Custom Insulation Boston Worcester Blog

Cut Your Winter Heating Costs Dramatically with New Home Attic Insulation

17 October 2019

Home attic insulation is a critical element that determines your home energy consumption and cost. You need to understand that the efficiency and effectiveness of home attic insulation steadily declines over time. If you haven’t had your home’s attic insulation assess by a industry professional in the recent past, you’re likely throwing money down the drain with each and every check you write to your utility company.

Your HVAC system struggles when your home cannot contain the conditioned air that it delivers. Your HVAC’s struggle does not only cost you by increased demand for gas or electricity, it also decreases the operational lifespan of your HVAC system(s). There is a simple and affordable solution to this issue. Spray foam home insulation, when professionally installed, will close even the smallest attic openings that tax your systems and your wallet.

Proper home insulation pays for itself over time and then some. Our insulation experts are ready to immediately assess your home and provide a cost/benefit analysis as it pertains to home insulation. Contact Custom Insulation Inc. to learn more about proper home insulation.

Copper Gutters are Extremely Environmentally Friendly

10 October 2019

Are your gutters need to be replaced. Are they rusted or broken? Are the fasteners no longer holding them in place? Or have the gutters leaked and failed to keep water out of your house? Then, copper gutters are a perfect solution to your needs.

When talking about gutters systems, what does eco-friendly really mean? Copper gutters are often made of recycled metals. Old copper gutters can be recycled into new. It’s just one additional way we can contribute to environmental health.

Copper is an elemental metal with a high corrosion resistance. Depending on the environment that copper is in, it will either turn green slower or faster. But the changing colors of copper is part of the material’s visual brilliance. The copper starts to green when a patina develops on the copper. The patina can form from varying elements in the environment. When copper is exposed to the atmosphere, it reacts with carbon dioxide, oxygen, moisture and pollutants. Where moisture and oxygen come into contact with copper, it oxidizes the two elements. This will eventually lead to giving the copper a tarnished tan appearance. After a few years, the tarnish will darken into a beautiful brown or black.

For more tips on copper gutter system, contact Custom Installation.

Source: brothersgutters.com

Copper Gutter Systems -- Your Best Choice

30 September 2019

Gutters are a most vital part of your home exterior. They work in partnership with your roof to drain water off of your roof and far enough away from the sides of your home to water damage. However, while all gutter systems are designed to perform the same function, different types of materials provide a distinctive set of advantages to gutter systems.

Understanding the benefits associated with using copper gutters can help you determine if a copper gutter system is the best choice for your needs:

1. One of the main advantages associated with copper as a building material is being highly durable. This is because of its material strength as a metal, but comes from the fact that copper is naturally resistant to rust and corrosion. Copper gutters are also naturally resistant to algae and mold growth, helping to reduce the risk of clogs developing due to plant growth within your gutters. These factors greatly reduce the risk of leaks or structural damage developing in your gutters even after significant periods of time and greatly reducing your maintenance and repair bills as a result.
2. Another key advantage of installing copper gutters on your roof is that copper gutters are extremely attractive, as they carry a luxurious and expensive aesthetic. Copper gutters can also develop a natural greenish patina over time due to age and weather exposure, which provides a distinguished and aged appearance to your home without sacrificing the structural integrity of your gutters and downspouts. This means that their installation on your home can greatly improve the curb appeal of your property, which can have a tangible effect on the list price. This is an important consideration to keep in mind if you are thinking of putting your home on the market at any point in the foreseeable future.
3. Finally, another thing to think about when considering copper gutters is the fact that copper is a sustainable and recyclable material. It has environmental considerations. While using recycled or reclaimed copper may represent a slightly higher cost than using non-recycled materials, this is a great choice if you want to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of your home. Further, you can always choose to recycle your old copper gutters if at any point in the future you need to replace them, reducing your future environmental impact as well.

To learn more about copper gutter in Worcester, MA, contact Custom Insulation Company, Inc.

Source: homefindersfenner.com

The Value of Upgraded Home Insulation

26 September 2019

Properly designed and installed insulation systems offers immediate and long-term benefits. Insulation protects your structure, your property, and your budget. Ultimate advantage of insulation are the following:

