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Owning and maintaining a home in Montgomery is a big responsibility. As a homeowner you want to take care of and enjoy your investment. Decorating, designing and furnishing the interior and exterior are often the biggest priorities for homeowners. But one of the most important yet overlooked necessities for a home is insulation. Many homes are built with minimal insulation and over time that insulation wears out or is damaged.

A Need for Upgraded Insulation

Look in your attic and you may notice your current insulation is dirty, full of animal droppings, is moldy or even has gaps. These are visible signs that you need new insulation. Poor air quality, rising electric bills, and drafts are also signs that your home needs an insulation upgrade.

There are several different types of insulation to choose from: cellulose, fiberglass and spray foam. Each type has a specific purpose and use. But for many Montgomery homeowners spray foam insulation is the most popular choice of insulation.

What is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation or spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a versatile, convenient insulation solution. Created by mixing two fast-reacting liquids, isocyanate and polyol, it expands to create a foam that fill cracks and gaps throughout your home, in places such as attics, walls and ceilings, creating an air and moisture barrier.

Types of Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation comes in two forms: open cell and closed cell. Open cell spray foam costs less than closed cell spray foam but is less dense, with a lower R-value per square inch. This means it needs to be applied in a thicker layer, making it great for larger spaces such as attics, ceilings and floor joists.

Closed cell spray foam insulation is more dense than open cell foam and needs a thinner layer to provide an excellent air and moisture barrier in your home. It also strengthens the walls and ceilings of your Montgomery home.

Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

Choosing to install spray foam insulation in your Montgomery home is a wise choice. Even though the upfront cost of spray foam insulation is higher than other insulation types, you save money over time through the many benefits you receive.

The biggest benefits are:

• Reduced energy bills. Spray foam adheres to every crack and crevice creating an air barrier, so air is unable to escape. This allows your HVAC system to work less to keep your house at an optimal temperature throughout the year, lowering your electric bills and saving you money.
• Improved air quality. Spray foam prevents allergens and pollutants from entering your home through the walls, allowing your family to breathe easier.
• Prevention of mold and mildew-Spray foam creates a moisture barrier that keeps out water and moisture and is unaffected if it does get wet.
• Reduced sound. Spray foam insulation also acts as a noise barrier to give you a quieter home.
• Less creepy crawlies and rodents. Once spray foam hardens into your home’s cracks and crevices bugs and rodents lose their entryways into your home.
• Quick installation and long-lasting. For most homes, it only takes a day to install spray foam and it lasts for decades, without losing any of its effectiveness, strength or shape, unlike other types of insulation.
• Eco-friendly. Consume less materials over time since spray foam is long-lasting and reduce your carbon footprint since your home will consume less energy.
• A stronger home. The density of spray foam gives your home an extra layer of protection from the outside elements and creates sturdier walls, increasing the quality and safety of your home. Added insulation increases the future resale value of your home, too.

An Insulation Company You Can Trust

At EcoLogical Insulation, we have been providing Montgomery homeowners with the highest quality spray foam insulation installation services since 2008. We pride ourselves on being the best spray foam contractors in Montgomery and strive to provide exemplary customer service and spray foam insulation installation to all our Montgomery customers. Contact us today to learn more. We look forward to speaking with you!

Does the term “audit” cause you to break out in a sweat? If you are in the safety of your home and you’re sweating as you view your current heating or cooling bill, it may be time to consider a home energy audit.

It can be challenging for homeowners to understand the unique energy needs of their home. If you’ve adopted energy saving practices yet find your utility bills aren’t reflecting these practices, a home energy audit can uncover specific energy recommendations for your home.

Through a detailed energy audit and testing process, an energy auditor will outline the unique factors that affect energy use in your home or business. An auditor will identify sources of high energy consumption and ways to improve or eliminate these issues.

Not sure what to expect during an energy audit? Your whole home is evaluated including:

• Attic Spaces
• Exterior Walls
• Windows and Doors
• Basements and Crawl Spaces
• Foundation Walls
• Attached Garages
• Heating and Cooling Systems
• Domestic Hot Water Systems
• Lighting Systems and Major Appliances

When the audit is complete, you’ll receive valuable information such as:

• How much energy your home is using.
• Where you are losing energy.
• Corrections or improvements to make your home more energy efficient.
• Sometimes an audit identifies and helps to eliminate health and safety problems.

Energy audits and testing can be arranged for new homes still under construction or for an existing home. No matter what phase of homeownership you are in, an energy audit will save you money and headaches from unnecessarily high energy bills!

For more information about energy audits and to be referred to an energy auditor, contact EcoLogical Insulation of Montgomery today!

When it comes to assuring the energy efficiency of your home, office, or business, you may wish to consult the help of an insulation contractor in Montgomery, Alabama. Most people start with a Google search, but the choice goes beyond choosing the top result. Make your best choice by following this handy list.

Experience and Reputation: How long has the company been in business? What reviews does the company have? This information can be found on the home insulation contractor’s website. Reviews will offer insight into a client’s experience and how or if a contractor responds to problematic reviews.

