Fiberglass Loose Fill Insulation

Loose fill fiberglass is light pink or white in color, fluffy and fibrous in texture, and often said to appear similar to snow. Garland Insulating’s fiberglass offering is made with 50% recycled material and is naturally non-combustible. The product’s versatility allow us to install this product in both existing and new construction buildings. When we re-insulate your home, loose fill fiberglass is blown loose into the nonconforming spaces and hard-to-reach areas in attics like corners, edges, and around framing, ducting, plumbing and wires. When used in new construction, loose fill insulation can additionally be blown behind netting in the wall at high densities to achieve higher R-values than traditional batt blanket fiberglass insulation. When blown at high density into walls, fiberglass can achieve an R-4.2 per inch performance.

Fiberglass Batt Insulation

Fiberglass is the least expensive way to insulate a building. Fiberglass blankets (aka batts) are typically friction-fit in wall and ceiling cavities during new construction. Fiberglass batts are pink, brown, or off-white in color; fibrous in texture; and itchy to touch. Garland Insulating’s fiberglass offering is made with 50% recycled material and is naturally non-combustible. Fiberglass batts are manufactured in a similar process to loose fill fiberglass insulation but are formed into batts using bio-based binding products. Because fiberglass batts do not create an air barrier, to perform as tested, batts must be installed in full contact on all sides with an air barrier material such as foam board, plywood, or sheetrock. New codes and standards from building code regulations such as the 2012 IECC as well as the above code programs like Energy Star specify a certain maximum percentage of gaps, voids, compression, and mis-alignments as well as an air barrier on all six sides. Such installation is highly difficult and should be done by professionals to achieve the best fit possible within a framed cavity. Call us to find out how we train to ensure your home is correctly insulated.

REFLECTIVE INSULATION

SolarGuard Reflective Insulation

SolarGuard is a revolutionary new reflective insulation product that combines a high-performance fiberglass core with durable reinforced facing materials on the exposed side and a reflective foil film on the back side. These materials used in SolarGuard offer the very best fire performance of any reflective insulation material in the market today and top thermal performance. Most other reflective insulation products use either a bubble pack or foam core. These are plastic materials that can’t offer the superior fire performance or exceptional interior appearance of SolarGuard.  

HOUSE WRAP

Tyvek HomeWrap & Fluid Applied Water and Air Barriers

Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a weatherization membrane that provides a protective layer under a home’s siding and over the sheathing. It is wrapped around a home over the wood or foam sheathing, cut out around windows and doors and taped at the seams. The unique, nonwoven-fiber structure of Tyvek® HomeWrap® resists air infiltration and water intrusion, yet is engineered to readily allow moisture vapor to diffuse through the sheet, helping prevent mold and mildew buildup and wood rot. The fibrous structure is engineered with microscopic pores that readily allow moisture vapor to evaporate but are so small that bulk water and air cannot penetrate. Siding, whether it’s vinyl, wood, stucco, brick, or composite, does not completely prevent air and water penetration. Tyvek® is designed as a secondary defense to help manage a home’s wall systems.

SPRAY FOAM

Spray Polyurethane Foam

Spray-applied as a liquid, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) expands within seconds to 100 times its volume to fill every nook and cranny of a wall cavity. Spray foam provides superior energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality by eliminating air movement through walls. With the ability to both resist heat transfer and block air movement, SPF offers superior insulating performance to conventional insulation saving you thousands of dollars per year in energy bills. In addition, SPF reduces airborne noise and dust making it a no-brainer for most new construction homes. To summarize, spray foam:

• Creates a complete seal of the building envelope
• Provides superior energy savings
• Reduces sound transmission
• Improves interior building environment

Contrary to conventional wisdom, buildings were not meant to breathe through random holes in the exterior envelope. Modern building science tells us that homes and commercial structures should be built as tightly as possible and ventilation should be mechanically controlled to optimize efficiency and comfort. Talk to a Garland Envelope Expert for more details. When selecting a spray foam contractor, it is important to use a reputable company that trains its Technicians to properly manufacture spray foam and regularly do quality control checks on the foam’s density and cohesion/adhesion. Training and knowledge is what separates a Garland Insulation Spray Foam Technician from the competition. Our Technicians are not allowed to spray a house without 1,200 hours of on the job experience working with one of our Master Technicians. Many foam companies will send new or green installers to the jobsite to install foam. These installers are not aware of the many factors that can influence the foam manufacturing process including ambient temperature, substrate temperature, flow rates, proper lift thickness, humidity, proportion ratios, material age, etc., that determine the quality of a job. Many times, as they say, “you get what you pay for.” The Perfect Green Choice for:

• Exterior of Concrete Masonry Walls
• Exterior Gypsum
• Cathedral Ceilings
• Conditioned Attics
• Wall Cavities
• Wood and/or Steel Construction
• Wine Rooms

CELLULOSE WALL SPRAY

GreenFiber

GreenFiber cellulose wall sprays offer you a durable, safe, and cost effective solution to your insulation needs. Unlike conventional fiberglass batts, which are installed in blankets by hand, cellulose is sprayed into wall cavities with an adhesive and a Multi-Matic blowing machine. Choosing an experienced, professional contractor like Garland Insulating is important when installing cellulose because the material is sprayed into place with a small moisture content. The product must be sprayed within a specified moisture content range and allowed to dry until the moisture content is less than or equal to 25% before covering up with sheetrock. Cellulose is commonly used in custom homes for homeowners who want an energy efficient home for a great value. Cellulose insulation:

