Promote Your Business by Going "Green"

Using "Green" Initiatives to Grow Your Business

With a growing population in the United States and throughout the world, global warming and other environmental issues are becoming a real concern for businesses and individuals looking to create a healthier environment.  With the rise in awareness and concern for the environment, many companies and individuals are looking for more sustainable living solutions and learning how to decrease their personal and business's carbon footprint on the earth.  Simply cutting off the lights, using less water, converting to newer energy saving light bulbs, and other simple methods of lowering energy usage, though helpful, are just not cutting it for some businesses and homeowners.  Businesses tend to use a lot more energy then individuals, leading to many business owners looking for other ways to reduce carbon emissions and decrease the carbon footprint their business has on the environment.  However, when looking to go "green" with their buildings and store fronts, many business owners are confronting the same problems that homeowners do, which is the cost of making "green" improvements to their buildings and offices.  Although "green" building products have dramatically dropped in price due to better research and development of products, more competition in the industry, and the availability of "green" building products, yet "green" building products are still more costly then conventional building products.  What we intend to tell you in this article, is some of the ways that company's are using their "green" initiatives to help promote their business to help offset initial cost of investment, in addition to having a lot lower utility cost.

As more and more people are becoming more conscious of the environmental issues we as a culture have encountered, it only makes sense that more and more of your customers are going to have more environmental friendly attitudes when seeking out products and services.  Major corporations like WalMart, Lowe's, Home Depot, and other major retailers have caught on to this trend, and are taking their businesses toward being "greener" and more environmental friendly.  Big box retailers have large buildings and consume large amounts of electricity, water, and other natural resources.  Not only do they consume a large amount of natural resources, a poor economy is also making it more and more important to be able to differentiate your company from the competition anyway you can.  Smaller businesses have also caught on to the trend of taking their business "green", and are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment as well.  Clients and potential customers to these businesses are taking note of these "green" initiatives, and is often the deciding factor in making their choice between competitors with similar services and products.  Here are some of the ways some of the businesses we work with are implementing "green" initiatives into their business and buildings.

•  Motion Sensored Lighting in restrooms and other less frequented rooms.
• Motion Sensored Pluming fixtures.
• More Energy Efficient Insulation systems like Spray Foam Insulation and Rock Wool Insulation.
• Energy Efficient Roofing Systems like White TPO or PVC Roofs, Metal Roofing, Cool Tile Roofs, Spray Foam Roofs and other more energy efficient roofing systems.
• Solar Energy and other renewable energy sources.
• Using Hybrid Vehicles and other automobiles with better gas mileage in their vehicle fleets used by employees. 
• Energy Monitoring Systems to help target wasted energy consumption.
• Installing Energy Star rated appliances and electronics for business use.
• And many other ways of reducing energy consumption as they become available.

As you can see their are many ways that businesses can reduce energy consumption, and lower the carbon footprint their company has on the environment  and land.  At Myrtle Beach Services & Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, SC, we have seen an increase in the number of estimates and jobs that we are doing for small businesses and large national chain businesses, with many just looking to lower their utility bills, thus reducing overhead expenses for their business, in addition to being concerned about the carbon footprint their company is leaving on the environment.  Power companies and other utility services are also offering tax credits and other incentives for businesses that are taking a proactive approach to lowering energy consumption, and reducing their carbon footprints on the environment as well.  Though not all areas of the country has utility companies that offer incentives to their commercial customers for reducing energy consumption, its still another benefit a lot of businesses are seeing for making a move toward a greener business. Even though reducing the money companies have to pay in utility cost and overhead expenses, many companies are seeing their businesses improve through gaining more customers by promoting their "green" initiative in their marketing and advertising campaigns. Through feedback from our commercial clients, we have seen many small businesses grow market share in their industry, simply because customers want to use a business that is concerned about the environment as much as they are. 

