Re-insulating Existing Homes
At Insulation Experts we refer to the process of re-insulating an existing home’s attic as retrofit insulation work. We re-insulate attics in older homes that were not insulated to today’s standards, and newer homes that were not installed correctly during construction.

Based on our experience inspecting homes in Oklahoma we know there are hundreds of thousands of homes that have missing or poorly installed attic insulation. During the 80’s builders simply didn’t install enough insulation in attics to get the job done right.

We routinely see huge opportunities to improve the efficiency and comfort of existing homes. People who have five inches of insulation or less can definitely benefit from having more insulation blown into their attics. The feedback that we have received from our retrofit has been outstanding. They feel much more comfortable and they are saving money – “what a concept!”

We tell consumers that if done correctly, retrofit insulation pays twice. First, it helps reduce your utility bills. Secondly, when you sell your home you eliminate a price negotiating point from a buyer’s home inspector because of inadequate insulation.
If you are spending more than $100 a month for cooling in the summer and your house is less than 2,400 square feet, you’ve got problems. Your utility bill is high because you have one of the following conditions: inadequate insulation, leaky ductwork, or poor solar control.

We have a unique process of retrofitting your home – from high efficiency cellulose or Insulsmart Foam insulation to a ductwork system.  Insulation Experts will design a solution for your costly utility bills, noise reduction, and air distribution; our goal is to maximize comfort and health.

Steps to a Quality Retrofit Job
Having insulation installed in your attic is not like having tile put in your foyer or carpet in your living room. Most consumers will never go up into their attic to make sure the job was done correctly. This is potentially a recipe to get inferior work.
Realizing this, we created a guide to help you purchase retrofit insulation in an informed manner. As a consumer, this is our way of leveling the playing field. Our best customers are the ones who want the job done right.

If you follow these steps and recommendations, the chances are much greater that you will get what you pay for with attic insulation and realize all the benefits from insulation installed correctly.

1. The insulation contractor inspects the attic before providing an estimate. Quoting work over the phone increases the likelihood that something will be missed like chase (cavities open from the attic to the floor) or knee wall (vertical walls that separate the house from the wall).
2. The bid must provide more information than just the R-value. A good quote will not just tell you the R-value, but also the number of inches of material to be blown as well as quantity and weight of bags to be installed.
3. The bid should provide good definition of the details to be done to address additional work required to close the thermal disconnects. (i.e., socket blocking, porch blocking, HVAC blocking, and lights).
4. The installer must inspect the house for recessed cans, chimneys, and combustion air inlets. In other words, the installer must be trained and must know what they are doing.
5. The installers must be paid hourly and not on a piece-rate or per-bag basis. The reward should be for quality, thoroughness, and professionalism, and not simply speed. Quality and quantity are at odds with each other – it is impossible to have both in a retrofit situation.
6. The installers must have headlamp or fluorescent lamps in the attic so they can see what they are doing. This sounds obvious enough, but we’ve seen too many instances where companies send installers into attics without adequate lighting.
7. The installers must protect the customer’s belonging if the access is through a closet ceiling. This means plastic over the clothes…
8. The installer must leave the job in the condition he found it, i.e. vacuum rugs, heater, closets…
   
9. Installer must staple up an attic accountably card that has the following information on it: the amount of square feet that has been insulated; the number of bags; and the weight of bags that were used; the company’s and owner’s names, along with the installer’s signature in a conspicuous place. (This is a FTC regulation requirement).

Acoustical Information
K-13: K-13 is made from natural recycled fibers that have been chemically treated to add resistance to fire, mold, and mildew. Its cotton-like texture and wide variety of standard and custom colors enable K-13 to be used as an attractive finish in both new construction and renovation projects. Its acoustic advantages significantly improve ambient sound quality in key projects such as auditoriums, sports facilities, detention facilities, television and sound studios, convention centers and parking garages.

SonaSpray “fc”: SonaSpray “fc” is a spray-applied acoustical texture that has also been designed for a wide range of projects. It provides an attractive, high-performance solution to acoustical and lighting design objectives in both new construction and bonds to virtually all common construction materials, including sheetrock, plaster, wood, metal, and concrete. Combined with the patented adhesive, it provides a strong, durable and resilient surface that resists impact and abrasions, without the cracking or spalling that are typical to cementations or plaster-based materials.

Celbar: Celbar is a spray-applied insulation product for residential or commercial use. It is a blend of specially prepared cellulose fibers that are organic in nature and treated for adhesion and fire resistance. When sprayed in place, the interlocking fibers result in a mass that produces exceptional sound and thermal properties. As Celbar is applied to wall and floor/ceiling cavities it forms a monolithic coating that seals cracks and holes in the wallboard, around plumbing and electrical outlets, vent ducts, and other irregularities. This enables Celbar to significantly reduce the infiltration of air and sound, increasing the thermal and acoustic performance. A notable advantage of the Celbar system is its STC performance. Because of the monolithic coverage and sealing action Celbar assemblies perform closer to lab-tested STC ratings in the field than conventional batt and soundboard systems.

Superior Air Ducts…
Insulation Experts has searched diligently to find a superior air duct that would eliminate most common problems associated with alternative air distribution systems. Superior Air Ducts is the long-awaited effective way to distribute comfort.

Visit Their Web Site: http://www.superiorairducts.com/

Water Heater…

The Marathon electric water heater offers these advantages:
Technologically advanced design is clearly differentiated from short-live steel water heaters.

• It’s the most durable water heater made, with a warranty to match.
• Envirofoamä insulation is completely free of CFC and HCFC ozone-depleting gasses.
• Marathon leads the way in environmentally friendly manufacturing, design and operation.
• Tank comes complete with a factory installed vacuum relief valve, ¾” brass nipple for easy, professional installations.
• Replaceable brass drain valve.
• All wiring runs in conduit for easy control wiring
• Seamless blow molded polybutylene tank with no anode rod required for a corrosion free life.
• High-temperature, commercial-grade dip tubes for greater durability.
• The filament wound fiberglass outer tank is designed to be more flexible and withstand more pressure than conventional tanks.
• Our unique high-temperature dip tube is offset from the concave bottom, creating a “whirlpool effect”, which helps prevent sediment buildup.
• Every tank includes 4’ of pipe insulation for even greater savings.