Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

Why You Need to Hire the Professionals for Your Home Insulation this Spring

Posted March 7, 2018 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Residential Insulation.

Spring is just around the corner so you are likely putting together a list of the home improvement projects you need to tackle. If you noticed some issues with your insulation over the winter, then insulation installation will be at the top of that list. After all the warm weather makes spring a great time of year to take on this type of project. But, it is most definitely not a do-it-yourself project. All home insulation must be handled by the professionals.

Your home is the biggest investment you will ever make. And its insulation is an important part of its safety, comfort and efficiency. Hiring professional home insulation contractors means that your home insulation will be properly installed. And that means you could save a lot of money on your home’s heating and cooling costs in the long run. Plus your home will stay comfortable all year round, and insulation helps reduce noise that comes in from the outside.

So when it’s time for a major repair or service, you don’t want to trust just anyone. You want to make sure that your home insulation contractors are reliable and qualified to do the work. As experts in home insulation for Wayzata we have a few suggestions on what to look for when you hire insulation contractors like us.

One of the best ways to find quality home insulation contractors is through word of mouth. In today’s technological world, it is easy to find online reviews of a variety of services. Visiting a website like Angie’s List is a great way to learn about the experiences that other homeowners have had with those insulation contractors.

Another thing to keep an eye out for when hiring a home insulation contractor is to ensure they are licensed, bonded and insured like we are at Lewis Insulation. They should also offer a variety of insulation choices. Lewis Insulation offers three types: fiberglass, spray foam and cellulose. Your home insulation contractors should be able to tell you which type of insulation is the most appropriate for your unique home.

For more information on home insulation in the Wayzata area, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or contact us for a Free Estimate.

What Is Fiberglass Insulation Anyway?

Posted December 18, 2017 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Fiberglass Insulation.

At Lewis Insulation, we provide a variety of insulation services to help you keep your home safe and comfortable. And, one of the most popular types of insulation in the Twin Cities is fiberglass insulation. But, you may be asking yourself ‘what is fiberglass insulation anyway?’ We are here to answer that question for you!

What it is.

Fiberglass insulation is a type of insulation that’s made out of very thin strands of glass. It is a man-made material and has a high surface area-to-weight ratio that makes it an ideal insulator for residential and commercial buildings. Nowadays, fiberglass insulation does not irritate the skin like it used to and its manufacturing process is more environmentally friendly than it used to be. And, many manufacturers are using recycled glass.

Its benefits.

Fiberglass insulation is a cost-effective way to insulate your home. Not only could you see some savings on your heating and cooling bills, but it can also help reduce noise pollution. It is also non-combustible and non-absorbent.

Fiberglass insulation is also easy to install. 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 those at Lewis Insulation, to get it installed.

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 and possibly causing more harm than good to you and your family.

Its cost.

Fiberglass insulation is a budget-friendly option for many homeowners. 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.

Its efficiency.

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.

There are many different reasons fiberglass is such a popular choice in insulation material, contact us to find out more! Are you interested in learning more about fiberglass insulation for your Twin Cities home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get your Free Estimate on our fiberglass insulation services.

Learning the Why’s & What’s of Attic Insulation

Posted August 23, 2017 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Insulation.

So you may already know how important attic insulation is to the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. But do you know why? And what kind is best for your unique home? As experts in attic insulation for Rogers and the surrounding areas, we’d like to provide you with some benefits to insulation in general as well as a few facts about the different insulation types we offer. We hope this post can help point you in the right direction.

The Why’s

About 25% of heat is lost through your attic. Heat escapes out of the roof of the attic thanks to poor insulation.
Proper attic insulation could help you save money on heating and cooling bills and increase the comfort level of your entire family.
By having your attic insulation replaced, you can essentially ensure you are not letting money escape through the ceiling.
Proper attic insulation can also allow for even temperature distribution within the home as well as provide moisture control, and contribute to a more environmentally-friendly footprint for your home.
By having your current insulation removed and new insulation installed as soon as possible, you can ensure the sound structure of your home.

