Crawl Space Insulation In Pawcatuck, CT

This homeowner called us with concerns regarding the insulation in his attic. When we got to the home, we noticed that it required multiple forms of insulation. They had a sloped cathedral ceiling that was very hard to insulate. Therefore, it was very poorly insulated. 

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services knew exactly how to help this customer. Blocks of SilverGlo™ foam insulation are installed between the ceiling joist bays. Outside the blocks, the surface of the ceiling is sealed with sprayed foam or SilverGlo™ foam. Silver-Glo™ foam insulation is installed under the rafters and sealed at the top with foam sealant. SilverGlo™ is expanded polystyrene foam insulation with graphite infused into the foam, which increases the R-value by 24% compared to regular EPS foam. SilverGlo™ also has a radiant barrier on both sides to reflect roof heat out in the summer and house heat back in during the winter. The addition of this radiant barrier gives some thermal benefit so the insulation isn’t left alone to do all the work. After installation, inside air can’t get out of the house and outside air can’t get in. Insulation is added, with integrity, to the correct surfaces. Results - significantly warmer upstairs room in the winter, cooler room upstairs in the hot weather, less drafts, more comfort, less dust. Lower fuel and electric bills. 

This homeowner in Pawcatuck, CT called Fogarty's Home Services about the fact that his attic insulation was ineffective and smelly. Upon arriving, our Home Comfort Specialist noted that there was an overwhelming amount of mold on the attic insulation. Mold in an attic is not normal, not healthy, and a sign that there is another problem in your home causing the relative humidity in your attic to go above 75% so mold can grow on wood and insulation. 

There is a very easy solution to this problem. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surfaces looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now, his attic was ready for other solutions. Result - Mold eliminated, no odors or wood rot.

This homeowner in Pawcatuck, CT called us due to worries he had regarding his lack of attic insulation. Upon arriving, our Home Comfort Specialist realized that the homeowner had a cathedral ceiling -- meaning he did not have an attic space. In most areas of the United States, homes need R60 insulation in their attics - the equivalent of a 20” deep fiberglass batt. But cathedral ceilings only have the depth of the rafters (6”-11”) for insulation. Two factors relating to the optional vented roof design make the situation much worse. First, some of the rafter space is used for airflow (cold in winter) - which means even less space for insulation. Second, this air flow “wind washes” open faced fiberglass batts, reducing the R-value of batts that were designed and rated to be used in closed cavities with no airflow whatsoever. Result - your cathedral ceiling is dramatically under insulated. Air in your home that you paid to heat, hits the cold ceiling and descends, creating a “convective” loop making your room feel cold and drafty. In the summer, the roofing heats up to 160˚ and the roof heat radiates through the ceiling and heats up the room.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had the perfect solution for this homeowner. We decided the solution was to dense pack the ceiling with our TruSoft™ Cellulose insulation from the soffit vent. The soffit vent is blocked with a continuous board which may need painting along with the fascia by the homeowner. The gutter and fascia board are removed and a TruSoft™ cellulose insulation is “dense packed” into the rafter bays through a long fill pipe inserted deep into the ceiling/roof. Dense packing fills all air spaces, compresses existing batt insulation, and stops air leakage. The ridge vent remains and functions not as an air vent, but a vapor vent. Result - Room is warmer in winter, cooler in summer, less drafty, more comfortable, lower heating and cooling bills, easier to heat and cool.