Author: Barrier Insulation

How Much Does Radiant Barrier Cost?

How Much Does Radiant Barrier Cost?

Radiant barrier costs about $1,700 with average prices ranging from $740 to $2,840 in the US for 2020 according to HomeAdvisor. Radiant barrier cost per square foot is about $.52 per sq ft with average prices ranging from $.10 to $.95 per sq ft.

Radiant barrier installation for a 1,500 sq. ft. attic costs about $1,700 with average prices ranging from $740 to $2,840.

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Radiant Barrier Costs Per Square Foot

Radiant Barrier Cost Per Square Foot

Radiant barrier cost per square foot is about $.52 per sq ft with average prices ranging from $.10 to $.95 per sq ft.

According to AngiesList, “In general, you can expect to pay between 10 and 25 cents for every square foot of material you purchase, for single-side barriers. Double-sided barriers can cost as much as 50 cents per square foot. In real numbers, a 1,500 square foot attic space can cost between $225 and $750.”

Single Sided Vs Double Sided Radiant Barrier Cost

Single Sided Randian Barrier. The average cost of single-sided radiant barrier is 15 cents per sq. ft. with average prices ranging from $.10 cents to $.25 per sq. ft. for the US in 2020. Single sided randiant barrier installation for a 1,500 sq. ft. attic costs about $1,700 with average prices ranging from $740 to $2,840.

Double Sided Randian Barrier. The average cost of double-sided radiant barrier is 33 cents per sq. ft. with average costs ranging from $.15 to $.50 per sq. ft. for the US in 2020. Double sided randiant barrier installation for a 1,500 sq. ft. attic costs about $1,700 with average prices ranging from $740 to $2,840.

Installation costs for radiant barrier average 55 cents per sq. ft. Installation costs for radiant barrier ranged from 10 cents to $1 per sq. ft per the Florida Solar Energy Center. The average installation costs to install single-sided radiant barrier as a basic project in a 1500 sq. ft. attic is $400. Prices ranged from $300 to $500. The average installation costs to install double-sided radiant barrier as a complex project in a 1500 sq. ft. attic is $1,300. Prices ranged from $600 to $2,000. generally speaking, costs of installation is usually cheaper for floor applications – the labor-intense process of attaching the radiant barrier to attic rafters is more costly.

Incidentally, if you are involved in the construction of a new home, the costs of installation are usually cheaper. A homeowner in Virginia paid an additional $500 and made his home significantly cooler by installing 5,000 sq. ft. of radiant barrier foil over the rafters before the roof was covered.

How Much Energy Does A Radiant Barrier Save?

A radiant barrier can reduce cooling costs by 5-10 percent in a warm and sunny climate according to the US Department of energy who also mention that radiant barriers are more effective in not climates than in cold climates.

According to AlternativeEnergy, “PRO Attic Radiant barrier costs $300 to $1,200 and can save you $9,000 over the next 25 years.”

HomeAdvisor says, “If homeowners upgrade to R19 insulation, they can save from $180 to $300 on heating bills.”

Radiant Barrier Tax Credit

You can get a tax credit for 10 percent of the cost up to $500! This does not include the cost of installation but it is possible to perform the installation of home sealing/insulation yourself and receive the credit per Consumer Reports.

Factors That Affect The Cost.

There are a few factors that affect the cost of installing radiant barrier insulation in your Phoenix valley home. One of the biggest factors is the size of the home. The bigger the attic and the greater the square footage, the more time and materials it will take to get the job done.

Another cost factor is which radiant barrier solution you choose. If you want to pay the difference between a spray on heat barrier or if foil insulation would work in your application affects the cost. Discuss the options with your Phoenix insulation company to get more information on which radiant barrier option works best for your home, and your budget.

Why Install Radiant Barriers?

Summer heat is one of the biggest primary concerns when discussing insulation in Arizona. Winters do cool off and near-freezing nights happen, so insulation is relevant all year long. Radiant barriers work alone or in conjunction with other insulation types to keep our attics cool. Keeping the attic cool helps reduce the heat transferred through the attic floor and into our homes. Radiant barriers help reflect heat energy before it has a chance to even make it through the roof. This means that the spray foam, rolled batt, or other insulation types don’t work as hard to keep your energy bills lower.

Types Of Radiant Barriers

There are two main categories of radiant barrier insulation, paint like coatings and radiant foil. There are different companies making paint-like coatings that act as your radiant barrier that is applied via either a spray type paint process or are applied via a brush and roller. Foil can be installed against rafters leaving a gap of air, or they can be simply laid over your traditional insulation on the floor of your attic. If the attic is used for storage choosing a system that is applied to the underside of the roof is the best call to leave your attic space free and clear.