• Custom fits every cavity filling in gaps around wiring, plumbing and ducts
• Delivers efficient thermal insulation
• Doesn’t sag, settle, or shrink
• Is made from 85% recycled paper fiber
• Provides higher STC ratings than fiberglass
• Contains zero asbestos, fiberglass, or mineral wool

Therefore, cellulose provides:

• A more comfortable living space
• Permanent and proven fire resistance for the life of the structure
• Reduced nuisance noise
• Environmental responsibility through energy conservation

RADIANT SPRAY

HeatBloc Ultra^TM

Radiant spray is a water-based, low emissivity (low-e) coating applied to the underside of the roof to reduce the amount of radiant heat that enters your attic. HEATBLOC-Ultra, works just like shade trees, blocking 81% of the radiant energy from the sun and reducing attic heat gain. Less heat in the attic equals less heat entering the living space and your air conditioning ducts. Texas building codes require at least an R-30 value of insulation on the attic ceiling to reduce heat transfer into the home and keep warm air in the home during the winter. However, the A/C ducts are in unconditioned space carrying conditioned air to and from your home with only an R-6 of insulation. The hotter the attic space, the more your air conditioner must work because air is heated all the way from the handler to the register, costing you money. Radiant spray is very affordable and may significantly reduce your home cooling costs, yielding an attractive return on investment.

• Permeable, does not trap moisture
• Quickly installed using air atomization spray equipment
• Does not block cellular or antennae signals as can occur with foil products
• Excellent investment, normally saves 10 – 15% of AC costs
• Improves efficiency of existing insulation

HeatBloc – Ultra^TM:

• Is an energy saving coating that has low emissivity and high reflectivity
• Is an Interior Radiant Control Coating System (IRCCS) as defined by ASTM criteria
• Reflects up to 81% of Radiant Energy
• Improves the efficiency of existing insulation
• Reduces energy costs, because less energy is required to keep the structure cooler or warmer

HeatBloc – Ultra^TM works by:

• Changing the emissivity of the surface where it is applied
• Reflecting away radiant energy from the sun to keep the building cooler in the summer
• Reflecting interior radiant heat back into the structure, keeping it warmer in the winter

Weatherization

Our weatherization services include sealing air leaks around A/C ducts, doors, windows, ducts, outlets, electrical boxes, chimney flues and attic chases. Contractor selection is key when weatherizing your home because professionals like Garland Insulating understand that the house is a system and that performing air sealing can sometimes have dynamic results. Garland Insulating is the right choice for your home weatherization because we have been a trusted name in the industry for decades and we warranty our workmanship.

Why Air Seal?

Air sealing is important, not only because drafts are uncomfortable, but also because air leaks carry both moisture and energy, usually in the direction you don’t want. For example, air leaks can carry hot humid outdoor air into your house in the summer, or can carry warm moist air from a bathroom into the attic in the winter. In addition, if your home is leaky, you are paying to recondition outside air on a constant basis. Reducing air leakage can reduce heating and cooling costs up to 50% and contribute to better comfort and improve occupant health and safety. Air sealing also comes with the tertiary benefit of extending air conditioning equipment life.

Where Is Your House Leaking?

Most homeowners are aware that air leaks into and out of their houses through small openings around doors and window frames and through fireplaces and chimneys. Air also enters the living space from other unheated parts of the house, such as attics, basements or crawlspaces. The air travels through:

• Any openings or cracks where two walls meet, where the wall meets the ceiling, or near interior door frames
• Gaps around electrical outlets, switch boxes, and recessed fixtures
• Gaps behind recessed cabinets, and furred or false ceilings such as kitchen or bathroom soffits
• Gaps around attic access hatches and pull-down stairs
• Behind bath tubs and shower stall units
• Through floor cavities of finished attics adjacent to unconditioned attic spaces
• Utility chaseways for ducts
• Plumbing and electrical wiring penetrations

These leaks between the living space and other parts of the house are often much greater than the obvious leaks around windows and doors. Since many of these leakage paths are driven by the tendency for warm air to rise and cool air to fall, the attic is often the best place to stop them. It’s important to stop these leaks before installing attic insulation because the insulation may hide them and make them less accessible. Usually, the attic insulation itself will not stop these leaks and you won’t save as much as you expect because of the air flowing through or around the insulation.

• DUCTWORK – Air duct leakage is one of the largest contributors to high heating and cooling bills and poor indoor air quality.
• DUCT CHASES / CHIMNEY FLU CHASES / FURR DOWNS – Uncapped chases are usually the largest contributors to home air infiltration because they are the largest holes in the attic.
• WINDOWS AND DOORS – Small cracks around doors and windows can contribute to a significant amount of air infiltration.
• OUTLETS – Each outlet and light switch at an interior wall is a likely area of air leakage/infiltration if top plates are not correctly sealed from the attic.
• RECESSED LIGHTING – Recessed lights can be a very large contributor to air infiltration.

Home Energy Assessment

If you are considering improving your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, determine what residential insulation products and services provide you the best value. Our home energy assessments are geared to help you determine just that. Our free energy assessment includes an in home inspection of the home’s attic to evaluate how to improve its efficiency through conventional methods including insulation, attic ventilation and radiant spray. Our consultants will identify the best products for your home and give energy-saving tips given your home’s layout. In addition, we will provide you with a detailed, written breakdown of your options and the potential return on your investment given your home’s air conditioning system, level of insulation and current federal, state and utility incentives.