The What’s

Closed cell spray foam insulation can expand to reach hard-to-fill voids, which is great for spaces like attics, which often have smaller and more out-of-the-way spots that need to be insulated. You should see some long-term savings on your heating and cooling bills with closed cell spray foam attic insulation.
The two other types of attic insulation we install are 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. Fiberglass and cellulose attic insulation are also very energy efficient, so you should see some savings on your heating and cooling bills in the long run with these types of insulation as well.

Not sure which type of attic insulation is best for your home? Give us a call. We can advise you on which type 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 in Rogers? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or contact us for a Free Estimate.

How it Works: Heat Flow & Foam Insulation

Posted July 24, 2017 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Insulation Info.

Everyone knows that foam insulation and insulation in general helps keep the home temperate. But, how exactly? At Lewis Insulation, we are experts in all types of insulation, specializing in foam insulation for Eden Prairie and the surrounding areas. We get many questions about how insulation works and we’d like to share a brief rundown of the concepts of general heat flow as well as what makes foam insulation so good at what it does.

Conduction, Convection & Radiation

Conduction is the way in which heat moves through materials. Insulation’s job is to slow down this conductive heat flow and keep the heat from moving from outdoors to indoors.

Convection is the ways heat circulates through liquids and gasses. Hot air rises and cool air sinks. Home insulation slows convective heat flow.

Radiation is heat that travels in a straight line, heating anything solid that lies in its pathway. Home insulation reduces this acquisition of heat and is most effective when directed towards airflow.

Insulation

Home insulation is integral in decreasing the flow of heat by offering resistance to the movement of it. In the cooler months, without insulation, hot air moves from heated areas to cooler areas of the home. The cold temperatures outside create the need for your home’s heating system to compensate for the loss of heat; constantly trying to fill in where heat has escaped. During the hotter months, cold air that is lost when heat enters and invades a space is then made up for by your home’s cooling system. It is your insulation’s job to stop this flow of heat and allow your systems to efficiently keep your home warm or cool. So, when open gaps in a building are filled with insulation, they reduce convective heat loss.

All types of insulation come with an “R-Value”, a rating applied to an insulation type’s ability to resist conductive heat flow. Closed cell spray foam insulation has one of the highest R-values on the market today.

Closed cell spray foam insulation works well in difficult to reach nooks and crannies, like attics and crawl spaces since it is sprayed onto these surfaces.

These are only a few reasons you should consider closed foam insulation for your home. Call us and we can tell you even more!

Are you interested in learning more about closed foam insulation for your Eden Prairie home? Call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and set up a Free Estimate.

FAQ: Getting the Lowdown on Attic Ventilation

Posted June 28, 2017 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Ventilation.

Did you know that as many as 90% of American homes have moisture levels that exceed acceptable limits? Your home may benefit greatly from attic ventilation as well as the installation of new insulation. But it is likely you have many questions about attic ventilation and insulation. As experts in insulation and attic ventilation for Eden Prairie, we have received many questions about both of these and would like to provide you with some answers. And, if you think your attic is too moist and could benefit from attic ventilation, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We will be able to assess the amount of ventilation and/or insulation work you need in order to make your home run as efficiently as it should.

What is attic ventilation?

Ventilation is what helps get rid of the heat and humidity, drawing it out of your home. Proper residential insulation and ventilation play a key role in making sure this heat and humidity do not build up in your attic.

What is the right amount of ventilation?

One must precisely calculate the proper amount of venting needed to allow for proper attic ventilation. Insufficient ventilation leads to moisture issues during the winter months and cuts down on the overall efficiency of your energy usage during the summer months

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. And, just any opening into the roof does not count as true ventilation.
The experts at Lewis Insulation can help determine what your attic already has and what your attic needs.

Can’t I just add more insulation instead?

It is normal to think that adding more insulation would assist in the overall effort to prevent winter and summer issues in attic ventilation. That is not the case, however. Vents in the roof at points where insulation is installed allows for more opportunity for moisture to get in. Some venting is absolutely necessary on the roof but you do not want to add to it by installing more insulation.

Still have more questions? Call us up at Lewis Insulation and we can certainly get you scheduled for a visit. We will come out and take a look to determine proper ventilation, whether you have it or not. Without exception, you should talk to a professional to determine what your home requires.

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