Advantages Of Radiant Barrier Insulation

Radiant barrier insulation has the advantages of keeping homes cooler and saving energy but has some unique advantages of its own. Apart from the advantage of simply rejecting heat from entering the home at the rooftop, it has the following advantages:

  • It takes up less room than standard insulation types
  • Dried paint radiant barriers and foil are noncarcinogenic and non-toxic
  • Neither paint type nor foil supports the growth of fungi or bacteria
  • These insulators will not mold or mildew is there is a leak in your roof
  • They do not degrade due to the presence of moisture
  • They do not age and degrade with time or lose thermal efficiency

Radiant Barrier Installation in Phoenix

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If you have a home that could use better insulation and lower energy bills installing radiant barrier insulation by Barrier Insulation, Inc in your Phoenix home can greatly help reduce your energy costs leaving you more money for all of the other needs and wants you have in your life.

Best Attic Insulation Phoenix

Best Attic Insulation

If you’re looking for the best attic insulation in Phoenix we can help!  Barrier Insulation offers great attic insulation valleywide in Phoenix with options such as: spray foam insulation, blown-in insulation, fiberglass batt insulation and radiant barrier insulation.  We proudly serve every city in the Phoenix Valley including: Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Gilbert, Tempe and more.

Attic Insulation Phoenix

Barrier Insulation offers the best attic insulation service in the Phoenix Valley. We offer all the different types of attic insulation to fit every demand and every budget.  Insulating the attic is one of the most important areas of the home to insulate to reduce dependency on air conditioning and heating.  Read more about the types of attic insulation we offer.

Blown-In Insulation

Blown In Attic InsulationOne of the better choices is blown in attic insulation. It is installed by techs that have a large hose and shoot the insulation into the attic. They have training to create an even, uniformly deep layer of insulation. This is done by using a large air driven machine that churns up the material into chunks and then blows them up the hose and into the attic.

For blown material you have two main choices. There is cellulose and fiberglass blown in material. Both have advantages and disadvantages. With similar R values they both insulate well and are approximately 3 -4 R per inch. Fiberglass insulation is produced primarily from old glass or sand. Cellulose blown in insulation is made from recycled newspapers.

Depending on your application blown in insulation might be your only insulator in your attic, or you might use it in conjunction with other insulators to get the best energy efficiency. Blown in attic insulation sits on the floor of your attic as an even layer and helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Batt Insulation

Rolled Batt Attic InsulationBatt attic insulation is pretty straight forward to install as it is rolls of material typically lined with a paper backing. They are made from interweaving fibers that are long and have adhesive qualities. This means they stick to each other and stick together as a grouping. Batt insulation is made from two source materials, cotton and fiberglass. Cotton batts are made from recycled denim jeans. Fiberglass batts are typically made from sand or recycled glass that is processed into the insulating strands and fibers.

To install the batts they must be cut to fit each and every space they will be installed in. Even with the best of intentions there are tricky spots around corners, pipes, wires, junction boxes and other areas that end up having gaps. This means there are areas that simply are not insulated as well as other insulation options.

Sprayed Insulation

Spray Foam Attic InsulationOne of the most energy efficient types of attic insulation is spray foam. It comes in two types that have pros and cons. There is open and closed cell spray insulation. A larger percentage of homes were built with the HVAC and duct system in the attic of the home. This means that if your insulation is sitting on the floor of your attic, your system is having to work harder. Moving the “envelope”, or area of your home that is climate controlled, to the roofline can greatly increase your energy efficiency. Spray foam allows this envelop to be at the roofline, and helps fill in all the areas that batt insulation can struggle with.

Highly trained and skilled insulation technicians can spray the foam so there are no gaps or voids in the layer of insulation covering the attic ceiling. This means that the ducts carrying your hot and cold air to heat and cool your home are working in a more moderate climate. That translates into less energy being used to keep your home comfortable all year long.

Radiant Barrier Insulation

Radiant barrier insulation provides an additional layer of protection to keep your attic and home more comfortable, and use less air conditioning and heating.  This type of insulation has the same goal of preventing heat from entering homes as traditional insulation but achieves the goal in a different way.  Instead of using thick layers of foam, loose insulation, or fiberglass batts it reflects the energy and heat with highly reflective surfaces.

It can be installed as a foil backed insulation board or it can be installed by spraying a highly reflective product onto the bottom of the roof decking in the attic.  Barrier insulation installs R-Max radiant barrier and HeatBloc Ultra spray radiant barrier.

The Best Attic Insulation

Clearly the best attic insulation really depends on your home and your needs. If you don’t have any ducts or HVAC system in your attic and you don’t plan to finish or use the attic space, you might consider one of the less costly insulation types. However if you have ducts in your attic and want to keep your home as energy efficient as possible using spray foam might be a more costly, but better long term investment. Having local attic insulation experts come to your home and help you develop an effective and budget friendly insulation plan for your home is the only way to get the best attic insulation for you individual needs.

Schedule Attic Insulation in the Phoenix Valley

Barrier Insulation offer Phoenix Valley residents the most effective and affordable attic insulation options.  We specialize in finding each home’s best insulation solutions and offer all four of the main categories of insulation.  Invest in your home’s insulation and it will help keep your more comfortable and help reduce your utility bills..

