Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Cellulose Insulation

Posted by & filed under Cellulose Insulation.

When it comes to cellulose insulation, the bottom line is it keeps homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Plus, it’s better for you and the environment. And, as the experts in cellulose insulation for Plymouth and the surrounding areas, we’d like to tell you more about why. Here are the top five things you may not have known about cellulose insulation:

Cellulose Insulation Plymouth
  • Insulation is measure by R-value per inch. R meaning resistance to heat flow and the higher the number, the more effective the insulation. When properly installed, cellulose has an R-value of 3.5-4, which is higher than average when compared with other products.
  • Cellulose insulation is plant fiber, recycled paper, used in wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught proof and reduce free noise. And, since it is made of recycled plant fibers, making it environmentally friendly as well as budget friendly.
  • A home insulated with cellulose will be much quieter than a glass fiber insulated home due to its effectiveness in preventing sound transmission.
  • Cellulose insulation helps prevent airborne moisture movement. Minerals in the insulation resist the growth of these organisms, improving building durability and longevity.
  • Cellulose is fantastic at preventing drafts and airflow. It completely fills gaps and voids around irregular objects such as wiring, plumbing and framing materials in attics and walls, compared to foam insulation. Cellulose insulation also disperses moisture and helps to protect the surrounding building components.

And, these are just some of the many benefits to choosing cellulose insulation! Cellulose is good, green insulation. It performs and has less embodied energy. It is important to hire professional installer, but it still has a high and quick return on investment. Fiberglass is good insulation too. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t have been around for so long.  It comes down to personal preference about your own carbon footprint and other factors. 

Not sure what kind of insulation is right for your unique home? Give us a call at Lewis Insulation so we can tell you more about cellulose insulation as well as the many other types of insulation we carry. We can help you find the right one for your building’s unique needs.

Whether you’re building a new home, completing a home remodeling project, or it’s just time for an update, we’ve got you covered. For more information about cellulose insulation for your Plymouth area home or business, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us for a Free Estimate.

Why Fiberglass is Still Number One

Posted by & filed under Fiberglass Insulation.

When most think of insulation, it’s fiberglass insulation that comes to mind. And, this isn’t without good reason. While there are a variety of new, equally amazing insulation products on the market, fiberglass has remained at the top of the list. In fact, fiberglass is the dominant insulation material being almost 71% of all the insulation used by 1,600 builders as surveyed by Home Innovation Research Labs. And, according to the same article, fiberglass has remained fairly steady at that level for the past couple of years.

Insulation Installation

Since this material makes up more than two thirds of the insulation market for new, single family homes, this is a great time to discuss the many benefits of fiberglass. Here at Lewis Insulation, we are the experts in fiberglass insulation for Plymouth and the surrounding areas and know first-hand all of the benefits of this and every one of our insulation materials. We believe fiberglass insulation will be around as a top insulation material for years to come. Here are some points to consider:

First of all, like many other insulation materials, fiberglass insulation can help increase the energy efficiency of your home. It helps to slow the spread of heat and cold by trapping pockets of air. This helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus, it helps the amount of outside noise that comes into your home.

Fiberglass is also made out of sand and recycled glass, so that means it does not catch fire that easily. If it is under direct flame, it will melt, not burn. Fiberglass insulation is not a fire hazard.

And, the type of fiberglass insulation we install at Lewis Insulation is mold and mildew resistant. So you will not have to worry that your new fiberglass insulation is retaining moisture and possibly causing more harm than good to you and your family.

Ready to get started? You will not have to wait long for fiberglass insulation to be installed. While the installation process can be easy, it is still best to call in the professionals, like the ones at Lewis Insulation, to get it installed. That’s because if someone without a lot of experience installs your fiberglass insulation, it can be installed improperly and you could lose a lot of the benefits of this insulation. 

To learn more about fiberglass insulation for your Plymouth area home, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get your Free Estimate on our fiberglass insulation services.

Smart Tips to Keep Your House Cool this Summer

Posted by & filed under Residential Insulation.

It’s really heating up here in Minnesota! Is cranking up the AC the only way to keep your home cool? You may be surprised there are other more cost-effective ways to keep your home cool this summer. At Lewis Insulation we specialize in home insulation for Minnetonka, one of the many ways to help give your home’s cooling a boost. As the weather heats up, we’ve put together some creative tips to help keep your home a comfortable temperature all season long.

Proper insulation. What people often don’t know is how many places hot air could be entering the home: think around windows, door frames, and crawl spaces, even around recessed lights. If you were to add up all these little cracks and places in your house where warm air gets in, you would see a pretty large hole. That’s where proper home insulation comes in. Not having insulation means heat is seeping into your house and your air conditioner is having to work a lot harder. If you’re really, really committed to not blasting your AC all summer, you can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it cooler for seasons to come. Attic, home and window insulation, for example, are a smart and essential part of your cooling system.

