Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

Common Myths about Foam Insulation

Posted by & filed under Spray Foam Insulation.

While many people are familiar with fiberglass insulation, it seems not as many know much about closed cell spray foam insulation. Twin Cities residents have been requesting this kind of insulation for years, and we sometimes hear a lot of myths and misconceptions when talking to homeowners about foam insulation and its benefits. Here are a few we hear the most often.

Myth: I don’t need to hire professionals to install this type of foam insulation.

Fact: Installing closed cell spray foam insulation is a job for the experts. This is not a good do it yourself project because foam insulation requires specific equipment and knowledge to properly install. If this is not done by the experts, it could be installed incorrectly and lead to more problems in the future.

Myth: Foam insulation is too expensive.

Fact: Foam insulation is quite affordable for most homeowners, and it offers a very high R-value, which makes it a great choice for homes of all shapes and sizes. This is an especially good benefit in areas that are susceptible to temperature extremes, like here in Minnesota.

Myth: Foam insulation will settle over the years and that means I’ll just have to have it installed again.

Fact: Foam insulation does not settle. It will last you for many years to come, and you will not have to worry about having it redone any time in the near future.

Do you want more information on foam insulation in the Twin Cities? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

How to Choose the Best Home Insulation

Posted by & filed under Residential Insulation.

Making sure your home has the proper insulation could save you quite a bit of money on your heating and cooling bills. And it has plenty of other benefits too, like reducing the amount of noise pollution you hear in your home. But how do you know what kind of insulation is best for your house? Here are a few tips from the pros at Lewis Insulation. You can give us a call when you need help with home insulation in Minneapolis!

Perhaps the most recognizable home insulation on the market today, fiberglass is a popular choice because it is so budget-friendly. However, this type of home insulation is usually best installed by professionals. A good choice for walls, floors and ceilings, it comes in rolls that are ready-made for installation. This type of home insulation is best for between framing, like studs and joists.

Another popular type of home insulation is blown-in cellulose. It is one of the most effective types of insulation since it has such a high R-value, and it is also a great choice for those concerned about the environment and their carbon footprint because it’s made out of recycled newspaper. It is great for those hard to reach areas of your home, like your attic. And it can also be installed over existing insulation.

Finally, there is also closed cell spray foam insulation. This type of insulation should be installed by professionals like us. It also has a high R-value, and it can add to the structural integrity of your home. We can apply this type of home insulation in temperatures as chilly as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is great to fill in small gaps and cracks.

The type of home insulation your house needs is based on a few different factors. And we can help you determine which type of insulation is the best for your home. There are a few different aspects that we will consider. For one thing, we will work within your budget. We will also consider where the home insulation needs to be installed.

Would you like more information on home insulation in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

How to Improve Your Home’s Insulation

Posted by & filed under Residential Insulation.

The proper insulation for your home is extremely important. Not only can it help you save money on your heating and cooling bills, but it also helps reduce noise pollution. Insulation contractors in Minnetonka, like Lewis Insulation, can help you select the best insulation for your home. And because we are professionals, we can install it for you safely and thoroughly. But what are some other ways you can improve your home’s insulation? Here are a few tips.

  • Look into rebates. Your municipality, town, city and/or state might offer rebates and other financial incentives when you purchase insulation or other high-efficiency products.
  • Get an energy audit. One of the many services we offer as insulation contractors is blower door testing and infrared diagnostics. These two services are a great way to see what parts of your home are leaking air and what parts need some insulation TLC.
  • Talk to insulation contractors like us about installing new insulation. We can talk to you about the types we install, their benefits and which one would work best for your home and your needs. We install closed cell spray foam, cellulose and fiberglass insulation.
  • When you have new insulation installed, make sure it is installed in the right places. Areas of your home like your attic, walls, basement, additions and crawl spaces should all be insulated.
  • There are some smaller steps you can take to help improve your home’s insulation. You should be sure to caulk around windows, doors and thresholds. You can also use weather stripping to help decrease air leaks. Even your landscaping can help! Large shade trees can help keep your home cool in the summer, and various shrubs and foundation materials can help diffuse the bite of winter’s cold and harsh wind.
  • When you are ready to hire insulation contractors, be sure they are fully licensed, bonded and insured to do the work, like we are here at Lewis Insulation. You should ask for references, and you should contact a few and do some homework and research to ensure you are hiring reliable insulation contractors to do the work.