• Insulation Saves Energy. The most widely accepted benefits of insulation are energy savings and the resulting cost savings. Energy is often the most costly component in managing a building, homes or manufacturing facility and its processes. Reducing energy consumption is an exceptionally cost-effective investment.
• Insulation Reduces Emissions. A reduction in energy consumption means less fossil fuel is burned to produce energy. The result is a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. These gases have been directly linked to global warming and pollution. Reducing energy and emissions is a great win-win scenario.
• Insulation Offers Amazing Returns and Reduced Life-Cycle Cost. Home Attic Insulation will provide unrivaled ROI and improve life-cycle cost. Quantifying the rate of return is easy, software and energy assessment procedures are proven and readily available, as are certified insulation energy appraisers.
• Insulation Is Critical to Sustainable Design because it supports an increased commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation. It also results in an optimal balance of cost, environmental, and human benefits. The proper design, installation, and maintenance of mechanical insulation should be a major consideration in all sustainable design initiatives.
• A well-designed and insulated system will protect personnel by lowering hot surface temperatures and preventing accidental burns. Thermal insulation is one of the most effective means of protecting workers from burns resulting from contact with hot or extremely cold piping and equipment. In addition to the safety benefits of insulation, companies take job site safety very seriously and strive to meet the highest standards to protect their own personnel.

Home Insulation is very important because it helps you keep the desired temperature in your house with less energy while protecting it against cold in winter and excess heat in summer. Insulation is also useful to reduce noise pollution. A well-insulated house is very energy efficient and will need very little additional heating and cooling. Now more than ever, insulation should be an integral part of your company’s energy efficiency, productivity, cost reduction, and personnel protection plans.

To learn more about insulation, contact Custom Insulation Company.

Source: insulators34.org

How Copper Gutters Increase Your Home's Value

19 September 2019

When you add copper gutters to your home's exterior, you definitely add a valued, functional, and beautiful design element to your home. This strong aesthetic appeal will, without doubt, increase the value of your home. Copper is extremely durable and a more solid alloy than aluminum. It does not rust.

It is worth mentioning that copper gutters offer on average 60 years lifespan. And they can last up to 100 years with proper maintenance. Much of copper's long life is due to its ability to resist corrosion, which can signal an early end to other metals.

You will find all the details on how it will increase your home value:

1. It is durable. Once copper has been outside for a long period of time it develops a special lining that protects it from rust, and other potentially harmful elements. This lining is called a Verdigris Patina. You will know when this occurs when your gutter will appear to have turned a shade of green. You will be wondering how long this will take to form. On average it will happen between 15 to 20 years. Anyhow, you will purchase a solution that will be applied straightaway. In fact, if you decide to have this type of guttering installed on your premises, it could remain there for well over 100 years due to its remarkable durability.
2. It is low maintenance. Once it is installed, you will barely have to touch your copper guttering. Copper keeps both algae and fungi at bay. Because these types of growth are prevented, the number of blockages in your guttering will be significantly reduced. What is more, the material is one of the easiest to perform repairs upon. Furthermore, did you know that most guttering requires expansion joints due to expansion and contraction, the material that the drainage systems are made of either increase or decrease in size due to varying temperature.. One major advantage of copper guttering is that it can be fitted without these joints. Why? It is because slight changes in its size will not affect the overall stability and effectiveness of the guttering, no cracking or buckling will occur.
3. It looks great. The copper will fit in perfectly with any type of natural materials. This includes wood, stone, clay, and much more. As a result it will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property. And consequently, the value of your home will greatly increase. Be aware that due to the nature of the material its color will change over time. Ranging from a golden-brown to an earthy-brown.

Copper is the future of roofing and guttering. It does not harm the environment, and has an exceptionally long lifespan. If you are looking to replace your old drainage system, copper gutters in Worcester, MA may very well be the answer for you.

To learn more about copper gutter, contact Custom Insulation Company.

Source: medium.com

The Best Types Of Gutter Guards?

12 September 2019

Today let’s discuss aluminum gutters and gutter guards. Do you really need Gutter Guards? Whether you own a home, storefront, or warehouse, you most definitely need gutters to protect both the building and its foundation. Debris can become lodged in your gutters which can cause both overflows, damage to the gutters, or damage to the property wall.

There are different types of gutter guards depending on your specific situation. For instance, if you deal with larger pieces of debris, then you are liable to need a gutter guard with larger openings that is more durable. Likewise, if you deal with finer grained debris, then you will need a gutter guard whose holes are smaller. Some gutter guards do not even use holes and features an altogether different design.

