There are plenty of spray foam insulation products that are available today. Our spray foam insulation company in Portsmouth, VA has been serving both homeowners as well commercial owners with good quality spray foam insulation products and services.
Installing spray foam in your old crawl space, attic, walls, basement, or roof, is not a difficult task for us even if you want to replace your old insulation with spray foam insulation. We also take on brand new projects and if you are seeking to build a totally new construction, we will glad to work with you.
All spray foam insulation products used in Portsmouth, VA are not the same. It depends on the manufacture. Each spray foam product has its own specifications and manufacturer’s instructions.
Some of the spray foam insulation products are also imported from other countries so it is very important to pay attention to the price when speaking to a spray foam insulation contractor in Portsmouth, VA. Never opt for a cheap spray foam insulation product as it will not be up to the standard and you will have a bad experience with spray foam.
Not all showers have insulation behind them, and this could result in cold and leaky parts in your house or building structure that could be uncomfortable, wastage of energy and chances that mold can grow. Showers and bath tubs can be quite chilly because of a significant loss of heat. The insulation that you use behind your shower walls should be equal to the insulation that you install in the rest of your exterior walls. In case you are not using spray foam insulation behind the shower walls, the other traditional types of insulation such as fiberglass for instance is covered with an air barrier such as rigid foam, cement backer board or non-paper faced drywall.
The air barrier is installed in such a way that there are no gaps, compressions, voids or misalignments. Apart from the air barrier, there are other materials too that used to create a thermal barrier. Spray foam insulation in Portsmouth, VA can be used behind your shower wall.
Using spray foam insulation to insulate behind your shower walls is a great choice compared to other traditional insulation materials. Spray foam insulation has a very high R-value and is not porous or susceptible to moisture retention. Also, spray foam insulation in Portsmouth, VA does not need an air barrier, but it only needs a thermal barrier.
The best time do use insulation behind shower walls is during the construction of a new home or building, but if you already have pre-existing walls, you can still use spray foam insulation to insulate behind the wall if you hire a spray foam insulation contractor in Portsmouth, VA. Here are some of the advantages of using spray foam insulation in Portsmouth, VA behind your shower walls:
Spray foam insulation installed behind your shower walls can make your home energy efficient because it retains both air-conditioning and heat. Spray foam insulation creates a barrier which is like a blanket between the extreme outdoor temperatures and your shower. Thus, your HVAC system will not have to work extra hard once there is insulation behind your shower. Your energy bills will be much less and you can save up to 40% in cooling and heating costs.
If moisture gets trapped in your walls, it could lead to several problems and you might end up being a lot in repairs. Moisture leads to rot, mould or stains if frozen patches of moisture start melting. If you have a vapor resistant membrane installed, such as spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA it will provide better insulation against moisture which is naturally caused due to washing and showering.
Insulation behind your shower walls will reduce noises and sounds from the outside and between rooms. This will give you calmness and peace of mind while you are taking a shower. Some people don’t like the sound of water splashing on the floor while taking a shower. Insulation that is installed behind shower walls will prevent this distractive sound and contains it to the bathroom.
Among all types of insulation, spray foam insulation has the highest R-value. Open-cell spray foam insulation has an R value of R-3.5 and closed-cell spray foam has an R value that can go as high as R-6.5 to R-7. Because of its high R-value and air sealing capacity, you will not have to use too much of insulation in order to get the recommended R-value.
Even though installing spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA behind your shower wall can be quite high, you will benefit in the long term. Those homeowners who have spray foam insulation behind their shower walls have noticed an immediate savings in cooling and heating costs. You will easily save from 20 to 40% on your heating and cooling bills a year.
Encapsulation and insulation are a little confusing and most people use these terms interchangeably, however there is a difference between them. If you have issues such as standing water or moisture in your crawlspace then you need crawlspace encapsulation.
But if you have frozen pipes and cold floors then you need spray foam Insulation in Portsmouth VA. If you encapsulate your crawlspace then you will be able to fix the moisture and water problems in that area. Encapsulation allows you to improve air quality, get rid of fungus or mold, stop structural damage and make your home more livable and comfortable.
