Custom Insulation Blog

As the days get warmer you might start dreaming of air conditioning. But, there are some other ways to keep your house more comfortable during hot summer days that are easier on your wallet and the environment.

Attics can reach temperatures over 140 degrees F on hot summer days. If there isn’t much insulation between the ceiling and attic a lot of this heat is going to be transferred into the house.  Increasing attic insulation can make a big difference in the comfort level of a home and will also cut your heating costs in the winter. By adding R40 insulation to a poorly insulated attic the temperature inside the house will drop by 6-8 º F on hot days.

Proper attic ventilation is also important in keeping your house cool and extending the life of your roof. Without it, as the sun goes down your attic won’t cool off as much and will continue to heat your house throughout the night.

The use of spray foam insulation has been rapidly growing as Architects, Builders and Homeowners become aware of the long term energy savings and comfort benefits associated with using spray foam. However, if you have a walk up attic, blanket insulation would be fine to use.

Architects, builders, and homeowners are trying more and more to reduce their impact on the environment, which shows in the increasing use of environmentally friendly materials. More and more architects and home owners with the environment in mind are turning to copper gutters.

Copper is not the only metal which can be used for gutters: aluminum and PVC can also be used. But copper is the best choice for gutters. The arguments for copper being the gutter material of choice are based on the fact that copper is one of a handful of materials that are considered to be fully sustainable. Only 12% of known copper reserves have ever been mined and most of what has been mined is still in use. Also, it is estimated that 55% of all the copper in use for architectural purposes is recycled.

Copper gutters have durability and longevity with a lifespan of at least 100 years. Therefore, over the lifespan of your home, there is no need to replace the gutters. This contributes to a reduction in demand for production of PVC gutters which is a process that damages the environment.

But maybe the environmental argument doesn’t stop you from thinking of the cost of copper gutters.  On average, cast iron, aluminum and PVC cannot beat copper in price versus durability. There are two more advantages to copper gutters:  it is maintenance free and copper is an algaecide and fungicide. It kills one of the biggest contributors to gutter blockage: moss. So pick any reason for copper gutters; they're environmentally friendly, they make great financial sense, they're durable and, best of all, they're attractive.