Attic and Floor Insulation Case Study
Cold feet were making this Mandeville homeowner miserable
Owning a historic home is a dream for many homeowners. Many older homes do not come with attic and floor insulation making living comfortably hard in these homes. The Mikolavich family found the perfect solution.
The idyllic waterfront community of Mandeville experiences chillier winters than its neighbor across the lake New Orleans. For homeowner Krisztina Mikolavich, whose historic house was lacking modern energy efficiency, even socks and boots indoors weren’t enough to keep her feet warm once cold weather set in. Try as she might to heat the older, drafty home, the hot air escaped through the uninsulated attic like water through a sieve.
During the summer, Mikolavich’s home was incredibly hot even with the AC continually running, an all too common problem in southern Louisiana. Warm, damp air from beneath the home filtered in through her hardwood floors, pushing out cooled air and pushing in moisture-related particulates like mold and mildew that thrive in humid conditions.
Growing increasingly frustrated with perpetual discomfort accompanied by astronomical heating and cooling bills, Mikolavich began seeking solutions to her temperature control problems.
How spray foam helps control temperatures
Once Alan, our BPI certified auditor, had verified where the most energy was being lost through an energy assessment, he worked with Mikolavich to develop an energy plan that would remediate all of the issues she was facing. In her case, this meant installing attic and floor insulation by applying two pound closed cell spray polyurethane to the underside of her floorboards via the crawlspace as well as installing open cell spray foam to the roof deck of her hundred year old attic.
By encapsulating her attic and sealing her floorboards, we could significantly reduce the stack effect, which causes conditioned air to steadily leak from structures through cracks and crevices and other air leaks. The barrier created by the spray foam prevents the leakage of conditioned air, and more importantly to Mikolavich, prevents chilly winter air from nipping at her family’s toes, even when their boots are off!
Corey and his crew of SPFA-certified spray foam installers secured the spray zone with cautionary signs to prevent passersby and the homeowners themselves from accidentally walking through the spray foam before it had cured. Once these safety measure were taken and they were equipped with their PPE, they applied the two pound closed cell spray foam beneath Mikolavich’s home. The foam, which is emitted through a hose in a liquid form, quickly cures, becoming a solid barrier against moisture and moisture-related pollutants as well as insects and rodents.
In the attic, Corey ensured proper ventilation in order for the crew to work comfortably and safely; only then was open cell spray foam installed. GACO spray foam, which contains a built in ignition barrier, insulates the interior of the attic protecting HVAC ductwork from extreme temperatures. That, in turn, eliminates the need to re-condition air that has passed through the attic.
The final step in every spray foam job is clean up, which dispels all dust and particulates that may linger after installation. Our team of installers pride themselves on leaving home’s in even better shape than they were in when they arrived, and the Mikolavich home was no exception.
Warm feet and a cool monthly bill thanks to spray foam attic and floor insulation
It didn’t take long for Mikolavich to feel the difference spray foam attic and floor insulation was making in her family’s home.
“It made an incredible difference,” she says. “We’re comfortable in the house, and the HVAC doesn’t run all the time. It made a big difference right away.”
And what does she have to say about the professionals at Sunlight Contractors?
“We were very happy with the way they took care of us. They contacted in timely manner, they came and did a good job, cleaned up after, and followed up to make sure everything was good and satisfactory.”