Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

How Closed Cell Spray Foam Can Keep You Warm this Winter

Posted by & filed under Spray Foam Insulation.

Looking into new insulation for your home because you’re tired of high heating costs each winter? Closed cell spray foam is the answer. And with the weather getting colder with each passing week, the insulation experts here at Lewis Insulation would like to take some time to discuss the many benefits of closed cell spray foam insulation for your Minnetonka area home.spray foam insulation

For one, closed cell spray foam insulation can reach every nook and cranny of the home. Heat transfer and air flow both contribute to the comfort and energy efficiency of a home. With closed cell spray foam insulation you create a barrier to keep warm air from escaping and cold air from getting in. Spray foam insulation completely fill the cavities, including any gaps and crevices in your roof and walls stopping any air leakage and movement. While other types of insulation are great at this, closed cell spray foam insulation is simply the best as it provides both heat resistance and an air seal. It’s really able to get into the smallest crevices within a home’s attic, walls etc.

Since spray foam insulation expands and fills in cracks, it creates a seamless air barrier, improving the air quality in your home and reducing energy costs.

Closed cell spray foam also strengthens the structure of your home and protects the internal air from mold, allergens, and airborne pollutants.

R-value is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. Closed cell spray foam insulation has a very high R-value of around 7. Compare that to fiberglass which offers an R-value of about 3.7.

Closed cell spray foam is sprayed at a high heat temperature, using specialized equipment & expands & hardens within minutes. Closed cell spray foam will not shrink or settle over time, so you can enjoy the energy saving costs for the life of your home. Closed cell spray foam can be applied in non-vented attics, walls, ceilings, attics, floors, foundations, crawl spaces, around piping, etc.

And, these are just some of the ways closed cell spray foam works to keep you and your household warm all winter. Closed cell spray foam insulation really is a smart choice year round because it’s great at creating an air seal in your home as well as a barrier that will hold in those comfortable temperatures.

Ready to learn more about closed cell spray foam insulation for your Minnetonka area home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and request a Free Estimate.

Keep Warm this Winter with Attic Insulation

Posted by & filed under Attic Insulation.

Cooler weather has arrived and winter is just around the corner. Help protect your home against the chill of winter and high heat bills with proper attic insulation. As experts in attic insulation for St Paul and the surrounding areas, the professionals here at Lewis Insulation are here to tell you more.

Blown in Cellulose Insulation

Why attic insulation?

By adding proper attic insulation, you are provided with some pretty great benefits like saving energy for your home and maintaining a comfortable temperature for your home much more efficiently.

Whether it is summer or winter, adding attic insulation makes your house a lot more livable, while saving you some money. And, attic insulation is one of the very best home improvement projects for a great return on investment. There are also some pretty great tax credits when it comes to attic insulation.

How do you know when you need attic insulation?

If your home experiences any of the following symptoms, you may want to consider adding adequate levels of insulation to your home’s attic along with its interior walls, floors, and crawl spaces. Give us a call straight away if your home have any of these issues:

  • High heating or cooling costs.
  • Uneven temperatures between rooms.
  • Draftiness.
  • Hot or cold ceilings or walls.
  • Ice dams in the winter.

And, these are just a few of the signs your home could use attic insulation. Not sure about the state of your home’s attic insulation? Give us a call and we can send someone out to inspect the situation.

What kind of insulation should you choose?

If your home is not properly insulated, you are likely paying much more than you should be for home energy. There are a few different options in attic insulation, all with different R-values. Understanding an insulation material’s R-value – a measure of how well it resists the flow of heat is important; the higher the number, the better the insulating power.

Spray foam – Closed cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a premium insulation perfectly suited for the attic. With a high R-value, it acts as a barrier to keep the indoors from the outside climate, creating thermal, air and moisture isolation. It can expand and reach hard-to-till voids that other insulation types are not able to do.

Fiberglass and Cellulose Attic Insulation – These types of blown-in insulation have almost the same R-value, and they are both environmentally friendly. Cellulose is made out of recycled newspaper and fiberglass is made out of sand, both of which are renewable resources.

These types of insulation are great for filling in gaps and ensuring your entire attic is evenly insulated. The installation process is generally pretty quick, depending on the size of your attic.

Give us a call and we can advise you on which type of attic insulation will best suit your needs and keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Are you interested in learning more about attic insulation for your St Paul home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or contact us for a Free Estimate.

Fiberglass Insulation: What It is and How It Works

Posted by & filed under Fiberglass Insulation.

