Live Comfortably for Less with Attic Insulation
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Why Choose Foam Engineers
for Attic Insulation
“My A/C doesn’t run all the time”
“The end result was a much more comfortable home in the upper level of my 2-story and my A/C doesn’t run all the time as it used to. Really outstanding work.”
A.D., Chesterfield
Home design is so complicated that when you have a problem with temperature, airflow, or out-of-control energy bills, you need a team on your side that treats your home like a doctor treats a patient with a mystery illness. For a sick loved one, you turn to the best possible medical provider; for an ailing house with attic insulation needs, you turn to Foam Engineers.
At Foam Engineers, we’re trained in the science of the home from the ventilation and air distribution to the nitty-gritty details of thermodynamics. Unlike large national companies, we take the time to conduct a proper evaluation of your house and educate each homeowner on the possibilities for improvement.
Once we collaboratively decide on a solution, we use state-of-the-art technology to assess and implement lasting improvements. For these reasons and more, our clients consistently praise our technicians through reviews and continued trust in future projects.
Pick a Local Attic Insulation Company
You’ve met the doctor who glances at a chart for the first time and barks orders at the residents without saying a word to the client. Not only is this invalidating and frustrating for the client but also an extremely ineffective way to contribute to their long-term health.
National insulation companies often do the same: They administer one-size-fits-all treatments without taking the time to know a home and its owners or consider their long-term goals.
At Foam Engineers, we’re St. Louis homeowners ourselves with decades of ties to the community. We take pride in taking care of our neighbors and helping them improve their homes and their lives. We’re honored in the trust that thousands of you have placed in our work and we continue to reward that trust with quality, honest, lasting services. Our commitment to our customers is rock solid. We’re who you can trust for your attic insulation needs in the St. Louis metro area!
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Attic Insulation Makes the Home More Comfortable
Your comfort is our priority at Foam Engineers. Our insulation solutions provide comfort the same way a warm jacket warms the body in the cold and a breezy sundress provides cool in the heat. Houses, like bodies, have their own temperature regulation mechanisms, but houses often lack the finesse and efficiency of humans. Instead, poor insulation can allow the escape of climate-controlled air and facilitate the intake of air flow from the outside.
The comfort implications here are clear: Poor insulation is like a hole in a jacket. Not only does it make it much harder to maintain the proper temperature, but the dynamics of the airflow in the house contribute to a draftiness that exacerbates the issue.
Some houses are particularly vulnerable to these challenges, especially two-story homes with only one thermostat. Since poor insulation can cause a differential in temperature, these homes have no way to counteract the different temperatures from one floor to another.
Attic Insulation Saves on Energy Bills
“We have immediately seen the benefit”
“Fantastic experience with Paul, Mindy and their team when they helped us insulate the attic spaces surrounding and above our 1.5 story house. We’ve immediately seen the benefit from the insulation through our energy consumption, reducing the run-time of our unit by ~4 hours a day on like-weather days. This team will take care of your exact needs by tailoring their solutions to your situation and they don’t cut any corners in ensuring you’re getting the value deserved!”
Joseph W., Ballwin
In the same way a body would have to work harder to stay warm in a torn jacket, heating and cooling systems exert more energy in homes with poor insulation. This energy most often comes in the form of electricity and/or natural gas. Often, especially in more hot and cold seasons, heat and air conditioning comprise the bulk of a homeowner’s energy bills. Air flowing out of the attic is money down the drain.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that proper insulation (including the attic) can save an average of 15% of a home’s total energy bill. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the savings can be much higher depending on the existing setup. Not only does insulation save energy and money, but also the environmental harm created in the production of that energy. Energy efficiency is as good for the wallet as it is for the Earth.
Maintenance Costs Less with Attic Insulation
Home systems can break down if overstressed. Climate control elements like air conditioning units and furnaces need to work much harder to reach a certain temperature when indoor air escapes and outdoor air permeates into the home. This process, known as the “stack effect,” occurs in poorly insulated homes when hot air rises and exits through the roof, creating a vacuum below which sucks in air from outside. A similar effect can occur in reverse during warm months if cool air is allowed to escape from below, drawing in hot air from the attic.
Heating and cooling units competing with the stack effect will stress their components, causing wear and failure at a higher rate. This process is similar to putting miles on a car, which increases regular maintenance requirements and ultimately shortens the car’s lifespan.
Attic Insulation Improves Indoor Air Quality
Home air quality is especially important given that people generally spend more time in their homes than any other building. While individuals can do little to influence the air quality outdoors, indoor quality is affected heavily by decisions made by architects, builders, and homeowners. The main threats to indoor air quality are mold, pests, and particles that filter in from outdoors.
