulation is a wise choice for protecting your home or business from heat, moisture, and unnecessary energy costs. Choosing the right local professional provider of blown insulation services is an even smarter move! While some look at blown insulation as a DIY project, it really requires specialized equipment and expertise to install correctly. For this and other reasons, it’s best to leave the work of blown insulation to a licensed professional. A professional can make sure that blown insulation particles are evenly distributed, minimizing unnecessary load pressure on ceilings and walls, and also minimizing the possibility of insulation materials getting into your living space.

Let Skywalker Windows & Siding Take Care of Your Insulation Needs!

Skywalker is a name that homeowners and businesses in North Carolina and Virginia have trusted for years, and for good reason. The expert team at Skywalker Windows & Siding is happy to come out and conduct a FREE initial inspection of your property, and then we’ll sit down with you to discuss our findings, and objectively lay out all of your viable options. We’re here to walk with you through the entire process, from the first call all the way through to the finished product. We take the time to actually listen to you, and we pay attention to every detail – including some that other contractors might miss!

If your home or business is located in the NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Charlotte Metro, or Roanoke, VA areas, then Skywalker has you covered! Reach out to us today at (336) 265-9595, and experience the Skywalker difference for yourself!