The homeowner noticed an odor within the home and the home not being able to retain warm/cool air for an extended period of time.  The home had mold from not enough ventilation in the attic for the square feet of the attic, causing stagnant humid air to not escape effectively out of the attic. The home also had mold in the crawl space due to a main drain from the laundry room being disconnected and putting water into the crawl space. The problems caused within the attic space were:  The attic floor being under-insulated (only had R-11 insulation), insulation was very badly damaged by rodents (mouse droppings, urine, completely shredded batt insulation), and lack of ventilation within the attic. The problems caused within the crawl space were: the main drain to the laundry room was disconnected in the crawl space allowing water to be drained directly onto the crawlspace floor, no vapor barrier was present. The homeowner's biggest concern was to get the mold remediated from the attic and crawlspace so the home could be put on the market and sold. 

   The homeowner chose our company because we were very thorough in what needed to be done to get the Attic/Crawl space free of mold. The homeowner opted out of installing a vapor barrier on the crawlspace floor and adding new insulation to the attic floor. The challenge faced during the process was the insulation falling apart as you grabbed it to be bagged and tossed. The heat was a challenge that day, not allowing us to stay in the attic for extended periods of time. We used contractor bags to bag and toss the attic insulation into the dumpster we had on-site. For removal of the mold, we used a product called RMR-86 to remove the mold and mildew staining in the attic and crawl space and finished with an antimicrobial/disinfectant. The homeowner now has a clean Attic/crawlspace free of mold. The attic can now be re-insulated for comfort and energy efficiency.

  The homeowner noticed an odor within the home and the home not being able to retain warm/cool air for an extended period of time.  The home had mold from not enough ventilation in the attic for the square feet of the attic, causing stagnant humid air to not escape effectively out of the attic.  The home also had mold in the crawl space due to a main drain from the laundry room being disconnected and putting water into the crawl space.  The problems caused within the attic space were:  The attic floor being under-insulated (only had R-11 insulation), insulation was very badly damaged by rodents (mouse droppings, urine, completely shredded batt insulation), and lack of ventilation within the attic.  The problems caused within the crawl space were: the main drain to the laundry room was disconnected in the crawl space allowing water to be drained directly onto the crawlspace floor, no vapor barrier was present.  The homeowner's biggest concern was to get the mold remediated from the attic and crawlspace so the home could be put on the market and sold. 

   The homeowner chose our company because we were very thorough in what needed to be done to get the Attic/Crawl space free of mold.  The homeowner opted out of installing a vapor barrier on the crawlspace floor and adding new insulation to the attic floor.  The challenge faced during the process was the insulation falling apart as you grabbed it to be bagged and tossed.  The heat was a challenge that day, not allowing us to stay in the attic for extended periods of time.  We used contractor bags to bag and toss the attic insulation into the dumpster we had on-site.  For removal of the mold, we used a product called RMR-86 to remove the mold and mildew staining in the attic and crawl space and finished with an antimicrobial/disinfectant.  The homeowner now has a clean Attic/crawlspace free of mold.  The attic can now be re-insulated for comfort and energy efficiency.

  The homeowner noticed every winter that he would get moisture on his wall in his living room where his vaulted ceiling vertical interior wall is exposed to the attic. The interior drywall would be covered in condensation every winter and cause streaks in the paint that the homeowner would then have to touch up every year. The problem was caused by the interior vertical wall on the vaulted ceiling being exposed to the attic without sufficient insulation providing a good thermal barrier between the warm interior air that was rising, coming in contact with the interior wall exposed to the cold temperature inside the attic. The homeowner chose to have this problem fixed because he was tired of having to get up on a ladder to wipe the condensation off of the wall and them repaint the wall every spring to cover the water streaks that were left behind. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem was that he had to repeat the process of cleaning the wall and then repainting it year after year and was also concerned about a possible mold growth forming on the drywall. 

  The homeowner chose our company because we came up with the best solution with products that would fix his issue compared to the other companies he had out there that wanted to install fiberglass batt against the interior vertical wall inside of the attic (which he already had, hence why he knew their solution would not work) and because we also identified can lights on his ceiling that would be an easy fix to cover and prevent air loss from inside the home, that no other company suggested. Our solution was to install an R20 foam board with a radiant barrier on either side across the vaulted vertical wall and air seal all of the gaps between the foam board to ensure an airtight seal between the insulation and the wall. We then would install five rockwool can light covers over the recessed lighting and air seal them to the attic floor to prevent conditioned air from being sucked through them and lost to the attic. The only challenge that we faced during the installation process was getting the attic insulation on the attic floor which was cellulose, away from the recessed lights to make sure the attic floor would be clean enough to foam around the can light cover to ensure an airtight seal between the can light cover and the attic floor. We used SilverGlo, ZypFoam and TiteShell recessed light fixture covers. The homeowner now has a more energy efficient home and is no longer experiencing condensation build up on his interior vertical vaulted ceiling.