Would you like more information on hiring us as your insulation contractors in Minnetonka or any of the other surrounding areas? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spray Foam Insulation

Posted by & filed under Spray Foam Insulation.

At Lewis Insulation, we specialize in closed cell spray foam insulation in St Paul and the surrounding areas. We are often asked the same questions about this type of insulation, so we thought we would take some time to address the ones we hear the most often.

Q: Why should I consider spray foam insulation for my home?

A: There are plenty of reasons you should consider spray foam insulation the next time you need to upgrade your home’s insulation. It is a cost-effective way to insulate your home, and you will notice a decrease in your heating and cooling bills. Plus, it is an excellent way to reduce outside noise pollution. It will not allow moisture through either.

Q: What are the differences between closed cell spray foam insulation and open cell spray foam insulation?

A: The biggest differences between closed cell spray foam insulation and open cell spray foam insulation are that closed cell has a higher R-value than open cell. Plus closed cell is virtually impermeable to air, and open cell allows more air and vapor into your home.

Q: Will spray foam insulation help with the structural integrity of my home?

A: Closed cell spray foam insulation is the only type of insulation material that can add structural integrity to your home. The National Association of Home Builders Research Center did some testing and found that spray-applied polyurethane foam insulation increased rack and shear strength two to three times. They compared spray foam insulation between wood and steel stud wall panels with glass fiber insulation with standard stick-built components.

Q: Will spray foam insulation help keep mold from growing in my home?

A: Yes. Among its many other benefits, closed cell spray foam insulation will help with mold growth. Mold needs moisture, a food source and warm temperatures to grow and thrive. Spray foam insulation cannot be eaten by mold because it has no nutritional value, and using this type of insulation will help to eliminate condensation. That means harmful moisture cannot build up in your attic or other crawl spaces. Spray foam insulation also eliminates air movement within the wall cavity itself, so that all means there is less of a chance of mold becoming a problem.

Do you want more information on spray foam insulation in St Paul? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.

FAQs about Insulation

Posted by & filed under Insulation Info.

Did you know that May is National Home Remodeling Month? In honor of this yearly event, we thought we would take the time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we get about residential insulation and all of its benefits. And the next time you are tackling this type of home improvement project, give the professionals at Lewis Insulation a call!

Q: I see a lot written about insulation’s R-value. What is that and why is it so important?

A: In basic terms, R-value measures the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. So the higher the R-value of that insulation is, the greater the insulating power it will have. The R-value is generally determined by the type of insulating material, the thickness and the installed weight per square foot.

Q: What are the benefits of having a properly insulated home?

A: The biggest benefit you will probably see is a decrease in how much money you spend heating your home in the winter and keeping it cool in the summer. But you will also enjoy a few other benefits! The biggest ones are a decrease in the amount of mold and mildew that can sometimes build up in your attic and other crawl spaces, as well as a decrease in the amount of outside noise that you hear in your home.

Q: How do you determine what type of insulation I should have installed?

A: Our insulation contractor will take several different things into account. The R-value of the insulation, how big your home is, the climate and a few other factors are taken into consideration.

Q: Why should I hire insulation contractors to install new insulation? Why can’t I just do it myself or have a general home contractor do it for me?

A: Professional insulation contractors, like the ones at Lewis Insulation, are properly trained and certified in the best and most safe and effective ways to install insulation in your home. We have knowledge of the ins and outs and smaller details of this type of work that general contractors might not have.

We hope you learned a few new things about insulation installation! But if you don’t see your questions here, give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer them.

For more information on our insulation installation services, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to schedule your Free Estimate.