Understanding Residential and Commercial Building Structure: You won’t want just anyone working on your home or business, so make sure the commercial insulation contractor you choose understands your home’s systems – ventilation, air quality, utilities, air-sealing – and how to provide the best product and installation for your insulation needs.

Consultation. You wouldn’t let a surgeon operate on you without a consultation, and your house deserves the same attention and respect. Your home insulation contractor should provide a full review of the home or business, an energy audit if necessary, and recommendations for products and services. No money should be exchanged before this critical step occurs.

Experience. The commercial insulation contractor should have experience with a variety of structures, building material, and product application. Additionally, this experience should include work with new and existing homes or businesses.

Certifications and Licensing. Insulation contractors must possess the industry standard licensing to verify their expertise. This helps ensure the contractor knows how to expertly evaluate insulation in existing or new structures, recommend upgrades, and effectively install each product.

Training. Your home insulation contractor will need to be up to date on industry standards for dealing with insulation products, disposing of old, damaged, or moldy insulation. Ask how often training occurs.

Codes and Permits. A reputable commercial insulation contractor or spray foam insulation contractor will know the recommended building codes and permits required for your area. Not sure what they are? Ask your contractor. If they don’t know, or beat around the bush, kick them out the door!

Superior Products and Installation. Your home or business is a major financial investment, so you will want to ensure any work on your building uses the best product for your goals. Ask who the product suppliers are and research their reputation. Your insulation contractor should be able to readily provide the information.

Working with Spray Foam Insulation Contractors. If spray foam insulation is your product of choice, take note of these additional requirements. What specialized training and credentials do they possess? What additional building codes or permits are needed for your area or structure?

Customer Service. Last but not least, your chosen home insulation contractor should be ready, willing, and able to answer questions, provide information, and deliver top service and installation without trying to sell what you don’t need or want. Make sure you are comfortable with the owner and employees.

It’s a big step toward making a new or existing home or business energy- and cost-efficient. The steps outlined above will ensure your experience is a success!

EcoLogical Insulation in Montgomery, Alabama was founded in 2008 to educate customers about building science, air-sealing, and the benefits of proper insulation and installation. The experts at EcoLogical Insulation Montgomery will deliver top customer service, energy-efficiency, structure durability, and long-lasting comfort. Contact us today!

Attic insulation is the most important part of home insulation. When the heat in your home rises, it could escape through your attic if it is not properly insulated. This means the air you have paid to condition might easily escape. This would require your heating system to work harder than necessary. It is estimated that attic insulation and air sealing can dramatically lower your energy costs.

Attic insulation will make your home’s interior more comfortable. If you combine attic insulation with air sealing, you will reduce drafts and further increase comfort. In addition to increased comfort, the additional insulation and air sealing may bring a higher sale value in the event you are planning on reselling your home.

Contact the experts at EcoLogical Insulation in Montgomery for a free estimate on your attic insulation project.

Should you remove old insulation first or can you install additional insulation over the old?

The answer according to ENERGY STAR is that you can install new insulation over your old insulation unless the old insulation is wet.

Here are some factors to consider:

• Do not install kraft faced insulation over the top of current insulation in an attic. Batt insulation installed over existing insulation in an attic needs to be unfaced batts.
• Blown-in loose fill insulation (cellulose or fiberglass) can be installed on top of existing insulation.
• It is best to seal air leaks before adding insulation because air sealing can increase the energy efficiency of your home.

You don’t need to worry about any of these factors. The professionals at EcoLogical Montgomery will answer all your questions and provide professional installation services.

Many homeowners like to tackle home improvement projects. With available tools such as online videos and retail store guidance, homeowners feel confident in taking on almost any project. When it comes to installing or upgrading home insulation, it’s best to hire a professional insulation contractor.

Here are three reasons why you should hire a professional insulation contractor:

1. Proper Installation. Without proper installation techniques, insulation will not perform correctly. A professional insulation contractor has the experience and training to install insulation to maximize performance.
2. Building Code and Building Science Knowledge. Hiring a professional insulation contractor gives you access to a wide array of knowledge and training. Professional insulation contractors are up to date on local building codes, new insulation technologies and installation methods. They will ensure that your home is properly insulated and as energy efficient as possible.
3. Safety. A professional insulation contractor conducts safety training for its installer team. The correct safety training reduces the risk of workplace injury. A professional insulation contractor is trained to spot hazards such as wiring (including knob and tube issues), installing around other combustible materials and more.

Don’t let the perceived cost savings of DIY insulation cost more in the long run. Hire a professional insulation contractor and have the job done right the first time! Our office provides free estimates. Contact our office to schedule your free estimate.

An energy audit (also known as a home energy assessment) will give you a total overview of your home’s current energy use. It will also report how much energy you use in your home now and where you are losing energy. The energy audit and testing gives you information for making your home more energy efficient and more comfortable.

An energy audit and testing assesses the factors that uniquely affect your home’s energy use. This technique gathers and evaluates the data with a custom software system that provides you with a list of suggested home improvements.

An energy audit/testing is used for existing and new homes under construction. An audit can help you select the correct building materials, lighting and design to make your home as energy efficient as possible.

Consider scheduling an energy audit and testing for your home today.