The homeowner explained that he was in the process of selling his home and mold was found in the attic sheathing during the inspection. The homeowner's were in the process of working out negotiations with the potential buyers for they requested the mold problem to be taken care of before purchasing the home. The attic sheathing and insulation was covered with mold growth and condensation on the roof deck. The problem was caused by the master bath fan duct not being directed out of the attic properly. The duct was aimed towards the roof vent but not venting to the outside causing warm humid air to be pumped back into the attic. The  homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because he had to have the attic cleaned in order to move forward with the sale of his home or he would have lost another offer on the house due to mold. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem was that he could not move forward with the sale of his house until the mold problem in the attic had been addressed. They had already lost multiple offer opportunities as soon as anyone heard the word mold. 

  The homeowner chose our company because we were reasonably priced for the amount of work being done and it was the only way he would be able to sell his home by not losing the offer from the buyers. Our solution was to completely remove all of the insulation from the attic floor. HEPA Vacuum all of the sheathing and trusses. Treat the sheathing and trusses with a mold/mildew stain remover and an Antimicrobial. Use closed cell foam insulation around the bath fan duct opening to prevent humid air from re-entering the attic space. We then air sealed all of the penetrations, pipe penetrations ect.). Cover all of the recessed can lights with rockwool can light covers. Air seal and Insulate the hatch cover and then insulate the attic floor to an R49 R-value with Cellulose. We faced two challenges during the insulation process. The first challenge was the height of the attic made it difficult to move around ad the other challenge was a supply duct that ran down the middle of the attic making it difficult to transfer from one side of the attic to the other. We used multiple products to achieve our end results. We used MoldX2 products, DuroVent baffling, TiteShell recessed light fixture covers, 4" SilverGlo, Weather-stripping adhesive, ZypFoam, Owens corning foam board and TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner was able to make the sale on his home and the new homeowner's now have a healthy, clean attic that is also now insulated to an energy star rating R49 R-value.  

  The homeowner explained the her office and bedroom at the end of the house was always cold in the winter and warm in the summer. She also explained that her furnace would kick on very quickly after shutting off. The symptoms of the problem were cold temperature on the ceiling, the house would cool down very quickly after the furnace got the thermostat up to the desired temperatures, and rooms were more uncomfortable than others to be in for an extended period of time. The problem was caused by a lack of insulation on the attic floor. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because she was tired of being uncomfortable in her office at home since she works at home and she was also tired of paying more than she thought she should on her heating bills compared to her last home. The homeowner's biggest concern was that she couldn't be comfortable in her office working because it was always colder than the rest of her house. She would have to get up and go to different areas of the house just to get warm.

  The homeowner chose our company because we were able to show her why she was experiencing these problems and how we would be able to fix them for her at a reasonable price that she was comfortable with. Our solution was to remove all of the insulation that she had currently and air seal the floor penetrations. We would close off the gable vents as she had soffit vents and a ridge vent and then install cellulose insulation to an R49 R-value. One of the largest challenges that we faced during the installation process was the amount of limited space in the attic. It was a short attic roughly 4' tall from joist to peak and there was a plywood partition along the entire median of the attic making it very difficult to access both sides of the attic since there was only one opening. We used SilverGlo weather-stripping, Broan-NuTone bath fan vent, TruSoft venting baffles, OSB, ZypFoam and TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has a more comfortable and energy star rated home and she is able to be in all of the rooms in her home and not be uncomfortable.

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 the 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 it 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.