Insulation can have a large impact on all three of these factors.
- Insulation can prevent mold growth by preventing condensation. Though the next section will discuss this more in-depth, the important part to understand is that insulation prevents condensation, and condensation can often lead to mold, which in turn releases harmful spores into the air.
- Regarding pests, certain types of insulation are proven to be effective at minimizing the threat from insects and rodents, both of which contaminate air with their waste.
- By reducing the stack effect, insulation along with air sealing, can prevent outdoor allergens from making their way indoors.
Attic Insulation Controls Moisture
“the A/C is seldom running”
“Today is a 95 degree day and before the insulation upgrade the Air Conditioner could not keep the inside temperature at a constant 72 degrees and often rose to 75 or higher and the Air Conditioner ran all day long. Today it’s 92 degrees outside and the Air Conditioner is seldom running to keep the inside temperature at 72 degrees.”
Larry W., Imperial Missouri
Condensation occurs when the surface of a material is colder than the temperature at which the surrounding air condenses into water (also known as the dew point). Thus, a cold glass of beer or a window cooled by winter air might cause the air nearby to form droplets of water, which then drip from the force of gravity.
Unfortunately, poorly insulated attics often have all the key ingredients of condensation: cold outdoor air cools wood and piping in the attic while warm, moist air from below rises and condenses on surfaces, often as frost. When the frost thaws, moisture seeps into the roof, beams, flooring, and any other water-permeable areas. This can cause damage on its own and also creates the perfect condition for mold growth. Preventing air from escaping from the home into the attic cuts off the vacuum mechanism by which warm, moist air flows into the attic.
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Types of Insulation Available
Fiberglass: literally coarsely woven strands of glass, fiberglass is widely used given its attractive price and lack of fire hazard. It comes as batts (rolls of blaknet-like pre-cut strips) and also loose bags which can be blown into spaces.
Cellulose: Cellulose is a natural substance found in plants that form their structure. Cellulose insulation is often produced from wood, specifically recycled paper products. Cellulose Insulation has a mineral added to it called Borate / Borax. This mineral doesn’t break down over time. This mineral added to the Cellulose Insulation helps deter the bugs and mice away.
Rigid foam board: Made from petroleum-based materials, foam board performs well in spaces where moisture can be an issue. It is often used on the exteriors of houses and in basements.
Spray foam: Spray foam insulation and insulating foam sealants are made by mixing and reacting unique liquid components. The liquids react very quickly when mixed and applied on site, expanding on contact to create foam that insulates, seals gaps, and can form air, moisture, and vapor barriers. Spray foam is versatile and can seal wall cavities, exterior walls, crawlspaces, attics, and small gaps and cracks throughout a house. Spray foam products can limit air infiltration and air movement throughout the home, which helps reduce energy usage, limits the intrusion of pollutants and allergens, and makes the home more comfortable.
TAP Insulation Helps Keep Out Pests
TAP stands for Temperature, Acoustical, Pest control. This type of insulation delivers these three qualities with a cellulose-based product combined with an EPA-registered pesticide. This pesticide, a specialized form of borate, is integrated into the cellulose fibers during the manufacturing process. Borate particles will stick to the cellulose enough for even distribution but are also loose enough to detach upon contact with insects. Borate is a tested and frequently-used product in other areas of the house, from the woodwork to the exterior. When insects come into contact with borate, they carry it on their bodies. Insects often clean themselves with their mouths, ingesting the borate which disrupts the insect digestive system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated borate and deemed it safe for residential pest control uses. TAP insulation takes the existing benefits of insulation while enhancing it with powerful pest control qualities.
Contact Foam Engineers Today
Houses share some important similarities with bodies: Interconnected systems of circulation, energy, and waste form complex relationships that require careful attention and focused treatment. At Foam Engineers, we treat your home with the respect it deserves, empowering homeowners with information to make intelligent, informed decisions for the long-term health of their residence. Our customers, in turn, frequently share their appreciation for our investment in their well-being and the lasting quality of our work.
Insulation is a critical feature of a house and for this reason necessitates evidence-based, customized solutions. If done correctly, insulation can greatly contribute to the health of a house by improving air quality, increasing the efficiency and lifespan of climate control systems, and creating a comfortable living environment. Energy efficiency is good both for the Earth and the budget. Reach out to us at Foam Engineers to speak with a specialist about the best options for your home and your budget.
