Category Archives: Saving Energy

With asbestos still being used as a very commonly used fire retardant and a very popular insulator right until the end of the 1980’s. It was very versatile, affordable and it could be used in tiles and blow it with another material, vermiculite.

Differences Between Asbestos And Cellulose Insulation

Before we review the differences between asbestos and cellulose insulation, it is worth comprehending the properties regarding each of these materials.

Asbestos Insulation

Many people do not know that asbestos is, in fact, a natural mineral. asbestos is in general terms flexible and soft but also has great corrosion resistant and heat resistant properties. From the early 1950’s for a period of nearly forty years, the construction industry used asbestos as an insulator and fire retardant. When you view older buildings and houses, you will still find asbestos in drywall, tiles, tile grout and in the attic. That being said, so long as there are no damage or wall cavities exposing asbestos fibers in the living areas of the property, it is deemed to be safe. However, it becomes a very serious health hazard when asbestos particles become airborne and are able to reach the areas of the proeprty you occupy.

Cellulose Insulation

As an asbestos alternative, cellulose insulation is made from many different materials including cardboard, hemp, straw, newspaper, and many other different materials. When a paper-based cellulose mix is utilized by builders, it is treated with something called boric acid to give it fire resistance properties.

The two most common forms of cellulose insulation include dry cellulose and that is also known as loose-fill insulation. Builders will use a blower to blow the cellulose into the wall through holes. it can also be used to fill wall cavities. Wet spray cellulose is something builders use to apply to walls that have been newly constructed. The primary difference between dry cellulose and wet spray is that water is added during the spraying process. it provides a better seal for the prevention of heat loss.

Like asbestos, cellulose works well within pipes, walls and around wiring. it assists in both suppressing fires and both insulating your home. Cellulose also utilizes material that is recycled and that is a big advantage for owners of buildings looking to go green.

Differences

So now you understand the differences in the ingredients, they do look very similar when they are inspected. Although it is a different insulator, there are similar issues with vermiculite attic insulation as it is a very difficult proposition to see whether asbestos is contained within. The best thing to do is not to touch it but obtain the services of a professional to extract some samples and get a confirmation as to whether it contains asbestos. If asbestos is contained, you will want to seriously consider instituting a program of asbestos management or to completely remove the asbestos.

What To Do Next

When more than ten square feet of asbestos, you need the services of a professional abatement company. When you are handling larger projects, there is an extremely high risk of exposure and contamination not only to you but also those around you.

The professional contractor will quickly and safely remove the asbestos and with the set-up of barriers surrounding the work area to prevent tenants from coming into contact with asbestos. Reverse airflow will be used to keep the asbestos fibers from spreading. They will then wear equipment with special protective qualities and cleanse the area with HEPA filter vacuums and then properly dispose of the asbestos.

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Does fiberglass insulation need to be covered, or is it safe to leave it exposed? The answer depends on how you use the space where the exposed fiberglass is located. You often see that homes have exposed fiberglass insulation in the basement or attic. Pink, fluffy batts wedged tightly between studs, rafters, and joists insulate the space against exterior temperature changes Read on to learn more!

Fiberglass Insulation In Spaces That Are Unoccupied

Builders leaving fiberglass insulation exposed are in compliance with building codes because as long as the insulation is undisturbed. The American Lung Association agrees. This means if your attic or basement with exposed fiberglass insulation is used for storage only, there’s no need to change anything.

Exposed Fiberglass Insulation In Occupied Spaces

What if the previous owner of your new home used the unfinished basement for storage, but you want to convert it into a gym or playroom? In this case, even if you don’t plan on completely finishing the basement, you should cover the exposed fiberglass insulation for safety reasons, including disturbing fiberglass insulation can send particles into the air that act as lung, eye, and skin irritants and children playing around exposed fiberglass insulation may touch or even eat it, which can be a serious risk to their health.

Covering Fiberglass Insulation

If you decide to cover fiberglass in an occupied living space, make sure you choose a permeable barrier that won’t trap moisture. This allows your home to breathe more easily and helps prevent mold growth. Suggestions for covering exposed insulation include working with an insulation expert to ensure safe, code-compliant results, installing plywood flooring over the floor, installing sheetrock or paneling over the walls and sealing the insulation by stapling a polymembrane sheet on top of it.

Source: https://www.ibptampa.com/blog/covered-fiberglass-insulation

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Asbestos removal may become an issue when a material contyaining asbestos is damaged, crumbling or flaking in your home. Read on to learn more about what to do and the costs associated with the removal of asbestos.

Asbestos was used very widely in building materials before the start of the 1970’s. In reality it is actually a carcinogen but can often be found in older buildings among pipe and duct ventilation, vermiculite attic insulation, wall and ceiling acoustic tiles, cement floor tiles and siding as well as floor tile adhesives.