However you might be wondering if crawlspace encapsulation actually necessary? If you have problems with the foundation of your house or building structure that leads to an over abundance of moisture or water in the crawlspace then you should opt for crawlspace encapsulation.
Encapsulating your crawlspace involves completely sealing it off which is similar to using a swimming pool liner to stop any leaks. But suppose you have a problem with bulk water then you need to address this issue before crawlspace encapsulation. Before your crawlspace in capsulated, the entire area is cleaned out to prevent any rocks from tearing the liner. Encapsulation involves covering the entire area including the walls, floors and the ceiling of the crawlspace with the lining or vapor barrier.
But even if you do go ahead with crawl space encapsulation, you will still need a vapor barrier because encapsulation will only seal up any leaks but if you add a vapor barrier like spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA, it will prevent moisture coming from the dirt floor, through heat transfer or air currents.
Crawl space insulation with spray foam in Portsmouth VA will prevent cold floors, frozen pipes and can help arrest mold and mildew due to moisture. Spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA acts as an air barrier and can completely air seal your crawl space. Your HVAC system will have less strain and your monthly energy bills will reduce. Homeowners who have installed spray foam insulation in their homes in Portsmouth VA have seen a significant reduction in their energy bills of 20 to 40 percent in the entire year.
If your attic insulation has shifted to one side, or if there are black spots on the walls and you are seeing an increase in your energy bills, it’s time to switch from the old traditional types on insulation to spray foam insulation in Portsmouth, VA.
Switching to spray foam insulation can help you save at least $2000 on energy bills a year. A good way to figure out how much insulation you need for your attic is to go up there and take a good look. If the insulation is at the same level or below the level of the floor joists, it means you need more. Also if your energy bills are very high, that is the biggest clue that your current insulation in the attic is not effective.
When it comes to traditional insulation like cellulose or fiberglass, theoretically you are required to reach a certain R-value, depending on which state you live in. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, higher R-values indicate greater effectiveness for cellulose and fiberglass insulation materials.
For example, the minimum R-value for the State of Virginia is R-38 which is about 12 inches of insulation but the recommended R-value is R-49 so you will need 15 to 15 inches of insulation.
But it is not so in the case of spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA. You can insulate your attic with a lower R-value because spray foam has the capability to create a complete air-seal which is not true for traditional types of insulation.
The best option to lower your energy bills will be to replace the old fiberglass and cellulose insulation with spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA. You will be able to achieve a complete air-seal and keep moisture, mold and allergens out of your house.
Hybrid insulation that include spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA are great if you are on a budget, but at the same time want to maximize energy efficiency.
For installing hybrid insulations, spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA is applied in a minimal way but as much as required in order to achieve an air-seal, control water vapor or condensation and at the same time achieve thermal targets.
Generally this is between 1 and 2 inches. Once the spray foam insulation is installed, blown-in insulation, or fiberglass or mineral wool batts are installed.
The R-value that is provided by spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA will increase the value of the hybrid insulation and often times when used together will be more than the required R-value.
Using hybrid insulation is advantages because architects and construction companies do not feel tied down to using only one particular type of insulation in order to maintain all factors such as the R-value, air-sealing and thermal barriers. For instance, spray foam insulation has a high R-value and air sealing capacity, but it is rather expensive. Fiberglass is a cheaper option which is not a bad option.
A good example is the use of spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA along with mineral wool. Spray foam creates an effective barrier seal but it is not fire retardant. In this case, when it is used along with mineral wool, which has very high tolerance for heat, the spray foam will act as the air sealant and the mineral wool will act as a thermal barrier.
Our company has a team of spray foam insulation contractors in Portsmouth VA who has great experience in the field. Reach out to us in order to discuss the possibilities of installing spray foam insulation behind your shower walls, attic or anywhere else. We are always open to ideas and would like to hear from you, even if it is just regarding certain clarifications about spray foam insulation in Portsmouth VA.
