The best insulation for attics in Arizona depends on several factors: the design of your home and attic, your budget, and if you plan to use the attic as a finished space.
Building scientists studying home energy loss and efficiency found that older homes lose a lot of energy due to age, settlement, and the development of gaps and cracks throughout the structure. Weakened portions of your home allow air conditioning and heating to leak out, leading to increased energy costs.
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According to the US Department of Energy, the average home wastes more than 30% of its air conditioned or heated air through gaps and cracks. These cracks are usually invisible to the untrained eye, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Homeowners commonly notice signs of cracks and gaps through sky-high energy bills, drafts on chilly days, or if certain rooms are always hotter than others.
A skilled professional can pinpoint areas of inefficiency with a quick inspection. Since each home is different, it’s important to take all factors into consideration to determine the best insulation for your attic in Arizona.
Different Types of Attic Insulation
There are several types of attic insulation: batt insulation, blown-in insulation, spray foam insulation, and radiant barrier insulation.
Batt insulation is a pre-made roll of material typically lined with a paper backing. Made from interwoven fibers with adhesive qualities, the fibers stick together in groups. Fiberglass and cotton are two main materials used to create batt insulation. Installing batts is more labor intensive than blown-in insulation because each sheet must be cut to fit a specific area. The task is even trickier around pipes, wires, and other obstacles—which can be impossible to fill in using batt insulation alone.
Spray foam insulation is a type of insulation often used in conjunction with other types of insulation to improve energy efficiency. A trained professional may apply spray foam to the attic ceiling to remove gaps or voids in existing insulation. This allows HVAC duct systems in the attic to operate in a temperature controlled climate, leading to greater energy efficiency.
No matter what type of insulation is best for your attic, the most important thing is that you create an air-tight seal. Simply increasing R-Value cannot fill gaps and cracks alone. That’s where the use of spray foam comes in handy.
Radiant barrier insulation (pictured at right) is a type of insulation that relies on reflective materials to mirror heat and energy away from your home. Thus, achieving the same goal as insulation albeit through different measures. There are two ways to apply this type of insulation, you can spray it on the bottom of the roof decking in your attic, or you can install a foil-backed insulation board.
Blown-in insulation is our go-to method for insulating attics in Arizona. This method involves using a blower machine equipped with a large hose to spray insulation into wall voids as well as attics. The machine relies on a large air blower that spins materials into chunks before blowing them through the hose and into a space. With proper application, blown-in insulation provides an even layer of insulating materials.
There are two options for blown-in insulation: fiberglass and cellulose materials. Both types of blown-in insulation sit on the floor of your attic. Therefore, if you plan to use your attic as a finished space, you may need to consider a different type of insulation.
Benefits of Blown-in Fiberglass Insulation
Blown-in insulation can be the only form of insulation added to an attic. In some cases, another type of insulation is used in conjunction to provide greater energy efficiency. For instance, spray foam insulation is often used to fill in gaps that blown-in or batt insulation can’t fill in alone.
We rely on blown-in insulation and CertainTeed blowing machines to provide even layers of energy efficient insulation. Fiberglass insulation offers superior qualities, including:
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Long lasting results
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Doesn’t settle or lose R-Value over time
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Resistant to moisture absorption
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Saves up to 12 times as much energy as it takes to produce
Insulation Installers in the Phoenix Valley
You can count on us to identify the best solution for your attic. We aren’t just experts in attic insulation, we specialize in full-service energy solutions. Proudly serving all cities in the Phoenix Valley, including Mesa, Phoenix, Chandler, Glendale, Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and more.
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