Living in Minnesota is a great experience throughout the year. However, heating bills can be high in the winter, particularly if the home is an older house that may not have sufficient insulation.
Hot Insulation
In most cases, existing homes in Saint Paul will be best insulated using a hot insulation. This is a specialized type of insulation that is sprayed into the attic under the weatherproof layer. This is a fast, easy and complete form of attic insulation that provides a durable, long-lasting way to hold heat in the attic and the home and prevent heat loss through the roof.
The additional heated volume of air in the attic is also effective in boosting energy efficiency. In older homes, it is very likely that batt types of insulation are used on the attic side of the rafters, which creates an area of cold air immediately above the insulation, which is less efficient.
Cold Insulation
Cold insulation today is very different than the old styles of fiberglass batts that were used in the past and may still be used by some contractors today as a form of attic insulation. This method requires that the batting be cut to fit in the rafters or sit just above the rafters. Spaces between the fiberglass bats and gaps in the alignment of the material allow air flow, reducing the efficiency of the home and allowing more heat loss.
With spray foam attic insulation, in between and just above the rafters, there is a complete coverage of all surfaces. This allows for less air loss between the living area of the home and the attic, which assists in retaining heat and requiring less use of the furnace to keep the home warm, even on the coldest nights of any Saint Paul winter.