Is fiberglass insulation really made of fiberglass? How does it work? These are just a few of the most common questions we hear when it comes to fiberglass insulation. Here at Lewis Insulation, we specialize in fiberglass insulation, cellulose as well as closed-cell spray foam insulation. And, we have been serving the entire Twin Cities Metro area and improving insulation for homeowners for over 35+ years. So, as expert installers of fiberglass insulation for Minneapolis and the surrounding areas, we would like to tell you more about it. And, if you find you still have some more questions about fiberglass insulation or about any of the other insulation types we offer, please do not hesitate to give us a call.

fiberglass insulation
  • What is fiberglass insulation? Fiberglass insulation consists of extremely fine glass fibers, sand and is the type of insulation found in most homes. It is commonly used in two different types of insulation – blanket which is batts and rolls, and loose fill. Fiberglass can be placed in unfinished walls, floors and ceilings. It is fitted between studs, joists, and beams.
  • Fiberglass as an insulator slows the spread of heat, cold, and sound in structures. The material does this by trapping pockets of air, keeping rooms warm in the winter and cooler in the summer.
  • An often overlooked feature of fiberglass insulation is that it is eco-friendly, which is particularly important if you are worried about your carbon footprint. It is made out of sand and recycled glass, both of which are renewable resources.
  • Fiberglass insulation is also non-combustible, non-absorbent and non-corrosive. It will not hold water, so you never have to worry about moisture issues as a result of this type of insulation.
  • Fiberglass insulation is cost-effective but also gives you year-round comfort. You and your family will be warm and toasty in the winter and cool and comfortable in the summer thanks to fiberglass.
  • The type of fiberglass insulation we install is mold and mildew resistant. So you will not have to worry that your new fiberglass insulation is retaining moisture.
  • Fiberglass insulation is also budget-friendly. You still get many of the same perks as other types of insulation, but fiberglass is one of the least expensive options on the market today.

Do you want to learn more about fiberglass insulation for your Minneapolis area home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get your Free Estimate on our fiberglass insulation services.

What Type of Insulation is Best for Your Home?

Posted by & filed under Insulation Info, Residential Insulation.

We have covered why proper insulation is so essential to the overall comfort and efficiency of your home. But, how do you know which type of insulation is best? After all, there is a variety of quality insulation types to choose from, each with their own unique benefits. At Lewis Insulation, we are experts in home insulation for Rogers and the surrounding areas and would like to provide you with a brief rundown of each insulation material as well as a few tips to help you along the way. And, when you’re ready to learn more about home insulation for your Roger’s home, give us a call to learn more about it and to get on our schedule right away.

residential insulation

Fiberglass

This is what most people think of when it comes to insulation. Fiberglass is a popular choice because it is so budget-friendly. However, this type of home insulation is usually best installed by professionals. A good choice for walls, floors and ceilings, it comes in rolls that are ready-made for installation. This type of home insulation is best for between framing, like studs and joists.

Closed Cell Spray Foam

Closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation is one of the most advanced insulating materials available today. Here at Lewis Insulation, we use state of the art equipment & have completed certified training & continued education on spraying polyurethane spray foam. Closed cell spray foam offers the highest R-value over all other insulation types.

Cellulose

Cellulose is one of the most effective types of insulation since it has such a high R-value, and it is also a great choice for those concerned about the environment and their carbon footprint. That’s because cellulose is made out of recycled newspaper. It also works great for those hard to reach areas of your home, like your attic. And it can be installed over existing insulation.

And, this includes just some of the great benefits of each type of insulation material. Give us a call to learn more! The type of home insulation your house needs is based on a few different factors and we can work with you to help determine which type of home insulation is best for you.

Are you interested in getting more information about home insulation for your Rogers area home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

Get a Cooler Attic this Summer with Attic Ventilation

Posted by & filed under Attic Ventilation.

With hot weather here to stay for the summer, it is a good time to start thinking about ways to help keep the house cool. One of the most important parts of keeping your home cool is proper ventilation. As professionals in attic ventilation for Maple Grove, we would like to tell you more about attic ventilation and why now is a superb time to consider having it properly addressed by experts.

Attic Insulation & Ventilation Maple Grove

In the summer, natural air flow in a well-vented attic helps to release the hot air out of the attic. This helps assist your air conditioning, keeping cooling costs low and your home comfortable. Have some more questions about attic ventilation? Here are a few of the most common ones we hear:

How do you know if your attic is properly ventilated?

Most attics require air chutes to circulate proper air flow. Air chutes are placed between the rafters in the attic, and go down into the soffit to bring up proper air flow. The size of the attic determines how many air chutes are recommended for optimal venting.

Why does attic ventilation help in summer?

At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic through vents, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient home. In the summer, natural air flow in a well-vented attic moves super-heated air out of the attic, protecting roof shingles and removing moisture. The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.

What types of problems can a poorly insulated attic cause?

Inadequate venting in your attic causes all sorts of problems, including wood rot to mildew, peeling paint, rusty nails or screws, roofing problems and even energy loss.

The good news is that these issues can be easily prevented by simply venting your attic correctly.

Do you still have some more questions about attic ventilation? Give us a call us at Lewis Insulation and we can get you scheduled for a visit. We will come out and take a look to determine proper ventilation, whether you have it or not. Whatever the reason you might think you need better attic ventilation, you should talk to a professional to determine what your home needs.

For more information about attic ventilation for your Maple Grove home, call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.