As a construction company that specializes in the "green" building industry, we can testify that most of our client base are homeowners, that are concerned about their impact on the environment.  So it only makes sense that when shopping for goods or services, these customer are going to take note of the companies that are making an effort to decrease the impact their business has on the environment, in addition to companies that are trying to make the world a better place to live in.  We have seen many of our small business owners and commercial clients thrive in a weak economy from promoting their "green" initiatives in their marketing and advertising campaigns, by letting their customers know that their business is concerned about the environment.  Being creative and inspiring is one of the keys to successful promotion of your business, so including "green" initiatives is just another way that companies can improve their advertising and marketing strategies.  Here are some of the ways that some of our commercial clients are using their "green" initiatives to promote their businesses in marketing and advertising campaigns.

• Posting your "green" improvements on Social Media Networking sites, indicating the advantages and reductions in carbon emissions that your business is receiving from going "green".
• Indicating in print ads that your company just went "green" to help improve the environment, and can offer a more competitive price to customers, from a reduction in overhead cost related to energy savings from "green" initiatives.
• Making press releases in the media, that your company is going "green" to help reduce their carbon footprint on the local community and creating a more long term sustainable approach to doing business.
• Being able to add your business to special sections on utility company websites, listing service websites, and other websites that have special marketing sections for companies participating in "green" business initiatives.
• Using "green" initiatives as a sales tool when telling customers about your product or service in face to face selling of products and services.  Sometimes just mentioning your company is about more than just making profits can sell a customer on your business or service.
• Keeping foot traffic when making improvements or expanding your business through construction of more office space or retail space. By telling your customers that your improving the environment when remodeling or improving your building, can help take some of the stress and loss of foot traffic that construction processes can often bring.

As you can see their are a lot of ways you can use "green" building initiatives to promote your business, and with a slow economy in the US at the moment, any little competitive advantage a business owner can get in the market is valuable.  Maintenance, improvements, and repairs on your office building or store front is simply one of the cost of doing business; so why not use "green" building products when making these improvements.  Not only will you be improving long term sustainability of your business through lower utility cost, you'll also let your customers know that your business is as concerned about the environment just as much as they are.  In conclusion, we hope that we have been informative in letting our readers and customers know about some of the hidden benefits that making "green" improvement to your business can be beneficial, and in the end your helping to improve the environment for everyone.  If your a business owner in the North Carolina and South Carolina area looking to take your company "green", then give us a call today.  We specialize in "green" construction so we have a competitive advantage in helping to take a business into a "green" initiative program.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned to our blog for more product reviews and uses of "green" building products in the home and business.

Myrtle Beach Services & Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Electric Utility Rates Increasing In North Carolina & South Carolina

Utility Rate Increases In North Carolina & South Carolina

How Homeowners and Businesses Can Lower Utility Usage

As most homeowners and business owners in North Carolina and South Carolina are probably aware, many of the electric companies are raising their utility rates to consumers.  Duke Power, Santee Cooper, and other major electricity providers in the Carolina's are already in discussion with state lawmakers about the rate increases, citing the cost of doing business and making the move to more renewable energy sources as the need for rate increases.  Most people in the Carolina's will agree that the power companies should be looking for greener and more environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity, however it comes at an economically challenging time for most Carolinians.  Duke Power recently agreed with South Carolina lawmakers about a 7% rate increase to consumers of their power in South Carolina.  See the link below for more information.

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20111130/ARTICLES/112011018?tc=ar

As you can read from this article it seems almost inevitable that the power companies will succeed in getting some kind of rate increase, so that means power bills for most homeowners are going to rise.  The purpose of this blog post is to educate homeowners and business owners on how they can fight the rate increases with a more energy efficient home, leading to less power consumption from the major sources of electricity usage.  What we will discuss in this blog post is the appliances and biggest users of electricity in your home, ways to cut down on electricity usage of these appliances, and long term sustainable home improvements that will lower utility usage in the home.

