Insulation: What You Don't Know Could Be Hurting You

Insulation is an extremely important part of your home, in that it helps to protect you from the elements. If homes weren’t insulated it would take an enormous amount of energy to keep them at a habitable temperature. Insulation works by creating a barrier and holding the heat (or cold) from escaping (or getting in). You might be saying “Duh” right now, but do you know how much the wrong insulation could be costing you?

If no insulation equals huge amounts of energy spent on heating and cooling, what does poor insulation mean? It means more of your money is literally radiating away. R factor, which is a combination of the type of material and how thick it is installed, is a way to measure the insulating properties of a material. Basically, the higher the R factor, the better insulated you are. But don’t be deceived by quoted R factors without knowing all the facts.

Some insulation, like blown in cellulose (nice word for shredded newspaper), or fiberglass can actually start out with a good ‘R factor’. However, they both have some serious drawbacks. What happens when you set a cold glass of water out on a hot sunny day? It sweats. Moisture is a serious consideration when choosing insulation, especially in Minnesota. When wet, both cellulose and fiberglass lose their insulation properties, or R factor. Cellulose can actually absorb moisture and compact down up to 30% in your wall leaving you with a large surface area of un-insulated, no R factor, space. Not just that, because it can absorb moisture, it can grow mold which can irritate allergies and cause sickness.

You might be thinking I’m about to say something like “But now there’s something new!” Sorry, no. The best insulation has been around for years. Thermal Mineral Rock Wool Insulation has been being installed since the 40’s. It has the same R factor when installed as the others, and moisture does not affect it. Mineral Wool will not compact; it is non-organic meaning it can’t absorb or hold moisture, so no mold. Plus because it is so much denser than the others, it is a better sound barrier.

Possibly the most impressive fact is that Mineral Wool Insulation could actually save your life in the unfortunate event of a fire. The Thermal Wool will not support combustion and won’t even melt until twice the temperature of the competition (if you would call it that) actually acting as a fire retardant.

With all the benefits, and the rising costs of heating and cooling, having your home insulated with Thermal Mineral Wool is an investment that will pay for itself in little time. G. Vizecky Contracting is experienced; having been installing Thermal Mineral Wool insulation since 1946. Give them a call at (612) 825-6616 to set up a free, no obligation, in home estimate, or check out their website (www.vizecky.com) to learn more about G. Vizecky Contracting or see pictures from previous jobs.