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Radiant Barrier Problems & Solutions

If you’re searching “radiant barrier problems” you are either considering installing radiant barrier or you have radiant barrier insulation and are having problems with it.  Radiant barrier can be an incredible addition to your home’s insulation strategy when installed correctly.  Read about some of the problems and find out how they can be avoided and repaired by your local radiant barrier contractor.

Radiant Barrier Problems & Solutions

There are 3 main issues to overcome when considering radiant barrier as an option for helping insulate your home and they are condensation, dust, and ventilation. Condensation and ventilation are related in that if there is not proper ventilation it can cause foil radiant barriers to develop condensation. These problems either lead to homes being damaged or radiant barrier not being as effective as it should be.

Condensation

Condensation is primarily a concern when radiant barrier is installed on the floor of an attic and sits on top of traditional insulation, such as fiberglass or loose fill. Insufficient ventilation is a primary cause of this condensation and is typically only problematic in colder regions of the country.  In areas that stay relatively warm all year long it is less of a concern.  Ensuring that gaps and cracks from the climate controlled living areas of the home are sealed helps cut down on moisture that builds up in the attic.

This condensation needs to be monitored if ceilings are discolored from water.  Excessive water will cause traditional insulation such as loose fill or fiberglass to lose some of its R-value and potentially frame rot if the problem is severe.

Dust

If radiant barrier isn’t installed correctly dust that settles on the product will reduce its efficiency.  There are various types of radiant barrier that can overcome this issue.  Primarily among those are spray on radiant barriers that are similar to a paint.  The spray on radiant barrier is applied directly to the underside of the roof decking, making it impossible for dust to settle on the heat reflective surface.

Insufficient Ventilation

Ventilation in the attic is important for the performance of your home’s thermal barrier approach.  Radiant barrier works better in the summer and helps remove excessive water during the winter.  For proper ventilation building codes state that every 150 square feet of attic floor should have 1 square foot of net free ventilation area.  Each different attic size, shape, and volume requires different levels of ventilation and should be calculated by your insulation contractor.

Quality Radiant Barrier Installation

Radiant barrier can add an additional layer of insulation to homes to improve energy efficiency, reduce reliance on air conditioning, and ultimately lower utility bills.  Barrier Insulation of Phoenix understands the problems that can occur when radiant barrier insulation is either not installed correctly or attics are not properly ventilated.  Let us help you if you are experiencing condensation problems or have dust covering your radiant barrier in the Phoenix Valley of Arizona.

12 Ways To Keep My House Cooler Without AC

The financial benefits for summer proofing your home will pay dividends each and every year.  Take a look at some of the options you can get a professional to install, or just good habits to keep you cool and comfortable during these hot summer months.

Best 3 Professional Ways To Keep My House Cooler Without AC

Radiant Barriers – This is a type of insulation that is installed in the attic of a house or attached to the rafters of the roof.  This reduces the air conditioning cost by keeping the attic a cooler space during the summer which means less heat in your house, and less need to keep the AC running all the time.

Foam Insulation – This industry leading insulation type minimizes air leakage to keep your air conditioning in the house instead of leaking out and wasting your money.   And the more of your air that stays in your house, the less that AC unit runs, and the more money that stays in your pocket.

Attic Ventilation – Attic Ventilation comes in two types and Eve Line Venting/Lower Air Intake and Fans.  These technologies help keep the attic itself cooler, which means less heat radiating down from the attic into your living space.

9 Other Ways To Keep My House Cooler Without Air Conditioning

Here are 9 great tips for keeping your home cooler without having to run your AC unit too much.  Using them all gives you the best edge against summer heat!

1. Keep The Blinds Closed

Draw the blinds and shades during the day – As much as we look forward to summer when the light actually starts to stream into our windows, it brings with it lots of heat.  If you’d like to reduce your electricity bill, pull them closed.  This is especially important when there is direct light on those windows.

2. Keep those fans going

They cost a lot less to run but they put the air directly on you in while you watch TV, read or while you are laying in bed getting that much needed rest.

3. Invest In Window Film

Invest a little money in some reflective window film. Much like your vehicle’s tint a reflective film can help guard your home and your pocket book against excessive AC costs.

4. Swap Out Light Bulbs

Switch out your light bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs.  Those old incandescent lights use more energy and actually produce a lot of heat themselves!

5. Keep Yourself Cool

Cool your house, cool yourself.  An important way to help ourselves weather the heat of the summer, especially here in Phoenix is to keep ourselves cool with plenty of water and icy beverages.

6. Dress for the heat

Wearing light colored and loose fitting clothing can go a long way for us to make the most of summer and keep our costs down not running the AC like crazy while we chill out in wool and sweats.

7. Wear A Wet Towel

A great trick for weathering the hot Arizona summers is a wet towel.  You just have to get it wet and then drape it around your neck, and apply it to your wrists and forehead for some welcomed relief from the heat.  This is a great trick for when you’re home, hiking, or just need to cool off.

