home insulation

Home Insulation: Signs Your Home Is Under Insulated

by with No Comment Roof Repair

Most of us don’t think a lot about home insulation, but if your home isn’t properly insulated. It can lead to many different problems – much worse than just a cold home. Including increased energy costs, water damage, and mold growth. To protect your home from this type of damage it’s important to know the signs of an insulation problem. Here are some of the more common issues to look for that will keep your home properly insulated:

High Energy Bills

A homeowner’s energy bill is mostly spent on heating and cooling costs. In the winter, you heat your home, and in the summer, if you have an air conditioner, you cool it. That number goes up drastically when a home is poorly insulated as your utilities have to work overtime. Proper insulation can cut those costs by an average of 20%. You should keep an eye on how much you spend on energy each month and if it continues to climb then you may have a problem. You should be able to login online to view your history and see an average. Obviously, your bill will increase during winter months but you should be able to locate if there is an unusual spike.

Cold Walls, Floors, Ceilings and Rooms

The ceilings, walls and floors in your home should usually feel warm and dry. When drywall and panelling inside a home feels damp or cold, it is probably a sign that there is not enough insulation and should be fixed immediately. In addition, when touching an outside wall, it should feel cold because the insulation is keeping warm air inside your home.
Unfortunately, heat and cool air can escape almost anywhere that doesn’t have insulation to stop its path. Do you find that some rooms in your home are inexplicably colder or hotter than others no matter how you much you adjust the thermostat? If those rooms are well ventilated, then the problem is most likely bad insulation. Some of the worst culprits are rooms above the garage or attic spaces.

Chilly Drafts

Especially during the colder winter months, drafts in certain areas of a home are caused by cool air entering around window frames and doorways. By having extra layers insulation added to these areas, you and your family can avoid having to cope with chilly drafts. Using Spray foam is a good way to seal and insulate any cracks and crevices.

Mice & Insects Are Invading

There is nothing worse than finding your home invaded with mice and other rodents. Unfortunately, these rodents can enter through very small holes and crevices around doorways and windows. If you find rodents constantly getting into your home, it’s more than likely these openings are also how cold air enters and warm air escapes. They should be patched up not only to stop the rodents but to stop hot air from escaping.

Water Leaks in the Attic

Just as bad insulation lets heat escape from your home, it also tends to let water in. Water obviously has a much easier time finding its way into a poorly-insulated home than a well-insulated one. If you have a leak in the attic, your insulation may be part of the problem. Leaks and water damage are a sign that you should get your insulation inspected as soon as possible.  Water damage can cause many costly problems down the road, including mold issues, so get it fixed as soon as possible and don’t procrastinate.

Frozen Pipes

While most people think of poor insulation as just a minor inconvenience but it, in fact, can cause a lot of damage to your home if left unchecked. Frozen pipes in your walls are another indicator you have an insulation problem. Proper insulation protects your home from damage caused by freezing temperatures. Poorly insulated exterior walls can cause frozen pipes. Which can then burst, which can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Ice Dams On Your Roof

A sign of poor insulation in winter are ice dams. Which are built up patches of ice that can prevent natural melting or water from running off your roof.  Ice dams are a result of heat rising from a poorly insulated home. That melts the bottom layer of snow on your roof. The melted water then trickles down towards your gutters and once it hits the colder air may begin to freeze. This can cause chunks of ice and icicles to form on the perimeter of your roof. Not only does it wreak havoc with your gutters and roof, but it also becomes a safety hazard for anything or anybody below as the ice can fall on people passing by.

Get An Inspection

The easiest way to tell if your house is well insulated is to have an experienced inspector look at the floors, ceilings, and walls of your home. Many insulation installers have access to specialized equipment and some are happy to offer a free in-home inspection. If you are wondering if a home inspector is worth it, remember roughly a quarter of your home’s heat escapes out through the roof. And another 35 percent goes out the windows. It’s definitely worth checking insulation levels to put some of those savings back in your wallet. In addition, if you have an issue with your roof or you need it inspected, give us a call at Cambie Roofing and we’ll come out and give you a free estimate.