1. Screen. Screens are some of the most widely used types of gutter guards and for good reason. One of the biggest advantages of the screen gutter guard is its price. Since they have been around for so long and their manufacturing process is a bit less intricate than some other types, it is easier to produce these gutter guards and consequently cheaper to purchase them.
2. Solid. This is likely the most common type of gutter guard and is a favorite among commercial and industrial properties. It is because solid gutter guards are especially good at preventing larger pieces of debris from getting into your gutters and generally the most durable type of gutter guard available.
3. Insert. Insert gutter guards are becoming more and more popular for homeowners for one reason: ease of installation. This type requires by simply inserting it into the gutter and ensuring that it is firmly in place held their by tension. The insert type of gutter guards do come in a couple of profiles: foam and brushes. The foam inserts are long triangular pieces of foam. They brace against the house-side of the gutters and offer great protection against larger debris, providing excellent water flow. The brush style of gutter guards are generally made with a metal core around which the brushes extrude.
4. Micro-Mesh. This is the premier type of gutter guard and is often priced as such. These gutter guards are similar to the solid type in design, except their top surface is made out of a metal mesh instead of a solid piece of perforated metal. These gutter guards are excellent at keeping out even the finest grained debris as well as larger detritus. This gutter guards also provide some of the best water flows.

There are many different types of gutter guards available in Worcester, MA if you are looking for one. But the type and location of your property will have a large impact on the best gutter guards for your needs. Cold weather climates can create issues for certain types of gutter guards, while shingled roofs present a different kind of challenge for others.

For more tips on Gutter Guards, contact Custom Insulation.

Source: 5homebest.com

Home Insulation Protects The Environment By Reducing Pollutant Emissions

28 August 2019

The simplest most cost effective way for you to contribute to environmental health (and to the health of your wallet) is to reduce the amount of energy demanded by your HVAC system to maintain a comfortable environment. You can do this simply by improving the insulation effectiveness of your home or commercial building space.

Insulation reduces energy consumption, which means that less fossil fuel is burned to produce that energy. This, in turn, decreases the amount of polluting gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. But it also means more of your hard-earned dollars are burned to produce that cooling and heating energy.

Home Insulation is not generally associated with pollution control, but it should be. Emission reduction is a significant benefit of insulating your home and should be a point of pride that your doing your part. Many of us recycle our garbage which gives us a recurring reminder that we’re doing our part. Don’t take for granted the positive effect your well insulated house has on both energy consumption and your living costs.

We thought some of you would like to know specifically how quality insulated homes and businesses contribute to a healthy environment:

1. Energy Saving. If there is a high demand for electricity, natural gas, propane, and fuel oil in order to heat homes and buildings, the majority are producing energy through burning, a process that releases a high amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Using multifoil or other types of insulation is going to help reduce pollution emissions, which translates into making the environment healthier, and the air we breathe cleaner. Insulation is an important element which can successfully be used in the battle against global warming, and is an energy-efficient solution that will prove its performance in the long run as well.
2. Carbon Dioxide. If multifoil or other types of insulation were to be installed in 4 million homes, the equivalent of the carbon dioxide that would be removed from the atmosphere would be equal to planting 667 million acres of trees. This is pretty impressive. A well-insulated house is very energy efficient and will need very little additional heating and cooling. Insulation helps keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. It improves thermal comfort by reducing the cold drafts and heat losses through the walls and roof. Our house will maintain a more stable temperature throughout the year providing a pleasant indoor environment to live in.

By insulating our homes, we reduce the demand for energy and burn less fuel, which helps combat climate change and protects the planet. Insulating the loft, walls and floor of your home is a great way to reduce energy bills every year from a one-off activity.

It is noted that residential energy efficiency is an appealing approach for emissions reductions, given evidence of greater cost-effectiveness relative to other strategies.

For more information about insulation, contact Custom Insulation Company Inc.

Source: superfoil

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency With New Insulation

23 August 2019

Every moment that your home suffers from a lack of (or dated and ineffective) insulation you are wasting money to unnecessarily high energy bills. Not only will your long-run costs be greater you will be painfully reminded of the uncomfortable temperatures that your home cannot keep at bay. Insulation maintains the temperature in your home throughout the year. And doing so, your HVAC system will work less and yield greater results, meaning increased energy savings - permanently!

To choose the best insulation for your home from the many types of insulation on the market you will need to know what type and where you need it to be installed and the R-value you want the installation to achieve. Other considerations may include indoor air quality impacts, life cycle costs, recycled content, embodied energy and ease of installation.

There are mainly three kinds of insulation:

• Blown-in insulation, such as fiberglass or (more commonly) cellulose, does an excellent job of spreading the insulation, especially into tight places. On the whole, cellulose tends to cost less than fiberglass. Both cellulose and fiberglass R-values are affected by settling over time and density so it is important to consider the minimum settled thickness when calculating the amount you need to buy.
• Fiberglass batts or rolls offer a lot of convenience, though, it comes at a higher price and slightly less R-value per inch versus cellulose. This can be installed quickly without using any additional installation equipment. The insulation must be pushed firmly together and if you are installing more than one layer, each layer must be installed at perpendicular angles to each other. Fiberglass rolls and batts can be placed directly over cellulose insulation. They will work fine together.
• Sprayed foam insulation combines both air sealing and insulation with a higher R-value per inch ranging from R-3.5 for open-cell to R-6.5 for close cell. Unfortunately, sprayed foam is expensive (though prices are slowly declining), requires special equipment (resins, spray hoses, gun, cleaner, protective clothing) and experience using the stuff to make sure the foam gets applied properly.