8. Install Shade Elements

Invest in some natural shade outside; planting some trees that help shade your home from getting sun in the first place goes a long ways to helping keep you cool.  You can also install some shade sails or awnings to provide more shade.

9. Cook Outdoors

Another fun way to help keep the house cool and get some great food is to use that BBQ.  It keeps the heat out of the house and puts some great food on your plate at the same time.

Get Your Home Insulation Upgraded

Give the experts at Barrier Insulation a call to start saving money today or send us a request for information using our contact page.  We can inspect your home’s insulation and let you know the ways that we can improve your home’s thermal performance. Doing so means running your air conditioning less, and saving money on electricity. Give us a call today at 602-499-2922.

Understanding The Thermal Envelope Of Your Home

If you’re searching for “thermal envelope” you are trying to understand how to make your home as energy efficient as possible. This post will help improve your understanding the thermal envelope of your home.

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Making your existing home energy efficient or building you a brand new home will present plenty of challenges. You have to think about the shape and size of the building as well as how it will be cooled and heated. Ensuring that it has the right insulation by using the right type of materials with correct thermal properties will help to make the environment efficient and comfortable.

When you are sealing the home for efficiency, you need to address the envelope is important. This will be the layer that will separate the conditioned living area from the outside space. It is basically the heat flow control layer.

What Is Thermal Envelope?

When the thermal envelope is discussed, they are talking about the space where heat will rise in the home and be trapped, normally the ceiling. The attic is often considered to be outside of the thermal envelope. However, attention to insulating and sealing the space in the home could also mean big returns in coziness and value.

Understanding Heat Transfer

Picking the right type of insulation and air barrier may help to provide good returns for increasing the efficiency in your home. Understanding just how air works can help to provide you with a way to make a good choice.

During winter, we often wear hats because heat leaves the top of you. Its similar to your house. The more that you use the air barrier with a good R-zone based on the climate in your area, it will increase efficiency in your home.

It is because of this efficiency that you may find that your HVAC system doesn’t need to be large, which saves your money on your energy bills.

Whole Home Efficiency

When you are building a high efficiency home or making your home efficient, you should take several practices into consideration. You need to pay attention to buying the best insulated windows, correct size of a HVAC system, and having the right insulation – especially in the attic where heat escapes and is trapped outside of the living space. The best insulation should be the one that fits your home and has a high R value.

Insulation & R-Values

R-value is a measurement for thermal resistance. The higher that the R-value is, the higher the thermal resistance will be. Basically the higher that the R value is, the cooler or warmer your house will be.

When you use spray foam insulation you will get about a R-7 per inch. When you go up the law of returns will apply. There will be a certain point when the insulation that you add doesn’t make a difference if the air barrier isn’t properly worked.

You will be removing the unwanted air from the outside. If you look at it that way, you are going to have an efficiently sized HVAC system, since you don’t have to worry about air leakage.

Air Barriers

Insulation and air barrier shouldn’t be confused. Both are a part of becoming an efficient home. The benefits of spray foam are a way that they can be covered at the same time.

Air barriers prevents or helps to prevent unwanted air from entering your home and it prevent conditioned air from escaping your home. Spray foam insulation can do this by providing an air barrier and helping to gain thermal resistance.

Using open-cell spray foam can help to reduce or remove the noise in your structure. The attic or ceiling is a great place to start, especially if your next to an airport.

Another benefit of giving your home a thermal envelope with great insulation is to provide it with a great sound barrier. Using the same type of tools can create comfort in other ways. Sound pollution in your home can damage your well being of your family. From the sound of people talking in the next room to outside noise, the level of noise in your home matters for your comfort level.

Choosing Thermal Envelope Solutions

Deciding on the right type of home insulation will take some research, but picking the right type will become invaluable by providing you with an efficient environment for working and living. If you live in Arizona in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Gilbert, Tempe or elsewhere in the valley Barrier Insulation, Inc. provides insulation installation to improve your thermal envelope.  We install all types of home insulation and also offer service for commercial insulation installation. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call us today!

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Heat Stroke Guide For Phoenix

If you are searching for “heat stroke symptoms” or “how to treat heat stroke” this article is for you.  Barrier Insulation cares about the people of Arizona and want everyone to have a happy, healthy, and safe summer. Summer in the Phoenix metro area is famous for incredible heat and it carries with it a danger for people of any age. Understanding what heat stroke is, how to spot it, and how to avoid it will help you stay safe and help others.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Heat Stroke?

Knowing the symptoms of this disorder is critical for knowing when you or a loved one should be seen by medical professionals. Monitor the following symptoms if you think someone might be affected by heat stroke.

