SW CHICAGO Blog

Why Does Insulation Need to Be Removed and Replaced During a Remodel?

The Benefits of Insulation

Insulation plays a significant role in improving your home’s climate control capabilities. The material throughout the house is used to slow heat transfer, which is the rate at which heat moves in and out of a structure. The insulation that can be found around the house is installed following important guidelines based on code requirements, the climate zone, and other specific needs that make your home unique. The material’s efficiency is measured by its R-value, which is short for resistance value, with the general principle that a higher R-value means higher resistance capabilities.

Unfortunately, there are many homeowners that aren’t aware of the additional benefits insulation can contribute to a house. With the right insulation, the material acts as a vapor and moisture barrier, reduces noise between rooms, floors, and the outside, and can also improve your indoor air quality. Upgrading your home’s insulation and air sealing during a remodel can also significantly contribute to improved temperature regulation, reduced energy costs, and increased comfort and safety for you and your household.

Why You Should Reinsulate Your Home During a Remodel

Access to Older Insulation

Sometimes, insulation can be difficult to reach - namely under your floorboards, within walls, and along the ceiling. When you're already planning to repaint, take down drywall, or repair any damages on the building envelope, renovations give you and your household the perfect opportunity to access hard-to-reach insulation areas. For example, when you need to retrofit

insulation in the walls, you may need to remove drywall or a small piece of the wall in order to reach the material. When you're already planning on repairing these spaces, there's less concern about the impact of the existing structure when updating the material.

If you're working in crawl spaces, the crevices of your attic, or around the wallboards, it's important to take that additional step to inspect the insulation and air sealing materials in these areas. Otherwise, they tend to fall into the "out of sight, out of mind" problem. While it's possible for a homeowner to calculate the average R-value for materials like batts, it's also crucial to look at the condition of the insulation to ensure it's working effectively. The material should be inspected for signs of moisture, pests, and other damages or deflation that could indicate reduced quality. These are signs that the insulation should be removed and replaced as soon as possible, and they could even point to bigger problems that may have been hidden, such as significant water damage, pest infestation, or problematic air leaks. All of these issues can be extremely damaging to your home and also contribute to considerable risk to your health.

Reduces Health Risks

Reviewing the state of your insulation during a remodel is also helpful to improve the health of you and your household while also protecting you from potential hazards. As mentioned earlier, when you or an insulation professional evaluate the material, it's important to look out for signs of damage or deterioration. While there are many types of insulation that can last up to 15 years, there are a number of problems that can increase the rate of deterioration like damage from water and pests. If you find signs of moisture or nests, these can point you in the direction of larger problems such as leaks, structural damage, and infestation.

Throughout your home renovation project, it's important to be on the lookout for previously hidden damages in areas that may go initially unnoticed. Upgrading the insulation and air sealing throughout the house can significantly reduce the risk of damage to your home by improving the quality of material and reducing air leaks from cracks, gaps, and other openings in the structure. Updated air sealing in particular can help to decrease these risks; new material can seal air leaks while also reducing the entrance of allergens, bacteria, and other outdoor pollutants that can be potentially dangerous. This also assists the vapor barrier created by insulation by reducing incoming moisture and condensation from areas like your ceiling, floors, and exterior walls.

Reduces Energy Costs

You and your household are most likely taking on these home renovation projects in an effort to make a positive return on investment. Regardless of whether you’re looking to increase the value of your home for a future sale or just trying to improve the energy efficiency of your environment, insulation and air sealing should be on your list of upgrades to reduce costs and improve your savings. While the most significant effect of properly installed and regularly maintained insulation is reducing energy waste and costs, it can also assist in other factors that increase your home’s value.

Old and damaged insulation is unable to effectively block heat transfer, which means unwanted heat can infiltrate your home during the summer, and desired warmth escapes through air leaks and thermal bridges during the winter. As a result, your HVAC system is putting in overtime to make up for the lost air while trying to match the temperature on the thermostat. Not only can this drastically increase your heating and cooling bills but it may also lead to more maintenance fees in order to repair an overworked unit. Insulation and air sealing help your home maintain climate control, temperature regulation, and indoor air quality which in turn lessens your HVAC use, energy waste, and costs even during extreme weather and temperatures throughout the year.

Find Help With Your Next Project in Southwest Chicago

Taking on a home improvement task can already be stressful enough for most homeowners and trying to find time to notice every detail and hidden piece of damage can add to that pressure. That’s why it’s important to take the necessary step of finding a reliable industry expert that can help you look for these problems and give you a professional opinion on updating your insulation and air sealing during a renovation task. Otherwise, you run the risk of overlooking problematic spots and replacing perfectly useful material.

At Koala Insulation of Southwest Chicago, we offer free evaluations to help our neighbors reduce the stress of locating damaged and deteriorated insulation and air sealing. We can provide you with the details on the current condition of your home’s material, giving you and your household the opportunity to make informed decisions that take into account your schedule and budget. If you’re looking for more information on how insulation and air sealing can impact your environment, contact Koala Insulation of Southwest Chicago today and schedule your free evaluation.