Insulation Installation and Home Comfort

Are areas in your home freezing cold in the winter and super-hot in the summer? Or just looking to improve your homes energy efficiency and comfort? the attic should be at the top of your priority list. Insulation and air sealing in the attic have a dramatic effect on the home's overall energy performance, and upgrades in this area can lead to significant savings on heating and cooling costs. 

Most homes in Michigan have R-30 (just under 10 inches) which was the previous code. With increasing to the current code of R-49 (approx. 15 inches) our homeowners experience significant savings on their heating bills and savings on their electric bills during the summer months when air conditioning is used. Think of your home like a large bag surrounding your living environment. If you turn your furnace or air conditioning off how long will the hot or cold air stay within your home? The more thermal barrier to the outside environment you have the less your equipment will run saving you money and increasing comfort

How the attic impacts home comfort

Cellulose insulation can be installed over existing insulation without interfering with your storage area

• About 50% of energy costs are typically attributed to heating and cooling, making it one of the biggest expenses for many homeowners. The attic has a major impact on home efficiency for several reasons:
• Air leaks and drafts between attic and living space
• Air leaks and drafts between attic and outdoors
• Poor or incorrect ventilation
• Insufficient attic insulation
• Uninsulated ductwork in the attic

Best methods for improving attic efficiency

Air sealing: The first step to improving attic efficiency is air sealing. Your attic is full of gaps and cracks that allows conditioned air to escape from the living space into the attic and unconditioned air to enter from the outside. Sealing these air leaks helps to keep your attic isolated from the outside and keeps conditioned air inside your home.

Attic insulation: Many attics are lacking proper insulation, which is one of the biggest causes of energy waste and uncomfortable rooms. Raising attic insulation to proper levels prevents heat transfer between the attic and the living space, meaning your HVAC system will run less because conditioned air is being contained in the areas you want to heat and cool.

Ductwork services: If you have ducts in your attic, they are affected by the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur in that space. When you try to send cold air through hot ducts or vice versa, the air in the ducts is heated in summer (and cooled in the winter), making it difficult to heat or cool your home. Having ducts in attics is extremely inefficient, which is why duct sealing and duct insulation are smart upgrades for homeowners with ductwork in the attic.

Where Does Mold Grow?

First, it's important to know where to look. Mold tends to prefer cold, dark, and moist spaces. You probably won't find it in your living room, but your attic and crawlspace are much more likely hiding spots.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

And that's not all. You might also find it in doorways, windows, heating, and air conditioning systems. It enters your home either through the air or by being attached to other moldy items like old shoes or newspapers. Once it's there, it's difficult to get rid of.

Signs of Mold

The health risks of mold make looking for early signs that it's growing into your home absolutely crucial. If you see even subtle signs, it might be time to call for professional help to take care of the remediation. Some of these signs include:

Irritated lungs and breathing, similar to allergy symptoms.

A musty smell in the home or areas of the house.

Visible mold, both black and with potentially colored spots.

Water leaks, past flooding, or persistent condensation.

Rust and warping of materials due to humidity.

Most of these don't necessarily point directly to mold growth. They just point towards an environment that encourages this growth. That's why simply looking for them doesn't tend to be enough. A more comprehensive inspection is vital to making sure you know about any potential problems.

Can Mold Harm Humans?

The problems with mold are much more than just an inconvenience. Studies have repeatedly shown the many health risks that spores can bring with them. In fact, mold has been linked to anything from chronic coughs to allergic reactions, skin rashes, red eyes, and more. In some cases, it can get worse.

The reason mold removal services tend to be so important is what mold does to the health of some of the most vulnerable people around us. Most are particularly dangerous for those of us with autoimmune disorders, chronic lung disease, strong allergies, or asthma. And of course, it's worse for infants, children, and the elderly, whose immune systems might not be able to fight against it.

The lesson is clear: you don't want and probably can't afford to have mold in your home. Unfortunately, due to its favorite locations, it could also be difficult to find at times. A thorough inspection can help you find it, but looking out for early growth signs is also important.

Mold Prevention Tips

Ideally, you never let it get to a point where removal becomes a necessity. In the interest of your health and your home's value, you want to make sure that you can prevent rather than remediate the mold. A few tips can help you achieve that goal:

Keep the humidity in your home low, preferably under 40%.

Regularly check your home, particularly the potential problem spots mentioned above, for growth and take care of it early when needed.

Don't let wet areas stay wet. Dry them to make sure they don't become a hospitable environment.

During renovations, invest in mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock to create a less preferable environment.

Regularly clean your roof gutters to avoid any potential leaks or water entering the home in hidden spots.

Clean mold problems immediately, rather than letting them grow into a more significant problem.

It pays to be proactive. Still, you can't be expected to know every square inch of your home. In addition to these general tips, it pays to have regular mold inspections, both for your peace of mind and to be able to detect issues before they become major problems.