  • Elevated body temperature – One of the most clear signs that someone has heat stroke is a body temperature of 104°F or higher.
  • Changes in sweating – Heat stroke changes the way you sweat. If your skin feels dry and hot to the touch or if you have been physically exerting yourself in the heat it might feel moist.
  • Changes in behavior or mental state – If an individual exhibits slurred speech, confusion, agitation, delirium, irritability, or seizures they should be checked out. Coma is also a potential result.
  • Nausea or Vomiting – Someone with heat stroke might feel nausea or will vomit.
  • Rapid Breathing – Breathing might become shallow and more rapid.
  • Headache – The head may begin to throb with pain.
  • Racing Pulse – Heartbeats pickup considerably during heat stroke as the body places enormous strain on the heart to help cool the body.

How To Treat Heat Stroke.

When you believe you or someone else has heat stroke you should transport them to a hospital or call 911.  Delaying treatment or medical help can be fatal.  To care for the affected individual before getting to the hospital First Aid should be administered.

First Aid for Heat Stroke

  • Follow these easy steps to minimize the person’s discomfort and safeguard their health.
  • Move them to an air conditioned space or seek as much shade as possible.
  • Remove unnecessary clothing.
  • Monitor the person’s body temperature if possible and seek to reduce fever to 101.
  • Wet skin with hose or sponge and fan with air to cool skin.
  • Use ice packs to cool them by placing them on back, groin, neck and in armpits. These areas are rich with blood vessels and can reduce body temperature.
  • Put the person in a cool bath or shower and stay with them.

Heat Stroke Risk Factors

There are factors that increase a person’s likelihood of getting heat stroke and care should be taken for anyone that fits into these categories.  These are the people that are most at risk.

Urban areas – People living in urban environments which experience the “heat island effect” where the asphalt and stone doesn’t allow cooling during the evening.

Health conditions – People suffering from health conditions are at greater risk.  These conditions include but are not limited to the following conditions: heart, kidney disease, lungs, overweight or under weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, alcoholism, mental illness, sunburn, sickle cell trait, or any other type of condition which causes fever.

Prescription medications – Anyone who uses medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, diet pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, blood pressure and heart medications, seizure medications, or medications for mental illnesses such as antipsychotics or antidepressants are at increased risk.

Diabetics are at an increased risk – Arizona residents that suffer from diabetes are at an especially high risk as they underestimate how they will function during heat waves. Diabetics need to be especially careful during these times of year to safeguard themselves.

Age is a factor – Children up to about age 4 and any adult over the age of 65 are at an increased risk of heat stroke as they cannot cool as quickly as others.

How Do You Prevent Heat Stroke?

They say that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and that is true of heat stroke.  Summer in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, and everywhere else in southern Arizona is hot and carries with it the possibility for heat stroke. Follow these tips to manage the risk and stay safer.

Drink plenty of fluids – You can’t sweat if you are dehydrated.  Drink plenty of water, but avoid alcohol, sugar, and caffeine.  Sweat is the body’s way of cooling itself.

Wear lightweight, loosefitting clothing – If your clothing is too tight or too heavy it will not allow your body to cool the way it needs to.

Never leave someone in a parked car – This is an incredibly dangerous situation for any adult but more so children and pets. When parked and the AC is off temperatures can rise 20°F in about 10 minutes.  Cracked windows and shade do not make it safe and no one should be left in the car during warm or hot weather.

Avoid exertion at peak heat – If there are outdoor activities which are strenuous you should schedule them for early morning or after the day has cooled off.  Ensure that frequent breaks are taken in cool spots and enough fluids are being consumed.

Monitor prescriptions – There are certain types of prescriptions which diminish the body’s ability to dissipate heat and stay hydrated.  Compensate by staying cool and drinking more water.

Take caution when you’re at risk – If you know you don’t handle the heat well, take medications that dehydrate, or have a condition that makes you susceptible for heat stroke limit your exposure to it and monitor how you are feeling and act quickly if you are overheating.  For strenuous sports events it is important to have medical services available in case of emergency.

Go somewhere cool – If you do not have adequate home insulation or air conditioning you should go to a public building such as a library, government building, community center, or mall. Staying cool and drinking enough fluids is the key to getting through the summer safe and avoiding heat stroke.

Heat refuge centers – The Maricopa Association of Governments has organized a map of locations for wellness checks, refuge from heat, and offers hydration. These are a great resource for the needy, the elderly, or anyone who needs some help getting through the heat. For more information or locations please visit Phoenix Heat Relief Network.

 

How Long Does Insulation Last?

How Long Does Insulation Last?

Electricity isn’t cheap and if you have an older home you might be wondering if your insulation is helping at all.  Lots of things degrade and wear out over time which leaves homeowners asking, “How long does insulation last?”  Does insulation fall apart and degrade over time?  It is important to for property and homeowners to know what condition the insulation is in.  This avoids unnecessarily high utility bills.

Insulation Longevity

The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors explain that most types of insulation will last up to or more than 100 years!  However that longevity depends on a few factors.  If the insulation has be poorly installed, compromised by water, or ruined by pests in the attic it will be less effective, or not effective at all.

Factors That Damage Insulation

Insulation only lasts for 100 years when it is in perfectly ideal conditions.  Most of us know that life and accidents happen and insulation can be damaged and rendered less effective, or not effective at all.  Here are some of the common issues homeowners have that ruins insulation and requires insulation removal and insulation replacement.

