FAQ's

Condensation can be found inside an attic during spring and winter due to warm air rising from inside the home, which turns into water droplets after coming into contact with the cold surface of the roof. Attic condensation can be prevented by installing proper attic ventilation and insulation.

A cold house may be caused by air leakage around windows, doors, outlets, vents, or walls, or due to a lack of insulation. Air sealing drafty areas around windows, doors, vents, and electrical outlets blocks cold air from entering the home while keeping warm air inside. Insulation can be added to an attic, walls, crawl spaces, garages, and basements to protect your home from the outside elements while creating comfort.

Insulation works by blocking the transfer of heat or cold between the interior and exterior of a structure. An insulated building stays cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Proper insulation helps to prevent moisture, mold, pollens, pollutants, and drafts from entering the building.

Attic mold is generally caused by a lack of proper ventilation. Warm air from inside the house rises up to the attic, and after coming into contact with cold surfaces on the underside of the roof, creates condensation which without ventilation leads to mold. The best way to prevent attic mold is to ensure proper ventilation and insulation so that moisture cannot form.

The standard insulation height for an attic in Northern climates is 16-18 inches. For further information and guidelines about insulation R-Values for various climates, please visit: Energy Star R-Value Insulation Guide.

 Increased Energy Efficiency: Insulating an attached garage prevents your home from losing heated or cooled air from the garage-adjacent rooms, which saves money and increases energy efficiency. 

1. Reduced Noise Pollution: Insulation acts as a sound barrier which prevents:
   • Noise from outside the home from being heard inside
   • Noise from inside the garage from being heard inside
   • Noise from inside your home from being heard in the garage
2. Increased Comfort: An insulated garage creates a climate-controlled environment and offers protection from the elements. An insulated garage provides additional comfort for:
   • Getting in and out of the car
   • Recreational activities
   • Storage
   • Work
3. Protecting Possessions: Insulating a garage protects your personal belongings in the following ways:
   • Increased car battery performance
   • Elevated efficiency from engine fluids
   • Car is more likely to start in freezing weather
   • Storage for climate-sensitive items

Yes, proper insulation prevents and protects against ice dams. 

• Step One: Ensure the attic is professionally vented and air sealed properly.
• Step Two: Seal drop soffits, chase ways, and improperly vented bath fans.
• Step Three: Bring the insulation levels up to code.

R-Value describes how insulation resists heat transfer. The greater the R-Value level, the higher the heat resistance.  Insulation performance is measure by the total R-Value level rather than by thickness, as R-Values per inch differ with various insulation types.

The amount of time needed to install insulation is relative to the size of the house or business, the location of where the insulation is being installed, and whether or not old insulation needs to be taken out. Ask for a free quote and estimate with Rockford Insulation Pros and our company can provide you an accurate estimated installation time. 

If insulation is installed incorrectly, more problems can occur down the line. When contractors take short cuts, moisture and structural damages can occur, which causes higher costs in heating and cooling. In addition, critical issues with your attic wiring, plumbing, venting, or HVAC systems might be overlooked. When you hire a trained insulation specialist, the technician ensures proper building codes are being enforced and all problem areas are identified and repaired.

Rockford Insulation Pros is confident that our services are being performed accurately the first time around. We pledge that the correct amount of blown in insulation material is installed and meets the R-value stated on the free quote. The final height of insulation is approximated as attic insulation can be uneven. We guarantee our work and the quality of our products. 

A general lifespan for modern insulation materials is about 80 years or more. Some insulation types settle somewhat over time in attics or walls, which varies by product type. If you have an old or under-insulated house, an insulation upgrade pays for itself by saving the homeowner money on energy payments. The comfort of the home is immediately improved once the new insulation is added in addition to increasing the property value of the home. 

Fresh air ventilation systems are connected to an existing HVAC system and are used to purify and circulate the air within a structure. Installing a fresh air ventilation system usually goes hand in hand with air sealing a home or business. After sealing off all drafts, cracks and gaps, a fresh air ventilation system is usually installed in order to circulate pure clean air into the structure which is pollen, pollutant, and allergen free. Fresh air ventilation is also important in structures that have been insulated with spray foam. Spray foam naturally acts as an air seal and keeping a natural air flow into the home or business keeps the environment healthy.

Insulation is used for improving comfort and energy efficiency, and for sound deadening. Sound deadening is important for muffling out noises from neighbors, passing cars, barking dogs, and noises from within other rooms of the structure. 

The difference between sound proofing and sound deadening is that in sound proofing, all sound is completely blocked out, while sound deadening only muffles and reduces sound waves. Sound deadening can be achieved by using certain types of insulation, while sound proofing requires additional materials to achieve the full effect. Sound deadening insulation is available in these various forms: open cell spray foam, fiberglass, denim, and rockwool. Each version of insulation offers a different Sound Transmission Class.

Sound Transmission Class or STC is a measured rating of a material’s effectiveness in reducing sound between walls, ceilings, doors, floors, and windows. Understanding STC levels can help determine which type of insulation is needed for the structure.

• 25 STC: A regular tone of voice conversation can be heard and understood.
• 30 STC: A loud tone of voice conversation can be heard and understood.
• 35 STC: A loud tone of voice conversation can be heard but is indecipherable. 
• 40 STC: A loud tone of voice conversation sounds like a whisper.
• 50 STC: Loud noises are barely heard.
• 60 STC: This level is considered as soundproofed, where noises are not heard.

Rockford Insulation Pros offers many options for sound deadening insulation. Learn about the different sound deadening insulation products offered below and determine which is right for you!

