Leave It To The Pros: Why You Should Never DIY Insulation

Insulation is a necessity for any residential or commercial property. Professionally installed home insulation keeps indoor temperatures consistent, reduces your heating and air conditioning costs, filters outside noises, and lowers your carbon footprint!

Undamaged, good quality insulation has a lifespan of anywhere from 10 to 100 years. However, insulation can fail due to storm damages, water damages, mould issues, rodents, dust accumulation, and more.

When faced with failing insulation, it can be frustrating. Fluctuating power bills, inconsistent temperatures, and leaks are just a few common signs of insulation issues. It’s tempting to try to take on the repair job yourself, but doing this could be more of a hindrance than a help!

Continue reading to find out why you should leave insulation repairs and installation to the pros!

Your Material Choices are Limited

There are about five types of insulation on the market:

• Batts and rolls: It is a combination of fibreglass, cotton, and other materials. This type of insulation is relatively inexpensive and widely available.

• Spray foam insulation: It is made of liquid polyurethane and is sprayed directly into open cavities and hard-to-reach areas. It usually hardens within an hour of application.

• Blown-in insulation: Blown-in insulation material is a mish-mash of cotton, recycled materials, fibreglass, wool, and more. It’s applied using a blower and is best for hard-to-reach areas such as attics.

• Foam board: This material is firmer than batts and rolls but looks similar. It is best for floors and walls and is usually made of polyurethane or polystyrene. The foam board is highly energy-efficient and requires less handling than batts and rolls.

• Reflective or radiant barrier: Reflective barrier works to radiate heat away from the home and is typically used in warmer climates. 

As you can imagine, all of these materials require great care and precision during installation. 

Due to the technical nature of some of these materials as well as the safety concerns, spray foam, blown-in, and foam board insulation materials are not readily available for an average layman at a local hardware store. 

Insulation of that kind is typically available for experienced insulation companies only. They have the expertise to safely apply the materials and will generally get them at a wholesale price or other discounts. 

You Don’t Have the Expertise

Insulation installation requires precision, professional equipment, patience, and lots of experience. 

Homeowners who attempt installation themselves while armed only with a few YouTube videos and how-to articles will quickly find the project overwhelming. 

Not only that, but the finished result will not be as effective and energy-efficient as it would be if an insulation company had completed the job.

You Don’t Have the Proper Equipment

Indeed, the equipment required for a successful insulation installation is also not easily found at your local home hardware store. 

Insulation companies use equipment such as mid-to-high production reactors for varying insulation material applications, including blowing machines, trucks (or rigs) dedicated to spray foam application and more. 

You Could Get Hurt!

Last but not least, the risk of you injuring yourself in this process is very high. Even if you do have all of the required equipment, you simply don’t have the expertise for the job.

The risk of accidentally cutting yourself, inhaling harmful chemicals, and falling is real when DIY-ing this project. That’s why you should leave the matter to the professionals. 

Don’t Wait. Call the Professionals!

Whether you’re building a new home or just looking for touch-ups in regards to insulation, J&J Insulation Inc. has your back.

Based in Durham, our fully certified team has years of insulation experience and is committed to putting their customers first. 

Talk to us today at (905) 260-6203 or fill out our convenient contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!