However it is wise that is the asbestos containing materials are in your home are undamaged, leave them alone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency it is far more dangerous to disturb them. In fact in the majority of states you must disclose if asbestos is in your home prior to its sale. But if you are planning a remodel, removing the asbestos will be the best thing you can do if you are going to disturb it in any way.

Asbestos Removal Basics

The first thing to do is to have the material you suspect containing asbestos tested and then have it professionally removed.

• Speak with the asbestos program in your region as well as the asbestos administrative department in the state where the property is or you can contact OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) regional office to establish the local regulations and requirements for your area.
• Find accreited asbestos contractors and inspectors who are trained and licenced in the testing and removal of safe asbestos.
• Conflict of interest can be avoided by having suspect materials tested by a certain company and the removal completed by a different company.
• Preparation is key. It may be the case you and your family will have to move out of your house on a temporary basis while the asbestos is being removed from the property.

Getting A Contractor

There is nothing infra dig about using a flooring, siding or roofing contractor for this as long as they are trained and well practices in the removal of asbestos. Before the commencement of work, you will want to ensure you have a written contract clearly expressing the local, state and federal regulations the contractor is obliged to follow including the clean up of your premises and the disposal of the asbestos. At the end of the job, get written evidence from the contractor that the above procedures were completed correctly. Have a licensed asbestos inspector perform a follow-up check as a final step.

Asbestos Removal Costs

An initial inspecton for asbestos costs an average of $600 with prices ranging from $400 to $800 for the US in 2019.

Asbestos removal costs do vary depending on how much needs to be removed. But you can expect an average minimum fee of $2,250 with averages varying on the low to high end at between $1,500 and $3,000.

Total asbestos removal in a home measuring 1,500 square feet with asbestos in the floors, walls, ceilings, pipes and roof averages $25,000 with costs ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 for the US in 2019.

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A lot of people usually don’t think of insulating their garage when they are insulating their house but doing so goes a long way in reducing energy costs for the whole house as it offers an additional buffer.

Insulating the Garage

When you have a room built over a garage, it becomes vital to insulate the ceiling of the garage to avoid the heated area above it from losing its heat. When you insulate your garage, use insulation with the exact same rated R-value as that was installed in your home’s ceiling and walls.

While insulating your garage won’t make it essentially warmer unless you include a heater, it will help to provide additional insulated space for the home. A great deal of people enter and exit the home through their garage, the additional insulation will help make the car start easier in the morning. Use the same insulation to insulate the garage that was used for the exterior walls of the home. If the walls and ceiling are closed in, think of using a loose fill type of insulation, as this type of insulation uses a machine to push the insulation where it needs to go through a hole in the sheetrock. Insulate the garage’s ceiling by using the suggested R-value for your area as advised by the Department of Energy.

Exterior Walls

If your exterior walls were constructed from 2-by-4 inch studs, the maximum insulation that can be installed into the wall while keeping its R-value is R-13 or R-15 as these are each made to fit a recess at a depth of 3 1/2 inches. Because insulation fits the width and depth of the recess between studs, when you condense insulation to fit the space, you take away its insulating properties — the trapped air between the fibers.

Ceilings

When you have a room over your garage, its floor rests on boards supported by joists. If the joists are 10 inches deep, the recess can take high-density R-30 insulation, which is 8 1/2 inches thick, more than adequate enough for floor insulation. If the rafters are open to the garage, (boards that support the roof) use R-38 insulation between the them at the roof, if they are at a depth of 10 inches. To add additional insulation inside the garage, using sheetrock install a ceiling and allow access to the space between the new ceiling and the roof. This allows you to add the required insulation. While some ceilings in the southwestern part of the United States require a minimum of R-19 insulation, most attics or ceiling areas require a minimum of R-38 in the ceiling.

Garage Door Insulation

Use specialized foil-backed blanket insulation to fit the inside of your garage door. A lot of garage-door insulation has an R-value between R-8 and R-12, because it is thin enough to fit the space. This will add insulation to the garage door without hindering its functionality. Another option is purchasing a pre-insulated garage door that might have a higher R-value. If you insulate the garage without insulating the garage door will allow any heat collected in the room to escape through the door.

Best Way to Insulate Garages

When insulating your garage, it’s up to you to determine what type of insulation material works best for your garage.

Your overall goals and expectations and what they are will help you choose the insulation that works best in your situation. If you need a conditioned space that will keep cold air out of your home or extra room, a material that creates an air barrier will benefit you most.

Cellulose and fiberglass insulation don’t provide the kind of air barrier you are looking for in this scenario, so a foam insulation is a better alternative.

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