First lets start with the biggest villains of power consumption in your home.  Number one is your HVAC system, especially if you have an electric furnace or heat pump. Homeowners with gas powered furnaces may not have to worry about electricity bills in the winter, however we all know in the Carolina's that our A/C's run a lot more then our heaters.  Gas prices are also on the rise and fluctuate with the markets, so even homeowners with gas furnaces and appliances may also see a rise in their utility bills.  Heating and Air Conditioning is one expense that homeowners really don't want to cut out, and is vital to healthy living in extreme temperatures.  New HVAC systems have helped to cut down on the energy usage required to power them, however if your home isn't insulated properly then your not seeing the maximum savings that new technology in the HVAC world has to offer.  Heating and cooling cost make up anywhere from 60% to 80% of utility bills for most home and business owners, so it plays a major factor in what your utility bills are going to be.  Simply cutting the temperature of the thermostat up or down will not make up for the increases in utility prices that the power companies are seeking.

The next major consumer of electricity in your home or business is your kitchen and home appliances. Even if you don't fix a lot of meals at home, wash your clothes at the laundromat, most homeowners have a refrigerator and it will run all day, and this is an appliance that is hard to lower energy usage unless you buy a newer model refrigerator that has a higher energy star rating.  Even after purchasing a new refrigerator, it is still going to run all day to operate correctly.  The hot water heater also requires a lot of energy to heat water to the desired temperatures for a healthy temperature needed for washing and bathing.  Again newer models of hot water heaters require less energy, however the bigger your family or office is, the more your going to use this appliances in your home or business. Washers and dryers also use a lot of energy as well, however homeowners can somewhat use these appliances less by wearing clothes for longer periods, using towels more than once, etc. Stoves, ovens, microwaves and other cooking appliances require electricity as well, but generally their uses are limited to cooking times only.  Regardless of what you have in your home or business, your going to be using one of these appliances during the day.

Another major consumer of electricity in the home or business are your electronic devices. In the rapidly growing technological age, most homeowners and businesses have numerous devices that need power to function, or to charge battery operated devices.  Obviously the more devices a homeowner or business has, the more power usage their going to need to make these devices functional.  A lot of electronic devices also require the use of cable or wifi capabilities to function correctly, requiring another device that uses power to push the signal to all the gadgets that require a signal.  So obviously the more devices you have, the more electricity your are going to consume in your home or business.  These devices can be limited on their uses, however a lot of professionals are dependent upon these devices for their job, so it may not be a sustainable solution to power off these devices in order to save money on a utility bill.  The savings from unplugging or limiting uses on these devices are minimal at best, however every little bit helps when trying to save money in economically challenging times.

Last but not least, lighting inside and outside your home or business also consume signifigant amounts of electricity.  Most people don't like sitting in the dark at night, so its almost inevitable to see some energy consumption directly related to lighting in your home or office.  A lot of homeowners also like to leave outdoor lighting on throughout the night for security reasons, in addition to aesthetically pleasing lighting devices that improve the appearance of your home or building.  The reason we have listed lighting as the lowest consumer of power in your home is because it can be easily regulated, in addition to most people sleeping at night limiting the amount of required usage as well.  There are also some creative ways some homeowners have gone to, that can eliminate the use of lighting at all, such as opening blinds during the day for sunlight, using candles at night, installing sky lights, and also using new energy saving light bulbs that require less wattage to put off sufficient light for the home.  Even businesses have gone to including skylights and energy saving lighting systems to help reduce the amount of lighting needed to operate a business, so in our opinion this is one of the easiest ways to save on electricity without making significant improvement to the home or building.

By now, you can see that once all these appliances, electronics, and lighting devices are put together into one power bill, there are numerous ways that homeowners and business owners can reduce their power bills.  Cutting back on using electronics, energy star rated appliances, recycling clothing use, etc. can all help to lower a power bill, however these changes are minimal in comparison to more long term sustainable improvements homeowners and businesses can make to drastically cut their power bills.  What we want to discuss now are new technological advances in insulation, hot water heating, solar power, and other long term sustainable improvements that pay homeowners and businesses back over the long run in the form of energy savings.  Even though it is free to keep a light off, this really isn't very enjoyable, and still does not protect the homeowner or business against another rate increase from the power company in the future.  What we intend to do is list ways to improve the home or businesses sustainability plan, against rising energy cost in the long term.  As with any long term investment it is going to require a little bit of capital up front to see energy savings over the long run. 