Water Damage

Roofs leak.  They leak when they are not cared for and maintained but also when there are storms or damage from trees.  If a tree loses a branch and it hits the roofing water will leak into your roof and damage your insulation.  It can compress the fibers or knock the insulation out of place.

Mold

If water is left too long it will mean that it can stagnate and form mold.  Molds that form in homes can lead to respiratory issues and it means that the insulation isn’t doing its job anymore.  When insulation develops mildew or mold it needs to be removed and replaced.  This means your home will have better air quality and insulation.

Punctured Insulation

Things that come through the roof or when work is done on the roof insulation layers can be punctured.  When air can get through it means the insulation cannot do its job.  This can be punctured spray foam insulation , torn paper on batts, or other types of puncture problems.

Falling Down

Insulation that is installed upside down in attics, ceilings, or crawl spaces is notorious for falling out of place. The paper backing is stapled into place, but it is common after 15 or 20 years for it to fall out of place.  Depending on the condition of the insulation homeowners may be able to staple it back into place.  If the paper backing is too damaged or the insulation has become wet or moldy it should be removed and replaced.

Settling

Older blown in or loose fill insulation tends to settle over time and not fill the walls or attics it was installed in.  R-Value is calculated per inch.  If the insulation has settled and is no longer 6 or 8 inches deep as it was when it was installed it means that it isn’t as effective.  This means that sections might simply have no insulation at the top areas and heat is getting through.  Newer types of loose fill insulation such as Knauf EcoFill Blowing Woold Insulation is environmentally friendly and does not settle.

Dirty Insulation

The places that insulation is installed in does not always stay clean or dust free.  When excessive dust or debris settles on insulation it causes it to compress and lose effectiveness.  If the loose fill insulation in your attic has layers of dust, dirt, or other debris it is reducing the thermal performance and needs to be removed and replaced.

Phoenix Valley Insulation Removal & Replacement

If your home is insulated but doesn’t feel like it during the hot Arizona summers or cooler days of winter Barrier Insulation is here to help.  We offer insulation inspect, insulation removal, and installation replacement.  We can retrofit homes with better insulation in the walls, attic, floors, ceilings, and crawl spaces. Our goal is always to provide insulation services that are long lasting, provide greater comfort, and help reduce utility bills.

Call Today – 602-931-0637

What Is Board Foot In Spray Foam Insulation?

What Is Board Foot In Spray Foam Insulation

Home owners that are considering spray foam insulation might be asking “What is a Board Foot in Spray Foam Insulation?”.  Today’s post will help consumers understand what a board foot is, how it is used, and what it means for your insulation project.

Spray foam manufacturers and installers use a unit of measure for spray foam insulation called a “Board Foot” or “Board Feet”. It is a measurement of how much coverage or yield a specific manufacturer’s spray foam will offer.

A board foot is a square foot of spray foam insulation at a thickness of one inch.  As the industry standard measurement it includes the square footage of the surface that will be sprayed as well as home many inches thick the foam should be.

How To Calculate Board Feet

It is easy to calculate the board feet needed for a given project. Take the measurements to get the square footage of cavities that should be insulated and multiply that number by the desired thickness of insulation.

How Thick Should Spray Foam Insulation Be?

This measurement varies by which type of spray foam insulation is chosen, open or closed cell. Closed cell offers superior R-Value and will require less thickness to achieve the desired thermal performance. To calculate how thick your spray foam will be you should have a target R-value in mind for your home and choose the option that fits your walls, attic, and needs.

Open-Cell Spray Foam has an R-Value of about 3.6/Inch. The cost per board foot is about $0.44 to $0.65. To achieve the desired R-Value open cell must be applied in thicker coatings.  If the framing is deep enough to allow for thicker application this can be a high performance and more affordable option.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam has a higher R-Value of about 6.5/Inch. This means that it can achieve higher thermal performance with less thickness. The cost per board foot of closed-cell spray foam is about $0.70 to $1 dollar. In addition to being a higher performance thermal insulator it also adds structural strength to roofs, walls, or any area it is sprayed.

How Much Does My Home Need?

Your local spray foam insulation contractor will help you choose the right spray foam insulation for your application.  The type of framing, joists, and rafters will affect the decision based on their depth and the room available to install the insulation.

Choosing Conscientious Spray Foam Installers

Part of every home improvement project is choosing the right products and the right people do install them. While that many times can be the homeowner it isn’t recommended for spray foam insulation.  Attic or whole home spray foam insulation jobs require trailers or trucks which carry the spray equipment and chemicals needed to do the job.

Spray Foam Is A Messy Job

As the spray foam insulation is sprayed there are tiny expanding droplets of foam that are in the air. This highly adhesive foam ends up on whatever you’re wearing, your skin, and in your hair. It also ends up on the floors, tools, and anything else in the house which isn’t covered. Professional spray foam insulation installation includes the proper preparation of the home by getting people out, using drop cloths, tape, and caulk to help minimize the spread of the droplets. Removing any spray foam which has existed and sealed a gap or crack in your home’s building envelope is also a service you should expect as part of professional insulation install.