Home Insulation and Cooling Tips Minnetonka

Keep blinds closed during the day. Up to 30% of unwanted heat in your home is coming through your windows via the greenhouse effect; sunlight and heat enter, but cannot escape. By keeping your blinds closed you can prevent unwanted heat from entering the home this way.

Plant shade trees. A well-placed tree can make a world of difference for the overall comfort of your home. Planting a tree likely won’t have immediate payoffs, but it’s a great way to both shade your home and add beauty to your property. Vines and other tall shrubs are other options which will have quicker results, but will likely require more maintenance.

Grill. Skip the oven or stove and grill more! Any usage of the oven or even the stove-top is going to heat your home. So dust off that grill and help keep the heat outdoors.

Other home updates. If the heat in your home is a real problem every year, you’ll want to run the numbers on re-painting your home to a lighter color or replacing your roof. It may even be a need for proper attic insulation and ventilation. Not sure what the problem is? Our experts can calculate how much ventilation and insulation your attic needs and how much is already there.

Ready to get started? For more information on home insulation in Minnetonka, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

Why Insulation is Still an Essential

Posted by & filed under Insulation Info.

As many people around the nation are remaining indoors, there are some essential services that remain open. Essential construction is one of these services. Which brings us to insulation installation; one of the most essential services of all. You may wonder if insulation is of importance this time of year with the weather warming. In fact, the purpose of insulation goes beyond keeping things warm. Insulation is essential to keeping your home cool and your energy costs low. As the trusted name in insulation for Minneapolis and the surrounding areas, we would like to tell you more about it and how it can be the most essential parts of keeping an efficient home today and into the future.

Why Insulation is still an essential

Are you aware that temperatures in your home’s attic can exceeds 130 degrees on a hot summer day? Without insulation to create a thermal barrier, this heat seeps down into the house, raising the indoor temperature by an average of 10 degrees. This can easily cause the air conditioner to work overtime in order to cool down your home. This not only makes it consistently warmer inside but can also have a huge impact on your energy bill.

Proper and adequate home insulation from Lewis Insulation can benefit you in a number of ways. Not only could you see some savings on your cooling bills this summer, but you could help the environment as well. Buildings emit greenhouse gas emissions and the best way to reduce these emissions is through proper attic insulation. After all, insulation is a thermal barrier, meaning it slows the transfer of heat. While walls need insulation too, the attic is the most important place to boost insulation if you discover your home doesn’t have enough. Attic insulation is there to prevent sweltering summer temperatures from entering the attic and passing through the ceiling and into your home.

Are you ready to learn more about why insulation is an essential for your unique home? There are a variety of types of insulation to choose from including closed cell spray foam, fiberglass and cellulose. Each come with their own unique set of benefits and our insulation experts can help determine what type of insulation is best suited for your home and budget. To learn more about insulation for your Minneapolis home, give us a call at Lewis Insulation. Dial 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to set up a Free Estimate.

What Makes Attic Ventilation Vital

Posted by & filed under Attic Ventilation.

You likely already know that ventilation is the flow of air through a system of intake and exhaust. But, how does ventilation relate to the attic and why is it important? As the experts in attic ventilation for Minnetonka, we’d like to discuss this essential part of your home’s cooling and heating systems.

attic ventilation Minnetonka

Attic ventilation systems are unique to every home. Factors such as code requirements, regional climate and roof and ceiling designs all need to be considered when venting your roof. There are two main types of roof ventilation:

  • Exhaust vents
  • Intake vents

We can install the most efficient and effective attic ventilation systems. We understand how important it is to install proper attic insulation. It helps prevent temperate air loss from the living areas and diminishes the energy impact of having cold or hot air flow through the attic.

The type and number of vents needed will depend on your unique home. Our attic ventilation professionals will determine the exact amount needed for your home. As a general rule, you should establish a 1:300 ratio in which every 300 square feet of ceiling space calls for 1 square foot of attic ventilation. Accessory items like grates, piping and others that sit on your roof may also be an issue in calculating and setting up true ventilation.

In addition to preventing ice dams in winter, attic ventilation has many benefits when it’s hot outside as well. When the temperature outside rises, the temperature on your roof can be nearly doubled. A hot roof over a poorly vented attic translates into a very hot attic.

Heat infiltration to your home occurs through the attic. Even with adequate insulation, some heat will seep into your ceilings and down into the rooms when temperatures climb. Because of this, your air conditioner will run more often in order to cool the air off, driving up energy costs.

Consistent high moisture and temperatures in the attic due to lack of ventilation can cause damage to the roof including rippling, warping and more.

With spring arriving early this year, it is important to contact the experts here at Lewis Insulation as soon as possible to prepare for summer. Our experts can calculate how much ventilation your attic needs and how much is already there.

Ready to get started? For more information on attic ventilation for your Minnetonka home, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.