Upgrading Home Insulation Can Make a Big Difference

February 26, 2017

Upgrading existing insulation in a residential home will dramatically decrease energy usage, and noticeably reduce utility bills. Today, one of the better options is spray foam insulation - a high performance product that delivers more benefits than comparable insulation products. Spray foam is a premium application, but with long-term results that make the initial investment well worthwhile. With a professional installation, the spray foam option makes it possible to focus on the areas of the home that are most vulnerable to energy loss. In this way, the primary sources of energy waste can be fully addressed, and going forward, other areas of the home can be tackled.

Insulating the attic and roof cavity

With the attic being a major source of heat loss in any home, insulating with spray foam offers an all-in-one approach - it's an air barrier, vapour barrier, and thermal insulator at one time. In fact, air sealing and insulating the attic floor is one of the best options for improving energy efficiency. It will quickly translate into one of the best returns-on-investment for the home. One way for a homeowner to save money, especially with spray foam, is to insulate in steps. This will allow a contractor to install spray foam incrementally, yet deliver results even after the first application.

Insulating rooms over the garage

Rooms over garages are often uncomfortable. They are either very hot or very cold, depending on the season. The cause is air leakage coming in and out of the garage below. Here, conventional insulation doesn't seem to do the job because the space cannot be sufficiently air sealed. This is where spray foam can really perform. The application adheres completely to the garage ceiling, providing an effective air seal that is continuous. When properly applied, every gap, opening, and crack is sealed, minimizing air leakage, controlling air moisture, and providing high R-Values.

Insulating exterior walls in the home

In homes where exterior walls are inadequately insulated, increasing the R-Value can make a big difference with heating and cooling bills. The "drill and fill" approach will better insulate a home, without having to do a major renovation. With this retrofit, the wall cavities are filled with loose-fill insulation throughout the exterior of the building structure. In this way, a thermal barrier is created, without any structural change. "Drill and fill" is possible from the interior of the home or from the exterior. And with R-Values significantly upgraded, the energy savings are considerable.

Insulating basement foundation walls

In most residential homes, approximately 30% of overall heat loss is through the basement walls. There are a number of conventional approaches to upgrading basement insulation, but more and more contractors are recommending spray foam. With one application, spray foam can do it all: it provides an insulating envelope; an air barrier; and a vapour barrier. In spaces like the basement, all three components are necessary in providing maximum energy efficiency. With a spray foam application, air movement is blocked, air moisture is prevented, and insulation is optimized.