The homeowner explained that her ceilings were constantly dripping and that she would have to use a mop just to wipe down the ceilings every day to prevent them from getting soaked. The symptoms of the problem was condensation forming on the interior side of the drywall ceiling in multiple locations of the house with the kitchen being the worst. The house was really cold in the winter time and also very warm during the summer months. The problem was caused by not having enough insulation (thermal barrier) on the attic floor and the insulation in the attic floor not actually coming in contact with the drywall ceiling in multiple areas along the exterior walls of the home. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because they are fed up with having to mop the ceilings of their home every day to make sure the drywall stays dry and doesn't cause mold to grow and they are tired of finding puddles of water on the floor where the ceiling has dripped water below. The homeowners biggest concern with the problem is that this is a daily routine of mopping the ceiling and they are worried that the ceiling will be structurally compromised and collapse like the kitchen once before.

  The homeowner chose our company because we were able to identify the root cause as to why the homeowners problems were happening and we were able to make them understand how we would be able to fix them so that they won't have to mop the ceiling again. Our solution was to remove the existing R19 faced fiberglass batt insulation that was improperly installed first, then we would install can light covers over all of the recessed lights on the ceiling and air seal them to the attic floor. We would then seal the chimney chase and wrap the metal chimney stack with a rockwool wrap as a fire safety precaution, and then insulate the hatch cover with an R20 4" polystyrene foam board. Lastly we would install 17" of Cellulose to the attic floor to achieve an R60 Energy Star rating. The only challenge that we faced during the installation process was the height of the attic. The attic was around 4' tall from the top of the joist to the ridge, making it difficult to bag and transfer the existing insulation through the attic. We used a combination of products to achieve our end results. We used 4" SilverGlo with a radiant barrier on either side, All Grip 60 Adhesive, Weather-stripping, Fire caulk, EZ Roll Rock Wool Sleeve, TiteShell Recessed Light Fixture Covers, Fireblock ZypFoam, DuroVent 4'x22" Rafter Vents, Owens Corning Foamular 1/2" Foam Board, TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner no longer needs to mop their ceiling to get rid of all the condensation that has accumulated and they are also much more comfortable with upgrading their insulation to the recommended R-Value for their climate zone. They are now saving energy and money by being insulated to the maximum R60 R-Value.

  The homeowner explained that she had mold in her attic after an initial home inspection was made for a home sale. The symptoms of the problem were mold growth on the sheathing and trusses in the attic and rusted roofing nails. The problem was caused by the soffits being blocked and not allowing air to pass through the soffits up to the ridge vent. The attic also had between R-6 and R-11 insulation on the attic floor which was not providing an adequate thermal boundary between the conditioned space inside the home and the unconditioned space in the attic. The homeowner chose to have the problems fixed in her attic because she was in the process of trying to sell her home but was faced with rejection from possible buyer's because of the mold that was in the attic. The homeowners biggest concern with the problem was not being able to find someone interested in buying the home while mold was present in the home.

  The homeowner chose our company because of our fast response time for an inspection to our production date. We were able to have a thorough discussion with the homeowner on the best solution for remediating the mold in the attic and with the homeowner on the best solution for remediating the mold in the attic and preventing it from recurring. Our solution was to remove all the mold that was in the attic and make sure that the soffit vents were breathing and had directional airflow up the roof deck to be vented out of the ridge vent. Our next step was to add R-60 cellulose insulation to make sure the attic floor had a proper amount of insulation for the Michigan climate zone. The only challenge we came across was that it had rained on the day we were going to blow in the insulation so we had to cancel production to another day that was weather permitting. We used a combination of products to get the attic healthy and properly insulated. We used a HEPA vacuum, RMR-86 and RMR-141 to remove the mold from the sheathing and trusses then installed DuroVent baffles to all of the bays with soffit vents. We then installed 15" of TruSoft Cellulose insulation on top of the existing blown in fiberglass insulation to achieve an R-60 Thermal Boundary. The homeowner now has a mold free attic that will pass a home inspection so she can sell her home and also has an excellent selling feature with her attic now being energy efficient for Michigan's climate zone. Home was put back on the market and sold immediately.

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.

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.

Brandon N. realized while remodeling their second-floor of their 1872 built home, that the first-floor exterior walls did not have any insulation. They were worried they would have to open up the first-floor walls, which included a few different layers of plaster, and a beautifully designed coved ceiling. Spray foam insulation was too expensive and brought the risk of expanding in areas that couldn't take it. That is when they called TCI Remediation for a custom insulation solution.

Being an older home, we were able to work from the second-floor cavity and blow-in our exclusive stabilized Cellulose Insulation. By using our stabilized insulation, we were able to keep the dust down to a minimum as we were working in a finished conditioned space. 

There is no doubt that Brandon can enjoy a comfortably conditioned space as well as saving money on energy bills. TCI Remediation is pleased to have solved Brandon's energy efficiency and insulation needs in Milford, MI once and for all!