One of the best ways homeowners and business owners can improve the long term sustainability of lowering utility cost, is by re-insulating their homes with a more durable product then fiberglass insulation.  The life span of fiberglass insulation and a lower rated r-value also makes it an inferior product to some of the new insulation products on the market.  Therefore it would only make sense to use a more sustainable insulation product to see better results over the long term, and thanks to the growth in popularity the prices of these products have fallen drastically in price in the last few years.  Spray foam insulation, wall foam insulation, crawl space encapsulation, and rock wool insulation are the highest rated insulation products on the market right now.  Spray foam manufacturers guarantee 33% savings or more after installation, giving the pay back for initial cost of installing, a quick return on investment. Other foam insulation products have high returns on investment as well, making it the most sustainable improvement a homeowner or business owner can make in regards to lowering energy consumption.  Being lifetime products, it eliminates the cost of re-insulating again in 10-15 years as required with fiberglass to maintain the r-value ratings of the products.  Retro Solutions Construction offers these products to our customers and we have received top rated feedback from customers, especially with our customers in older structures, seeing savings over 50% in some cases.  These higher rated insulation products are also a more practical investment for homeowners and building owners across the board, as even new home and buildings will see a dramatic decrease in energy usage with these products versus traditional fiberglass insulation.  Therefore, you can see why we think re-insulating the home or business is the number one way to improve sustainability against rising energy cost. 

Some other ways that homeowners and businesses are improving long term sustainable energy savings is through the installation of new windows, energy efficient roofing, solar powered hot water heaters, buying energy star rated appliances, using home energy monitoring systems, and changing light bulbs to the new energy efficient models.  Even though changing light bulbs may seem like a cheap way to improve energy efficiency in the home, most homeowners still don't replace a light bulb until the old one burns out.  This is why we have listed these solutions secondary in our list, in addition to grouping them together.  The major problem we see with our customers looking to save money on energy bills, is that they really not looking to replace a roof 5 years into a 30 year warranty to see a lower rated energy savings plan versus the energy saving they will see when using higher r-rated, more sustainable insulation products.  Just as with the light bulbs, customers simply don't want to replace these items that are still functional until the timing is right.  This makes sense as re-roofing a home or building can be very costly even with traditional shingles, and it doesn't make much sense to replace a roof until you have achieved maximum return on investment on what is already installed.  However if you are at the end of the lifespan of any of these products, we recommend replacing them with a more sustainable product like the items listed above. 

In conclusion, improving long term, sustainable energy savings is the right way to go when making a home improvement.  Not only are you fighting back against rate increases being made by utility providers, your also making a difference in saving the environment by decreasing your carbon footprint.  The improvements we have listed in this blog post also have been eligible for some big tax credits to homeowners and business owners in the past, so make sure to check into seeing what the government, and power companies in your area are offering to make the switch to these more sustainable living products.  You may be surprised how little some of these improvements cost after tax credits and energy savings are calculated into the initial cost of installation.  Business owners are also using going green as a way to market their company and improve their brand among enviromentally concerned customers as well. As always, we hope this blog post has been informative to our readers, and if your live in North Carolina or South Carolina looking into making one of these energy saving improvements we welcome you to give us a call for a free home or business energy audit and estimate.  Thanks for reading and be sure to check in for new blog post on energy saving product reviews, tax credit information, and other useful information in helping to improve the environment and long term sustainability.

Myrtle Beach Services & Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

How to Detect A Roof Leak

How to Detect a Roof Leak



As most people know the roof of your home or business is vital to the protection of the assets and belongings within.  The most obvious sign of a roof leak is water on the floor of the structure, however their are other ways to find a roof leak before it gets to that extreme.  When a roof is leaking bad enough that water is making its way to the flooring system, their is probably already a lot of other damage to other aspects of the building.  Most structures have a ceiling and insulation between the roof and the living space to help improve the energy efficiency of the HVAC system.  If a roof is leaking bad enough to make it through the insulation and ceiling material, then you have probably incurred a lot of damage already.  By this point your not only looking at the cost of a roof repair, but also cost to replace damaged insulation, sheetrock, and maybe even structural repairs as well.

