PEARLAND Blog

Common DIY Insulation Installation Mistakes That Will Cost You

Have you ever taken a wrong turn and gotten completely lost? Maybe you missed an important exit and added 20 extra minutes to your drive. One seemingly small misstep can end up having a significant impact on your plans, schedule, and spending. 

Taking the wrong turn on your insulation project journey can also have significant consequences. With the age of the internet, many tasks can be found simplified online in a blog or video. Unfortunately, DIY doesn’t necessarily mean the job is going to save you any money and it can actually add time to your project plans. 

A DIY plan is great for those that want to learn a task, especially if they're considering joining an industry. But some industry projects still need expert consultation. Here are a few reasons why you should avoid jumping into a DIY insulation installation. 

3 Wrong Turns

Renting The Wrong Tools

Many homeowners aren't familiar with the type of equipment needed to correctly and effectively install the material. While certain installation equipment is available for rent, this typically increases cost and risk. If you don't have trained and experienced individuals using the equipment, you're liable to miss important steps, overlook crucial details, and create twice as much work to recover from the setback. 

• Structural Damages: You run the risk of damaging your home when you use the wrong tools or equipment you’re unfamiliar with. This happens most commonly for people that are trying to remove and install wall insulation. They take off too much drywall, hit a beam, or damage wiring and piping inside the wall. 
• Injury: In some cases, you may need to use a ladder, staple gun, or other heavy equipment. Your local hospital is likely no stranger to DIY mishaps. Slips and falls, dropped equipment, and missed nails can all result in a trip to the ER. 
• Expenses: All of these risks add up. On top of a potential hospital bill or repair claim, renting equipment and purchasing insulation on your own often costs more than having a professional perform the installation. Your local experts receive bulk discounts and often operate with their own industry-grade equipment. 

Insulating The Wrong Areas

If you're experiencing drafts and have a bit of DIY experience, you may consider a quick air-sealing job your run-of-the-mill patchwork opportunity. However, drafts, cold spots, and irregular temperatures can be signs of many other insulation issues. If you don't know where to start looking, you could be in even deeper trouble. 

• Gaps: If you’re not familiar with what area of the home should be insulated, you may be leaving problematic gaps and spaces. These create air leaks that disrupt controlled airflow. These spaces are also missing crucial protection against the movement of heat, which can render the installation useless.

• System Disruptions: Improper insulation disrupts a number of the systems in your home that work to create a comfortable, climate-controlled environment. For example, if you create air leaks, your ventilation system is thrown off trying to control the airflow in your home, which increases energy waste and raises your bills. 

• Materials: When you don’t pinpoint the correct location to insulate, you could be installing the wrong materials as well. If you purchased loose-fill material to add to your attic floor, you may be missing the fact that the batts in between your ceiling joists needed to be replaced instead. 

Installing The Wrong Materials

Installing most material isn’t as simple as the video walkthroughs make it out to be. On top of needing to properly clean and prepare the space to prevent trapped moisture, the installation process is also a crucial inspection moment. An unskilled individual may not recognize signs of water damage, pest infestation, or other hazards to your building envelope. It’s important to consider these crucial problems that may occur from an improper installation. 

• Waste: The biggest problem with attempting a DIY insulation installation is the waste of both energy and material. Most homeowners elect to throw away any leftover material they didn’t use. Meanwhile, if there wasn’t enough to cover the necessary area, energy is wasted trying to maintain the temperature of your home while heat transfer continues to be unregulated. 

• R-Value: These problems typically boil down to installing the correct R-value. This is the numerical value that measures how effectively a material reduces the rate of heat transfer. Each area in your home has a separate R-value that needs to be met in order to keep your home safe and comfortable. 

• Missed Opportunities: Different insulation materials have a range of advantages that can benefit your home in more ways than just temperature regulation. There are types that are resistant to moisture and fire, provide a vapor barrier, or kill pests when digested by insects or small rodents. It’s important to learn more about your options with an experienced professional that can guide you based on the needs of your home.

Avoid These Mistakes With The Help Of Your Pearland Area Experts

One of the easiest ways to avoid making DIY mistakes is to enlist the help of your community’s local experts. At Koala Insulation of Pearland, we’re dedicated to reducing the cost that goes into improving your environment. We offer free evaluations so you and your household can make informed decisions that are not only energy efficient but also the most cost-effective. By understanding the current condition of your insulation and air sealing, you can create a plan that revolves around your schedule and budget. 

Contact Koala Insulation of Pearland today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about how you can improve the comfort and savings of your home.