The best attic insulation system for the San Francisco Bay Area

As "modern" as the San Francisco Bay Area may feel with it being the hub for tech companies that are constantly innovating and pushing the needle on technology, it's actually the center of a growing, aging, and "unmodern" housing market.

That's because most of the homes built in the San Francisco Bay Area were built decades ago, and in some cases, over 100 years ago (especially in San Francisco).

These homes were built based on dated construction requirements and standards which didn't take into consideration energy efficiency strategies, "green building" techniques, nor strategies to prevent pest infestations in the home.

This means that there are a lot of homes in the San Francisco Bay Area that are poorly insulated or not insulated at all.

If you are in one of these homes, you are probably experiencing:

• very hot summers

• very cold winters

• rodent infestations

• high energy bills (cooling and heating)

• or all of the above
  

If this sounds familiar, then it's time to explore some insulation options to make you feel more comfortable in your home.

As a starting point, we recommend starting with your attic insulation. In this blog, we'll share details about the best attic insulation system for the San Francisco Bay Area: Spray Foam Insulation.

What is spray foam insulation?

Unlike most insulation materials which are hand-installed and fitted onto a surface, spray foam insulation is a unique type of insulation that is sprayed directly onto a surface area from a spray foam machine. The insulation itself comes in liquid form and undergoes a reaction when sprayed onto a surface. It expands and conforms to the surface area it is being sprayed against to form a spongey yet durable insulation material that insulates and seals walls, ceilings, attics, floors, and crawlspaces more effectively than conventional insulation.

Why apply spray foam insulation in the attic?

There are many reasons why spray foam should be considered for an attic insulation system. We'll list the top 3 reasons why you should use spray foam for your attic insulation.

1. Optimal energy efficiency for the most energy loss

Your attic is the first place you should look at when assessing how to improve the energy efficiency in your home. On those hot, summer Bay Area days, direct sunlight is being absorbed on your roof and in your attic, causing heat to seep into your home. On those cold, winter Bay Area nights, any heat that's in your home (whether naturally or from a heating system) will rise and escape up into your attic, through your roof, and to the outside world, keeping the birds warm in the trees (rather than keeping you warm in your bed).

So the best way to prevent too much heat from coming in and too much heat from escaping your home is by properly insulating your attic.

Since spray foam insulation is proven to be more energy efficient than typical attic insulation materials (like fiberglass and cellulose), it is highly recommended to use spray foam as your attic insulation to reap the most energy saving benefits.

2. Prevent rodent infestations

Rodents in homes are a big problem in the Bay Area, and there is one thing that rodents love about aging Bay Area homes: its insulation.

Rodents love to burrow in fiberglass insulation, which is commonly used as attic insulation. Its soft, fibrous material lends itself as a comfortable home for rodent families, which also means it serves as a home for rodent poop and other things they like to leave behind.

One of the benefits of converting to or applying spray foam insulation to your attic is that you won't have to worry about rodents moving in to your attic space. This is because spray foam insulation is a dense material that doesn't allow rodents or other pests to "burrow" inside. This makes spray foam insulation almost a natural rodent repellant for your home, while also doubling as attic insulation.

3. Protection against house fires

Most attics in the San Francisco Bay Area were built with vented attic spaces. This becomes a problem in a fire zone, where all it takes is a small ember to slip inside an open vent in an attic and start a fire from inside your attic space, burning your home from the top, down.

This is why an increasingly common attic insulation system that has been gaining traction in the San Francisco Bay Area is that of a non-vented attic with spray foam insulation.

But even if you have and want to maintain your vented attic system, spray foam insulation is still a top form of insulation to consider when thinking about protection against house fires since it burns slower than other types of insulation and can increase the chance of your home being saved in a fire.

What to do next

Every attic is unique, so if you are considering a new attic insulation system for your Bay Area home, make sure to contact experts like us to evaluate your attic and determine the best and most cost effective yet energy efficient insulation system for you.