In this blog post we hope to educate customers on how to detect a roof leak before it gets extreme.  We are going to list common signs of a roof leak, common causes of a roof leak, how to prevent roof leaks, and reasons why you should use a roofing contractor instead of hiring a handyman to work on your roofing system.  The first thing we want to talk about is how to detect a roof leak.  There are a lot of ways homeowners can inspect their home without getting on the roof.  Here are some signs we look for when inspecting roofs for homeowners.

1. Checking the plywood or underside of the roof sheathing material for dampness or water stains. This is the easiest way to spot a roof leak, as the plywood will retain water for a short period before it starts to make it through into the structure.
2. Checking the side walls or gable ends for water stains coming down the wall, especially where there may be a change in elevation on your roofing system.  If you have a leak in this area, your probably not going to see it on the ceiling in the home because it may be going all the way down the exterior wall of your home causing major damages.
3. Looking for missing shingles, damaged tile, blown off metal, or any breaks or damages to the roofing material on the roof. These are obvious signs, but the underlayments on the roofing system will protect the home for a short period, however these repairs should be made immediately because underlayments are not designed to be exposed to the elements.
4. Water marks on the ceiling of your home. Even though most leaks that make it this far into the structure can cause a lot of damage, if you catch it on the first time then you can save a lot of money by having your roof repaired immediately.

These are just a few ways to routinely inspect your home for roof leaks. Generally a roof leak can almost be detected immediately, however if a roof is installed properly, the underlayment will often offer some short term protection against a lot of water coming in your home.  When we say short term, we mean until the rain stops the same day you find out you have a leak.  Roof leaks come from a variety of causes, and can happen anytime, even after you get a new roof if your not using a qualified and licensed roofing contractor.  Flashing, underlayment installation, vent installations, and other penetrations on the roof confuse a lot of handymen leading to an improper install of your roofing system.  Not only will this require another trip from the contractor to repair the already new roof, it can also negate the roof warranty that most roofing material manufacturers offer with their products. Regardless of the age of your roof, a leak can happen at any time and for a variety of reasons.  Here are some of the most common causes of roof leaks:

• Storm/Wind Damage - One of the most common causes of roof leaks on a properly installed roofing system still within the warranty of the roofing product.
• Old Roof - Over the life of a roof, exposure to the elements begin to deteriorate the roofing system leading to failures in the product.
• Improper Flashing - If steps in the roof, chimneys, skylights, etc. are not flashed properly then water will eventually find its way into the home. Flashing around these areas correctly are very important to installing a quality roof, so its important that you hire a roofing contractor that has the experience to know how to do this.
• Missing Shingles/Damaged Tile/Raised Metal Panel - Sometimes roofing systems may be damaged by a neighbors limb, an animal, or a number of other reasons and obvious sign that your home or structure has a roof leak.  Also some roofing systems can be damaged from walking on the roof improperly as well.
• Skylight Damage - A number of our roof repairs come from damage or aging of a skylight. Skylights have a lot of different problems over the life of the window, so sometimes roof leaks either get in through the skylight, flashing around the skylight, and sometimes condensation. In these instances the skylight should be repaired or replaced immediately.