Experienced Installers Matter

While pulling a trigger and spraying the chemical is simple applying the insulation correctly takes training and knowledge. Spray foam insulation isn’t foolproof or as simple as mashing a trigger.  Problems are created by sloppy or careless spray which needs to be corrected or scraped off. Sloppy spraying can also miss areas that should be insulated, which creates voids. These voids are places might be hidden or hard to reach, but must be sprayed correctly to ensure effective insulation.

The chemicals also need to be at a certain temperature to mix and cure correctly. Inexperienced or impatient spray foam applicators might not wait until the chemicals have reached the right temperature and the foam will not mix correctly. This leads to foam that shrinks away from the cavities it is meant to insulate.

Valleywide Phoenix Insulation Contractors

If you live in the Phoenix valley in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, or Tempe Barrier Insulation, Inc. offers the highest quality spray foam insulation installation available. We will help your remove any old insulation that isn’t working and install the best new insulation available. Improving your home or business’ insulation will help cut down energy bills and save you money!

Call today if you have questions or to schedule.
602-499-2922 or

Inspect Insulation To Save Energy

Inspect Insulation To Save Energy

If you are searching for “Ways To Save Energy” this article is for you.  One of the largest bills for a lot of people is the electricity bill, especially in the summer in hot areas of the United States like Arizona.

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Electricity is used to power our air conditioning units and when summer temperatures reach and stay near the 100 degree mark it takes an enormous amount of energy to keep homes and businesses comfortable. It takes even more energy when your insulation is worn out, settled, or simply was not installed in the first place. In this article we show you how to evaluate the insulation in your home and even look for air leaks that are costing you money.

Inspecting Attic Insulation

Your attic is the primary barrier between the elements and the comfort of your home. Having properly installed, sufficient insulation, that is in good condition means a big difference. In fact some studies show that the difference quality insulation makes in the cost to heat and cool homes can be as much as 40%.

How Do I Know If I Need It?

Symptoms of attics that need some attention to insulation are high cooling or heating bills, rooms that are drafty, or ceilings, walls, or entire rooms that are excessively warm or cold depending on the season.

How Do I Check?

Some of your insulation is hidden in behind sheetrock inside your walls, but the insulation in your attic is usually pretty easy to evaluate. Older types of insulation settle or breakdown over time and are no longer effective insulators.

Visual Check

One way a lot of homeowners check to see if their attic insulation is still good is to see if it has settled between the attic floor joists. If you can see a significant part of the joist sticking up out of the layer of insulation you should probably call in the pros and have your home checked out.

Measure Insulation

Another more scientific way to figure out your insulation situation is to measure the batts, loose fill, or whatever type of insulation you have. Using a measuring tape you should try to accurately measure your insulation in inches and follow the table below to get an idea of what condition your insulation is in.

Insulation Performance Chart

Measure your insulation thickness and compare the type of insulation and the measurement to figure out your R-value. For example if you have 2×8 floor joists in your attic and only have 4 inches of cellulose you can estimate that your attic’s R-value is 14.8.

What You Can See   Type of Insulation Depth (inches) R-Values
Batts Light Weight – pink, yellow, or white Fiberglass Measurement 3.2/in
Granules Light Weight Vermiculite Measurement 2.7/in
Loose Fibers Light Weight – pink, yellow, or white Fiberglass Measurement 2.5/in
  Small pieces or fibers Cellulose Measurement 3.7/in
  Dense Material – gray or near white Rock Wool Measurement 2.8/in

Most home insulation experts recommend R-38 or higher, so if you have half of that number you are certainly in need of better insulation in your home.

Checking Wall Insulation

The attic and walls are the 2 primary areas of homes that should be insulated to keep your home more comfortable without relying too heavily on your HVAC system. To check the walls your first order of business is to TURN OFF YOUR POWER.  You should double check using a voltage tester or volt meter that there is in fact no current coming through the power outlet that you will need to remove to see inside your exterior walls.

  1. Once you are 100% sure there isn’t any power at the socket you remove the cover and use a flashlight to shine into the wall to see if there is insulation, and how thick it is.
  2. If you can reach some insulation, perhaps with needle nose pliers you should remove a small portion to help identify what kind of insulation is in your walls.
  3. Check various rooms and levels of your home, simply because one area has it is no guarantee that it is in all of the walls in your home.

Exterior walls play a large role in the thermal performance of your home in both summer and winter. Ensuring there is enough insulation and are fully filled helps ensure that your home stays cooler in summer and warmer during the winter without constantly running the AC or heat.

How To Check For Air Leaks

Even with quality insulation in the attic and walls if you have gaps and cracks in the “envelope” of your home it means that your conditioned air can escape, and outside air is getting in. Finding and sealing these air leaks will mean greater home energy efficiency and lower utility bills.