Insulation in your home provides resistance to heat flow and lowers your heating and cooling costs. Properly insulating your home not only reduces heating and cooling costs, but also improves comfort. Just remember that air sealing and moisture control are important to home energy efficiency, health and comfort.

We believe in the value of energy efficient homes because of the endless benefits it provide to the families and the environment.

For more information about insulation, contact Custom Insulation Company Inc.

Source: firstchoicepower.com

Insulation Considerations To Best Fit Your Needs

14 August 2019

When you know that your home is in need of insulation upgrade, how do you decide what to choose. Choosing the right home insulation can be a daunting task when you take into consideration the cost of material, effectiveness of material, an durability. We offer you information here about each area of the home and which insulation materials work in those spaces.

Below are the existing parts of the house starting at the top and going all the way to the bottom.

• Best Attic Insulation: Cellulose vs Fiberglass vs Spray Foam. If you are looking to cut down on the amount of money pouring out through your roof, attic insulation is the way to go. High energy bills and the inability to maintain a constant temperature are just some of the signs your attic needs new or updated insulation. The best insulation options for an attic are open cell spray foam, fiberglass and cellulose.

  Cellulose insulation is the oldest insulation material used for not only the attic, but other areas of the home as well. Cellulose can be either a loose-fill or blown-in material and is primarily made of recycled newsprint or denim. The fiberglass is another traditional insulation material that consists of extremely fine glass fibers. And if you ask about the open cell spray foam insulation is an air barrier material that creates a seal against air movement. It can expand up to 100 times its original size, filling every nook and cranny in the attic. The main ingredients are water-blown and organic chemical compounds derived from petroleum extracts making it environmentally safe.

• Best Existing Walls Insulation: Blown-In Cellulose vs Injection Foam. When it comes to the existing walls of your home there is no easy way to tell you this, but the insulation must be installed by an experienced Insulation company. The good news is you can add insulation to the existing walls without removing your drywall and the extra expense of a full remodel. The Injection foam insulation and blown-in cellulose can be installed in the existing walls. When insulation does its job, it impacts the conduction (heat transfer) and the convection (air flow), which can both impact the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. More traditional forms of insulation, like cellulose, is resistant to heat that is transferred through conduction. During the winter months, the heat transfer is from the inside of your home to the outside and vice versa in the summer.
• Best Rim Joist Insulation: Fiberglass vs Spray Foam. The rim joist is one of the most overlooked areas of the home when you are looking for the culprit causing drafts around your floor boards. The insulation options for the rim joist is spray foam or fiberglass. Fiberglas is inexpensive but it does not do as good of a job insulating the rim joist. The material when installed in the rim joist is prone to mold issues as it holds condensation against the wood which leads to mold and decay formation.

If you are looking for the best long-term solution, foam insulation products will create the air seal in your home that will make it more comfortable while saving you money on your monthly energy bills. Foam insulation does not settle or sag and it fills all the nooks and crannies where it is installed.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours when it comes to selecting the best insulation for your existing home. You have to see what makes the most sense for your family. You will need to take into consideration the kind of material, the goals you are looking to accomplish and your budget.

For more information about insulation, contact Custom Insulation Company Inc.

Source: retrofoamofmichigan.com

Blanket Insulation Will Lower Your Energy Bills All Year Long

7 August 2019

Summer and winter alike bring forth challenges to managing one’s energy cost. At this time of year, people tend to switch on their cooling system non-stop to keep their living space cool. However, when you do this, expect to be shocked when the energy bill arrives. You can lower that financial pain while keeping your home cool and comfortable despite extreme heat outside. Install blanket insulation.

Blanket insulation in Worcester, MA, also known as Batt insulation, provides countless advantages. They are cost-effective thermal and acoustical barriers for energy-efficient construction. Their consistent quality, low dust, and clean-cutting resilient fibers make fabrication easy and installation quick. The products can be used in new and retrofit wood and metal frame applications in residential and commercial structures, as well as in manufactured housing applications. These applications include thermal and acoustical treatments to walls, ceilings, and floors.

Batt insulation will substantially lower the energy requirement to cool and heat a home. It can lower your energy consumption by as much as 50%. Proper installation is crucial to maximize its efficacy. If you seek for an insulation expert that can perform quality installation, contact Custom Insulation Inc.