• Rockwool Insulation – STC of about 58 – Rockwool Insulation is created by melting down rocks at a high temperature and then spinning the rock into fiber strands. The rockwool strands can be formed into batts or blown-in insulation material.

• Denim Insulation – STC of about 52 – Scraps of fabric left over during the production of cotton denim jeans are combined with the pest repellant and fire retardant borate, which creates denim insulation. The denim is then rolled into batts for installation. Denim insulation is considered green because the cotton plant it comes from is sustainable, renewable, and natural. Also, by using scraps of denim jeans for insulation, landfill waste is reduced.

• Fiberglass Insulation– STC of about 39 – Fiberglass Insulation is created by spinning or blowing molten glass into fibers. Fiberglass is non-combustible and can be installed in batts, rolls, or blown-in. This is one of the most commonly used forms of insulation and is relatively inexpensive as well. Fiberglass is generally installed in ceilings, attics, basements, and walls.

• Open Cell Spray Foam – STC of about 39 – Open cell spray foam expands to about 3 inches of thickness. When this type of foam is sprayed, bubbles inside burst, leaving behind small pockets of air. Water is able to flow through the foam, which prevents mold, while also not absorbing any moisture or losing any insulating performance.

Rockford Insulation Pros is here to help with any sound deadening needs. Our company offers a free estimate and can help determine which product is the best fit. Call today and experience how how sound deadening insulation can benefit you with Rockford Insulation Pros!

Insulation is important for attics and outer walls, but there are many other key areas of a structure to insulate as well.

Necessary insulation zones include: 

• Attic Knee walls 
• Basement walls
• Cathedral ceilings
• Ceilings with unheated spaces
• Floors above vented crawl spaces
• Ceilings or floors for extra sound control
• Floors over unheated garages or porches
• Basement band joists around the interior perimeter of your home

During a Home Energy Assessment, a Rockford Insulation Pros certified energy assessor carries out diagnostic tests which uncover any parts of the structure where energy is being lost. The tests include:

Blower Door Tests – Examine how much air is emerging or exiting from the structure.

Thermal Imaging – Scale the walls with a thermal image device in order to find temperature differences and missing insulation.

Combustion Safety – Evaluate that all combustible appliances are adequately vented and working efficiently, and search for any gas leaks.

Indoor Air Quality – Investigate your indoor air quality for pollutants such as excess moisture, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and radon.

Yes! Rockford Insulation Pros first seals all energy leaks with spray foam on the chase ways, wiring, attic penetrations, and top plates. Then the new insulation is added over the top of the exiting insulation. Rockford Insulation Pros would need to remove any previous insulation that is damaged, wet, or exposed to pests in order to prevent mold, mildew, or structural damage. Intact insulation is raked away from areas needing air sealing, and replaced before new insulation is installed. 

Rockford Insulation Pros offers a wide variety of insulation types which each have their pros and cons depending upon your needs and the structure or home you wish to insulate. Schedule a free consultation and a certified technician is going to evaluate your insulation needs and which variety is best for you.

Open Cell Spray Foam has an R-value of around R-3.8 per inch, expanding to about 3 inches of thickness. When this type of foam is sprayed, bubbles inside burst, leaving behind small pockets of air. Water is able to flow through the foam, which prevents mold, while also not absorbing any moisture or losing any insulating performance. Open cell spray foam is also used to muffle sound.

Closed Cell Spray Foam has an R-value of approximately R-7 per inch and expands to about 1 inch thickness. The air bubbles in closed cell foam do not rupture, which create closed air pockets and a vapor barrier. Water is unable to move through or be absorbed into closed cell foam, which also blocks mold and mildew. Closed cell foam is dense and strong and can be left exposed after an install. This type of insulation is beneficial in flood zones, as the material repels water and creates an air seal.

Rockford Insulation Pros first evaluates the structure for air or energy leaks and seals those areas. Then we install a Fresh Air Ventilation System and certify the air quality. This system distributes fresh filtered air into your home. 

Batt insulation is an insulation blanket which is available in fiberglass, cellulose or rockwool and was originally created in the form of insulation rolls. The rolls are now cut to a length which is easily installed between studs inside of walls, ceilings, crawlspaces or attics. 

Batt insulation can be installed with or without paper or aluminum foil facing and is available in multiple R-Values for use in different climates. Insulation facing blocks heat from escaping the structure while preventing moisture from passing through. This is one of the most affordable types of insulation and also one of the simplest to install. 

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Rolled insulation is a type of blanket insulation available in long rolls which are used in areas where a long stretch of insulation is needed. For example, rolled insulation is used in ceilings, floors or wall framing. Insulation rolls are installed in long pieces, which prevents gaps which air could move through when using pre-cut batt insulation. Insulation rolls are available in fiberglass and rockwool ranging in sizes from 20 to 40 feet with R-Values catered for use in multiple climates. Rolled insulation is easy to install and is a good choice for long areas needing insulation coverage.

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Blown-In Insulation, also known as loose fill insulation, can be used in attics or blown inside of existing walls. Installing Blown-In Insulation inside an attic can be extremely beneficial if the attic has limited space, which would make installing fiberglass batts tremendously difficult.

Existing walls can be filled with Blown-In Insulation by drilling a hole one yard above the floor and another hole one foot below the ceiling and blowing the loose fill insulation in with an insulation blower. The holes are then covered by plastic plugs which can be skim coated and painted, making them invisible. 

Blown-in insulation is available in cellulose, fiberglass, and rockwool. Blown-in insulation is a relatively fast way to insulate a structure. Within a few hours, a technician can blow loose fill into an attic and create immediate comfort for the customer. As the loose fill settles, small gaps and cracks are filled in, preventing any cold air from getting inside.