Building a home from the ground up provides you with endless opportunities for customization. Check out these benefits of outfitting your new construction Tampa home with insulation.
Home insulation is mandated by law.
Did you know that Florida homes built before 1975 were not required by law to have insulation? Now Florida building codes have special requirements for the quality of insulation in residential homes. When planning the construction of your home, don’t consider insulation to be an add-on. If you’re looking to build a more energy-efficient home, work in other energy-saving details with your designer. For example, consider the type of windows, water heating system, and appliances.
Insulation makes homes more comfortable.
There’s no clean cut path that heat travels, so it’s your responsibility to plan for any scenario. This will prevent a drafty home and allow residents to be comfortable all throughout the year. One way heat travels is through solid objects, such as ceilings, walls, and the roof. Insulating these areas as well as air sealing the windows and doors will keep air from slipping through the cracks. Another method of movement is convection, which is when warm air rises and displaces cooler air. Think of this like a convection oven that fans air to make sure your favorite dish is baked evenly. Spray foam insulation seals air leaks in a home, allowing for a more even temperature throughout the household.
Insulation improves the home’s energy efficiency.
Whether you’re building your dream home or you’re a contractor who is assisting in the process, keep in mind that real estate is an investment. Homeowners are willing to pay more for energy-efficient homes. You’ll find that the most energy-efficient homes go above and beyond the insulation requirements listed in the building codes. If you’re looking to increase the value of the property, this is an upgrade that will never go out of style.
How to get started with insulation:
Our team tries to make insulation installation a no-brainer. Here are three things to help you get the ball rolling on your project.
1. Select your insulation.
Building a new home means handpicking everything, from the countertops to the bathroom tile. While making all these decisions is exhausting for homeowners and contractors alike, Wattson Home Solutions is here to make the choice a little easier. How do you make sure you’re buying the right insulation for your home? Spray foam insulation is a great investment in reducing noise, allergens, and water damage. Kraft-faced insulation is a more affordable option that will keep inhabitants cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
2. Focus on the attic.
The attic is a home’s hot spot. Perhaps your attic isn’t where people decide to hang out, but it’s definitely where heat likes to hang around. While this heat pocket may be welcome in the chilly winter months, it can cause loads of problems, including mold if you have any water damage. Focus on installing insulation in the attic first, but don’t completely neglect the walls. It’s much easier to pad the walls of a new construction home than it is to do the same for existing homes.
3. Call in the professionals.
We understand that building a new home is expensive and cutting corners is a way to keep the costs down. While there are many DIY insulation kits on the market, we strongly advise calling in professionals, especially if you go with spray foam insulation. Faulty insulation installation will cost you more down the line, so it pays to do it right the first time. When selecting your insulation contractor, here are a few things to look for:
- List of references of previous projects.
- Check Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, Yelp, etc. for customer reviews and ratings.
- Is the insulation contractor trained and certified?
- Ask about the R-value of materials used, and check a sample label.
- Select a business that has been around for at least 5 years in case you run into problems down the road.
Wattson Home Solutions works to help homeowners and contractors alike to install insulation in new construction Tampa homes. Schedule your free consultation now.
