Common Starting Solution for Existing Homes
Attic and Basement Solutions
When looking at the energy efficiency of your home, it is typically recommended that you begin with the attic or ceiling. Visualize your home as cylinder with warm air leaving the top of your home at a certain rate, if we can cap the top, it will instantly decrease the rate of air escaping through the top of the home, sealing the major air leaks and vacuum effect.
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Basements are usually the next major area to help the home become more energy efficient. For basements, the most affordable solutions is to insulate the rim joists along the perimeter, targeting major leaks. The next step would be to do the ceiling of the basement, making the floors on your first floor warmer. Sometimes it is recommended to do the basement walls instead of the ceiling, which will depend on a few factors that we can explain during our free consultation.
Attics & Cathedral Ceilings
For older homes, we often need to spray foam down to the studs for maximum insulation and stability. The green foam shown here was specifically chosen because the home had previously been in a fire and required additional structural reinforcement. We used a high-strength Canadian foam, nicknamed "The Hulk" for its durability. The job required a team of five over multiple days to trim the excess, but in the end, our client was thrilled with the results.
Basements
We love educating homeowners about building science, and one of the latest advancements is spray foaming basement rim joists. This upgrade provides superior air sealing, moisture resistance, and thermal insulation, significantly enhancing your home's energy efficiency.