We hope this blog post has been informative, and helps you in preventing roof leaks and major damages to your home or business.  The best way to prevent roof leaks if properly maintaining your roof system according to the roofing products manufacturer's recommendations such as cleaning the roof and keeping it free of leaves and debris. Maintenance recommendations vary from product to product, but the main thing is to keep your roof clean. Routine inspections, proper maintenance, and hiring a qualified and licensed roofing contractor can help make your roof last a long time and protect your home from the elements of the outside world.  The owner Retro Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, SC has been in the roofing business for 20+ years and we look for the same qualities in the people we hire as you should as a homeowner.  Training and hiring quality roofers is what makes us a successful and top rated roofing contractor in North Carolina and South Carolina.  If you live in North Carolina or South Carolina and would like a free roof repair estimate or a free estimate on a new roof then contact us through the information listed below.  Check out our other blog post for more home improvement ideas, product reviews, and other information on keeping your house in top notch shape.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Energy Star Rated Metal Roofing Systems

Benefits of Energy Star Rated Roofing Systems in South Carolina

Energy Star Rated roofing systems offer homeowners in North Carolina and South Carolina many advantages over a traditional shingle roofing system.  Although shingle roofing systems are sometimes a cheaper alternative to metal roofing systems, a metal roof offers many more advantages over a traditional roofing system. Shingle roofing has come a long way in the last 20 years since we started in the roofing business, customers often have to pay more for shingles that have warranties and guarantees that are comparable to that of a metal roof.  This is one of the main reasons that their has been a big increase in popularity among homeowners and business owners alike in using metal roofing when building new or replacing an existing roof. Most metal roofing systems have long term warranties on the metal itself, when properly maintained and repainted as required by warranty terms, and the technological advances in the paint industry have made some of the warranties of paint on metal roofs meet or exceed warranty terms of traditional 30 year shingles.  For most homeowners a metal roof is a lifetime roofing product when installed, as most metal is guaranteed for 100 years or more when properly maintained.  Maintenance on metal roofing is also more inexpensive then that of shingle roofs, and painting after the 20-30 year normal paint warranties on most metal products cost less then that of re-shingling a roof.

Now most homeowners and customers in search of a new roof already know that a metal roof generally outlast most traditional shingle roofing systems, although one advantage that metal roofing offers over traditional shingles is energy savings.  Metal roofs have been proven to out perform shingles in energy savings by so much that most metal roofing systems meet the requirements for an Energy Star rating saving homeowners up to 20% in energy cost.  Given such high energy savings this gives metal roofing a big advantage over shingles in that over the life of the roofing systems customers receive a huge payback in the form of energy savings on their utility bills. With utility cost rising all across the country, homeowners are searching for any way they can to cut down on energy consumption, and metal roofing is a unique way homeowners are cutting down on energy consumption.  Energy savings with metal roofing or any other "green" building product also improves overall sustainability of the home or building with a metal roofing system.

Another reason that homeowners are making the switch to metal roofs is that it is becoming the new trend and style. Metal roofing offers a variety of colors and styles, making it a trendy way for homeowners to distinguish their homes from others in the neighborhoods. With standing seam being the most popular style of metal roofing, customers also have the options of a wide arrange of lap system metal roofing products as well.  As metal roof manufacturers look to distinguish their products from competitors, homeowners are given a lot more options when choosing a metal roof in today's market.  In South Carolina and many other states rich in tradition of preserving historic homes, metal roofing is also the perfect match to historical roofing systems.  Metal manufacturers and experienced roofers, like Retro Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, can help homeowners match color and style from historic home roofing systems, thus speeding up the process of getting approval from historic home preservation committees.

The last major advantage that Energy Star Rated metal roofing systems have over traditional shingles is the tax credits that have been offered by the US government to help cover the cost of materials to homeowner and business owners.  The US is a leading country in trying to help reduce energy consumption of individuals, and trying to lower the carbon footprint of homes and businesses in America. Metal roofing is a "green" building solution the the US government approves of, so they offer huge tax credit incentives to homeowners and business owners looking to improve sustainability.