How To Protect Your Roof From Pests

How To Protect Your Roof From Pests

by with No Comment Roof Repair

Many types of animals including birds, rats, insects and other pests can be a nightmare for homeowners, especially if they make your roof their home. They can have a significant negative impact on the quality and durability of your roof. Not only can their droppings make a considerable mess, but they also expose your home to parasites such as worms and mites. Let’s find out below about How To Protect Your Roof From Pests.

Large pests especially rats, raccoons and birds can also cause damage to roof tiles and shingles which not only make a lot of noise but can also cause costly repairs. Still, preventing pests from damaging your rooftop can be difficult. So what are some safe methods for protecting your roof from animals and, if you have them, how do you get rid of them.

Know the Signs of Infestation

The first step is to figure out if you have a problem to begin with.  Pests leave visible signs of their presence in a variety of ways. Once you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell if you’ve got unwanted animals in your attic or on top of your roof.

The first thing to do is a visual inspection of your roof. This can be done from the ground but it is better if you use a ladder for a closer inspection. Mammals like rats, squirrels and mice leave droppings wherever they go. Small pellets of feces are an obvious sign that rodents are near. Where there are feces, there is also urine.

If you look in your attic, you might not detect a smell immediately, but practice safety by using gloves and wearing a face mask before you poke around in areas where rodents have been. Their droppings can contain harmful bacteria.

Another sign to watch for chewed areas, holes or tunnels bored in the attic or roof. Rodents and insects often chew their way through wood, plaster and other materials.

Pest Removal Methods

Depending on what type of pest you’re dealing with, different methods may be more effective. Here are some common removal methods that could help you get rid of those pesky animals.

Trapping: Using a trap and some food is a great way to catch unwanted pests inside and around your roof. This is a common method for rodents such as mice and rats.

Decoys: Placing plastic statues of predators, like owls and hawks on your roof are a great way to trick birds into staying away and can prevent them from starting a nest.

Destroy The Nest: If birds are constantly trying to make your home their home, there might be a nest somewhere either on or inside your roof or chimney. Removing it is fairly straightforward, just watch out for eggs or small birds.

One removal method we don’t recommend is poison. The reason being is that often the pest will crawl into an area of your home that may be unreachable for you or an exterminator. If this is the case then the dead carcass can really stink up your home and even lead to the growth up other unwanted pests.

Best Methods For Preventing Pests From Coming Back

So let’s say you finally get the pests to leave, but how do you stop them from returning? This step is just as important as getting rid of them. It’s beneficial to take some time to work with a local pest patrol agent to determine a plan of action. In order to prevent pests from returning, here are some of the most effective methods to try.

Seal it Tight:

When you’ve identified the source or the entry spot, seal it tight with non-chewable material so the pests can’t use it again. Pests cannot get into your home if it’s properly sealed. Sometimes roof shingles or flashing will come loose, giving critters a way to tunnel in. If you have missing shingles or roofing tiles, they need to be replaced as soon as possible and the underlying layers should also be checked for damage.

Clean Your Gutters:

When gutters aren’t cleaned regularly, they can become a home for all kinds of creatures. You can get bugs, squirrels, rats, and even birds’ nests in them. In addition, because backed-up gutters are also a common cause of leaky roofs, you’ll definitely want to make sure they are kept clear.

Trim Back Foliage:

Tree branches that touch or overhang your roof could act as a bridge for all kinds of pests. To keep your roof protected, trim back any foliage that touches your home. This will make it harder for pests to gain access. You should put at least several inches between your house and any tall bushes or trees.

Protect Your Roof With Nets:

While this may seem unconventional, your local home and garden supply store usually sells netting you can use to stop pests from getting too comfortable. You can lay this netting over your roof and this will prevent pests from access. The netting does not harm the pests and it’s not intended to catch or tangle the pest.

Conclusion

Now I hope you understand How To Protect Your Roof From Pests. You can keep your home free of unwanted guests by regularly inspecting your roof or having a roofing professional do it for you. During one of the inspections, it’s important that you don’t procrastinate and let the pest reek havoc, otherwise, you’ll end up with a bigger problem down the line. However, before you take action, do your research and see what the habits are for your particular pest as each can vary and will likely dictate how to get rid of it.