Home insulation offers a plethora of long-term benefits in maintaining both the structure and residential habitat of the building. Not only does it help reduce the cost of energy consumed by heating or cooling the house. Investing in domestic insulation is also budget-friendly in the long run.
Insulating the house not only provides energy efficiency but also maintains the desired temperature without many fluctuations. On the other hand, poor or improper insulation can end up damaging the house leading to a rise in unnecessary expenses. Thus, it is essential for a homeowner to better understand what type of Attic Insulation Experts should they hire! The inquiries listed on this blog should help identify the ideal insulation hire .
Why is Hiring Insulation Contractors Necessary ?
The purpose of insulating a home is to ensure its interiors remain warm during winters and cool during summers. Preventing the condensation of moisture helps enhance the house’s external appearance. Besides this, it also improves the acoustics of the building while reducing pollutant emissions.
However, all such benefits provided by insulating one’s home can only be availed by hiring the right insulation contractor. Hiring the right kind of insulation contractor – one who is licensed, reputable, and qualified would help the property owner avoid several legal hassles. Find out if the prospective insulation contractor has the following qualities.
(1) License and Insurance :
It is best to avoid insulation contractors who lack a license. This should be verified from the beginning. It is illegal in certain states to work with an unlicensed insulation contractor. The lack of a license would prevent them from acquiring insurance. A truly licensed insurance company would have both liability insurance coverage and coverage against damages and injuries. Ask for proof of coverage such as documents and certificates before proceeding further.
(2) Experience and Knowledge :
The insulation contractor hired for the job should have spent a lot of time in the industry. Only then can they know the necessary to foresee insulation issues in advance and tackle them accordingly. They should also possess knowledge of various materials used in insulation such as fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam. They should understand that there is no size-fits approach and that every house is unique, necessitating its insulation solution.
(3) Equipment :
To be a reliable insulation contractor would mean that the company is equipped with all the tools of the trade. If they lack the necessary tools, then they may attempt to work their way around it which give rise to even more issues in the future. Licensed contractors need to overcome a certain amount of challenge in establishing their knowledge of such tools.
(4) Reputable and References :
Even though the number of people checking online reviews of local companies and contractors has declined over the years, it is still a legitimate approach. There are plenty of online sources from where people read reviews on potential hires, such as Yelp, Google, or even Angie’s List.
One can follow these reviews to identify the most reputable contractors. Seeking references from past clients of such contractors is also a suitable strategy. This helps establish trust in the contractor’s reputation.
(5) Finishing Date :
The type of insulation technique the contractor would recommend would determine the time required to complete the insulation. Spray foam insulation only takes about a few hours to complete.
Insulating the entire attic might take a couple of more days, but insulating the entire home may take the contractor up to two weeks or more. Hence, it is important to enquire after the finishing date of the insulation so that the couple can manage their temporary living situation.
(6) Removal and Disposal :
Before installing the new insulation, it is important to have the old insulation removed. However, there may be several hazards involved in removing the old insulation material. One would have to deal with dust, mold, and even asbestos. Exposure to materials like asbestos can increase the risk of cancer. Only the contractor would know all the appropriate techniques to safely deal with such health hazards.
After the older insulation material has been removed, the property owner should also enquire about their choice of disposal method. Whether the insulation company is environmentally conscious in the ways they implement to have the old insulation material removed.
Conclusion :
Lastly, there should always be a detailed written agreement between the homeowner and the insulation contractor. No matter the approach they implement, whether dry insulation or cavity foam insulation it should all be detailed in the agreement so that there are no conflicts later on.