Attic Insulation Photo Album: Herndon Virginia Top Floor Comfort Project

While every home project we work on has a different intended result for the homeowners, one thing that we always focus on is air sealing. Zyp Foam is used in almost every attic we work in to help eliminate uncontrolled air flow in and out of the attic. This home in Herndon Virginia had a top floor that was not comfortable year round. Our Certified Home Performance Sales Pro Aaron designed a project to make it more comfortable and reduce energy expenses for the homeowners. He started with removal of the thin and dirty old insulation that showed signs of conditioned air loss and pests. After the attic was clear, MoldX Botanical Spray was used to help prevent the potential future appearance of mold. Zyp Foam was then used to seal up all of the gaps and cracks where air had been able to escape the rooms below. silver Glo insulation panels were used to seal up different flat and wall spaces in the attic before Tru Soft Cellulose insulation was finally blown in to fille the space and cover the attic surface.

Organic growth in attic

Humidity and organic material can lead to mold and other growth in an attic. This was in the beginning stages and would be able to be treated with MoldX Botanical spray.

Poor Insulation

Traditional insulation methods were to just stack insulation and hope it worked. It does not. This fiberglass insulation was leaning against a space it was hoped to have insulated but it did not do the job.

Uneven temperatures

this image from a thermal camera shows how hot this area was. An area of the ceiling in an upstairs room where conditioned air was able to move in and out of a can light fixture. 79.9 degrees.

Old Dirty Insulation

Insulation can show you signs of dirty air flow. Dust and allergens can collect in fiberglass insulation and turn black.

Missing Insulation

HVAC ducts should be insulated or protected from attic temperatures. An attic can reach 130 degrees in the summer and single digit temperatures in the winter. A tube like this intended to help deliver heated or cooled air becomes a hostile environment.

Uncomfortable Rooms

Thermal imaging camera photos show 82.8 degree temperatures in the ceiling of this home.

Dirty Insulation

Dirty insulation shows more signs of air loss along with burrowed spots where rodents had moved around in this attic.

Air Sealing

After removal of the old insulation, the cleared attic surface was air sealed with Zyp Foam. This closes off all of the gaps and cracks that were allowing for conditioned air to escape the rooms below.

Air Sealing

Zyp Foam not only helps to make a home more comfortable but can improve energy efficiency, keeping conditioned air in the rooms it was meant to heat or cool.