Do you find yourself putting on multiple layers of clothing just to stay warm in the winter? Not only can home insulation keep your home at a comfortable temperature, but it can also save you money on your next energy bill. (Who doesn’t want that?) In this blog post, we will go over 7 common questions we get from customers about home insulation. For more information, we recommend you contact a builders supply company that sells insulation.
1. Do I need more insulation?
In the winter, it can be hard determining the source of cold air. Cold air can seep through windows, underneath doors, through chimneys, and everywhere else you can imagine. To determine if more home insulation is needed, go up to your attic and have a look around. If your home has attic insulation, there should be loose fill between ceiling joists or exposed fiberglass insulation.
2. Is my current insulation a health risk?
Depending on when your home was built, you may have some interesting materials insulating your home. For example, some historic homes use shredded newspaper or wood shavings as insulation. You’ll also want to make sure that your current insulation isn’t a health risk.
In the 1930s, it was common to use asbestos as an ingredient in home insulation. If this matches the timeframe of when your home was built, you may want to have the insulation material tested to make sure it doesn’t contain asbestos. Asbestos is only harmful when airborne, which is why insulation containing asbestos should be encapsulated and left alone if you discover flaking.
3. What type of insulation should I use?
There are many different home insulation types, which include:
- Loose fill
- Batts
- Rigid boards
- Expanding sprays
Batts and rigid boards are used when you remodel your home in a major way, such as replacing walls or finishing attics. Loose fill, on the other hand, is used to insulate old houses in places where it’s difficult to install other types of insulation. A home building supply company will be able to help you choose the right insulation products for your home. They will also offer products that let you insulate existing walls in a house.
4. Is installing home insulation a DIY project?
While it may be tempting to do DIY attic insulation, you may need to hire a contractor. They’ll know which insulation material will be most effective for your home and how to properly install it. While some types of home insulation can be installed by homeowners, others will need professional installation. For example, homeowners should be able to handle installing blanket insulation and some pourable materials. Insulation spray foam, on the other hand, can be difficult for homeowners to install because the instructions have to be followed exactly.
If you are unsure how much expertise is needed to install a certain type of insulation, be sure to speak with an experienced building supply company. The home insulation cost is worth having a warm house.
5. How do I prevent moisture from getting in insulation?
Despite your best efforts to keep down humidity, it can still creep up in bathrooms and kitchens. This humid air can move into your walls and condense in the insulation products. To prevent this from happening, you’ll want to make sure the insulation’s vapor barrier is facing toward the inside of your home. Otherwise, you might notice mold, peeling paint, and other signs of high humidity.
Eikenhout is a building supply company that is dedicated to helping homeowners and contractors find high-quality building products for their next project. If you are interested in our inventory of residential and commercial building supplies, please feel free to call any of our nine Michigan locations.