Most homes building envelope is constituted by the exterior walls, basement floor, and of course the ceiling between living spaces and the attic. You can track down air leaks with the following methods.

Crack and Gaps Visual Inspection

One of the simplest ways to find these problems areas is to look and problem areas such as the attic access hatch, registers, any piping or conduit running through the ceiling, recessed lighting boxes, or dropped soffits. Other areas you might find problems include crawl spaces, outdoor faucets, dryer vents, and vent fans in kitchens.

Shed Some Light On It

Another way to easily test if you have cracks or gaps in your envelope is to use a flashlight at night with a partner. Shine the flashlight on the areas you suspect might be a problem and if your helper outside can see the light through window or door seals; you know you have a problem. This trick also works for basements, crawlspaces, and other problem areas.

Phoenix Insulation Contractors

If you live in the Phoenix area in areas like Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, or Chandler Barrier Insulation can help you no matter how big or small the job is. We handle both residential and commercial insulation inspections, insulation removal, and upgrading insulation. We can help fix small problems or we can help you by removing old ruined insulation and install modern and highly efficient options like spray foam insulation that both insulates and helps seal air leaks.

For help with your insulation call 602-499-2922.

How Radiant Barriers Save Energy in Phoenix

How Radiant Barriers Save Energy in Phoenix

Are you searching for “Radiant Barrier Phoenix” while considering improving the insulation in your home?  This article is designed to answer the common questions people have and to improve your knowledge so you can make an informed investment in your home’s energy saving insulation.

To reduce summer heat radiant barriers are installed in the attics of many Phoenix homes. Radiant barriers are highly reflective materials that differ from standard insulation materials. This article explains in more detail how radiant barriers save energy in Phoenix homes.

What Do Radiant Barriers Do?

Without Radiant Barrier Insulation Phoenix AZ
With Radiant Barrier Insulation Phoenix AZ
Most of traditional insulation materials tend to absorb and slow the transfer of heat to keep the house cool. In contrast a radiant barrier simply reflects the heat away from the home. While radiant barriers do reflect heat away, they do not prevent conduction like traditional insulation materials.

How Do Radiant Barriers Work?

The natural property of heat is to expand and move to cooler areas. This is done by a combination of heat transfer methods. Convection, conduction, and radiation are the ways that heat travels. Conduction is when the heat travels physically through the material. Think of a pan on a stove, the heat is applied to the bottom of the pan, but many times the heat travels through the metal and up into the handle. Convection differs in the way that heat transfer through gasses or liquids. A hot surface heats the air or liquid around it and the gas or liquid itself transfers the heat. Radiant heat travels in straight lines away from the hot surfaces. It does so until it hits a solid surface that absorbs the energy.

While most traditional insulation systems rely on slowing the transfer of conductive heat, radiant barriers reflect heat. This reduces overall heat gain in the house. The sun’s radiant heat is the primary method of roofs and attics heating up. The sun heats up the roofing materials; they in turn conduct the heat through to the attic. The heat is then radiated from the hot roof into to cooler attic space and heats the floor of the attic.

A radiant barrier simply provides a barrier from the radiant heat transfer from the hot roof to the attic floor and air ducts in your attic. Radiant barriers are especially popular and effective in hotter climates like Phoenix, Arizona. This is because the primary concern for the southern and hotter regions of the country is keeping the heat out of the houses and energy bills lower for cooling our homes. Not containing the heat in our homes during the winter.

What Types Of Radiant Barriers Are There?

There are different makeups and brands of radiant barriers. Most feature a highly reflective aluminum foil material that is backed with different types of substrates. Plastic film, craft paper, oriented strand board, and even cardboard act as backings for radiant barriers. Some radiant barrier materials are even back with fibers to make handling easier and increase durability.

Radiant barriers need not be the only insulation method. They can be used to increase the thermal performance of any home. In some cases the radiant material is actually built into some insulation products to provide a simpler, yet drastically more effective insulating effect.

Effective Radiant Barrier Installation

As with any insulation material the effectiveness of radiant barriers relies on the quality of installation. Certified radiant barrier installers have the experience, and knowledge to make the most of your insulation investment.

With new build insulation it is quite easy for radiant barriers to be installed. Existing homes can have radiant barriers added, but special care and installation methods are used for these applications. Typically in new build applications radiant barriers are put in place between the rafters before the decking goes down. However it is possible to add them afterword from the inside of the attic. The radiant barrier is put between the rafters to control dust accumulation. Excessive dust on a radiant barrier will negatively affect thermal performance.

Experienced Phoenix Radiant Barrier Contractor

If you are building a home, or are just wanting to repair or replace a radiant barrier in your home get in touch with Arizona’s radiant barrier experts. Our goal is always to provide the most cost effective solutions that will save you money in both cold and hot weather for your home or business. Keeping the energy costs down is everyone’s priority and our products are aimed at helping you keep everyone comfortable without having to overspend on your energy bills.

Barrier Insulation – 602-499-2922 or