How Windows & Insulation Can Create a More Energy Efficient Home
Lindus Construction’s COO, Andy Lindus gives expert advice on how windows and insulation work together to make your home more energy-efficient and free of ice dams.
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The Importance of Attic Inspections
While some homes have architecture that lends itself to ice damming, more often than not, ice dams are the result of improper insulation, ventilation, and attic air sealing. Diagnostic testing in tandem with a visual attic inspection, ensures that the ice dam prevention strategy your contractor is proposing creates a comfortable and energy efficient home.
If your insulation contractor is utilizing tools such as blower doors, infrared imaging or borescopes, they likely have a working understanding of your home’s building envelope.
Homeowners frequently ask if attic sealing requires the removal of the attic’s pre-existing insulation. The answer to this should be determined by a reputable insulation contractor.
However, if your home has an existing vapor barrier, spot sealing can be done in lieu of removing all the home’s pre-existing insulation. In this instance, it’s common that only the insulation around the edge of the roof is removed prior to the rim, can lights, and electrical dumps being sealed.
For homes with older insulation, it can be best practice to vacuum out the pre-existing insulation, apply an inch and a half of spray foam throughout the attic, and then blow in cellulose over the top in order to get to R-60.
Go Behind the Scenes on a Twin Cities Insulation and Ventilation Project:
How Metal Roofs Affect Ice Dams
Story and a half homes are an architectural style that is prone to ice dams. Even with proper attic air sealing, the knee walls within the home are an obstacle to getting enough insulation into such a confined space.
To fully address this issue, quality contractors remove the roof and spray three inches of foam insulation over the top of the roof decking prior to putting on a metal roof. This allows snow to shed, rather than buildup. This feature is particularly attractive for cabin owners, who may go weeks without being at their property, leaving ice dams undetected.
Top-tier metal roofing comes with a lifetime warranty on the metal and a 35-year warranty on the finish which has a low emissivity and high reflectivity, keeping color fade over time to a minimum. It’s worth noting that asphalt roofing tends to be a more popular selection with homeowners because their warranties and aesthetics outrank those of metal roofing.
How Windows Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Homeowners in need of window replacement have an array of manufacturers to choose from. One brand that continues to have high levels of satisfaction with homeowners is Infinity® from Marvin windows.
They are manufactured to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations of the Midwest. Special care is taken to ensure that they do not frost up even on the coldest winter days. This is due to durable framing and first-rate glass packs. Homeowners appreciate that Infinity® from Marvin windows imitate the look of wood but remain maintenance-free. Ultimate peace of mind can be found in knowing that the windows will not encounter mold growth or discoloration.
Although Infinity® from Marvin windows are double paned, they routinely outperform triple pane windows. This is because triple pane windows have more thermal transfer due to less spacing in between the outside and middle pane.
Contact us today to get started on your next home window replacement or insulation project.
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 8:30 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651.461.9226.