In conclusion, we hope this has been a informative blog post on why energy star metal roofing is a good choice for homeowners looking for a new roof.   We plan to have more blog post to come on other energy star rated roofing products like tile, white TPO, and other roofing systems that have received the coveted Energy Star rating. In summary on metal roofing systems, here are some of the advantages homeowners and building owners can benefit from by installing a metal roof in South Carolina:

• Energy Savings
• Lifetime Roofing Solution
• Trendy, Popular Roofing System
• Improved Sustainability
• Tax Credits
• Wide Variety of Style and Color Options
• Historically Accurate Roofing Solutions for Historic Homes
• Helping the Environment by lowering the Carbon Footprint

So if your a homeowner in the South Carolina or North Carolina area looking to install a Energy Star Rated Metal Roofing System, then give us a call today:

Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com 

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Benefits of Rock Wool Insulation in Homes and Business

ROCK WOOL INSULATION SYSTEMS

Rock Wool Insulation is a insulation product that is used in both homes and commercial buildings, that provides both a higher r-value then traditional fiberglass insulation, as well as a safer, greener product for the enviroment. Rock wool insulation is ofter referred to as stone wool insulation, mineral wool insulation, or slag wool insulation. The names alone of these green insulation systems can tell you a lot about what these products are made of.

Rock Wool Insulation, Slag Wool Insulation, or Mineral Wool Insulation is made of minerals and other naturally found products in nature, as the name suggest. Being that rock wool insulation is made of naturally found materials, it makes it much more safer for homeowners then traditional fiberglass insulation. Rock wool insulation is also a heavier product then traditional fiberglass insulation, thus preventing particles from getting in the air as easy as traditional fiberglass insulation. Usually when you see dust coming from rock wool insulation, it is normally ordinary house dust that has accumulated on top of the insulation itself.

Now brings us to the question of why homeowners and commercial real estate owners should choose rock wool insulation over traditional fiberglass insulation. There are many advantages that rock wool insulation provides over traditional fiberglass insulation, but the main reason being is that it provides a higher r-value than traditional fiberglass insulation, thus reducing energy consumption and lowering utility cost. Below is a list of some of the many benefits that rock wool insulation can offer when installed in a home or building.

Rock Wool Insulation Benefits

• Higher R-Value than traditional fiberglass insulation.
• Better thermal barrier then fiberglass leading to less energy consumption.
• Soundproofing qualities reducing noise pollution from noisy neighbors or noisy machinery.
• More fire resistant then traditional fiberglass insulation, making for better protection against fires.
• Lower health risk to humans versus fiberglass insulation, thus reducing normal dust in homes as well.
• Greener for the planet due to all the benefits listed above, thus improving the sustainability of your home or building.
  
  

Retro-Solutions Construction Company

Energy Efficient Roofing | Solar Energy | Energy Efficient Insulation | Green Building Products

NC and SC Licensed Contractors

Call Dan: 706-951-0158  

Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com 
Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Rock Wool Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Save Money on Heating Cost in South Carolina with a Warmer Home

Save Money on Heating Cost in South Carolina with a Warmer Home



Retro Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, SC has all your home improvement needs, for a warmer home this winter.  We offer energy saving home improvements, by using state of the art, green insulation materials which improve energy efficiency of your HVAC system by 33% or better in most homes.  Technological advances and scientific breakthroughs in the insulation industry have designed insulation material and systems that are far superior then traditional fiberglass insulation.  Here are the most popular used insulation systems in South Carolina by homeowners, to help achieve a warmer home in the winter, by improving sustainability, and lowering energy bills for homeowners in the process.

1. Spray Foam Insulation - The most popular and also shows the most energy saving for homeowners in the South Carolina area.
2. Wall Foam Insulation - Very popular among homeowners in older homes, where exterior wall insulation was limited or starting to fail. Wall Foam insulation can be retrofitted into walls with existing fiberglass insulation systems.
3. Rock Wool Insulation - Rock Wool is becoming one of the most popular "green" insulation systems in the South, with higher ratings then fiberglass, and more cost efficient for some homeowner then spray foam.
4. Conditioned Crawl Spaces and Crawl Space Encapsulation - Very popular among homeowners with crawl spaces, and provides a lot more benefits then just improving energy efficiency & sustainability of the home. 

As you can see we have a lot of options for homeowners in South Carolina & most of North Carolina, that can help improve sustainability, lower energy cost, and give homeowners a much more comfortable home this winter.  For more information on our "Green" building solutions for homeowners and business owners read our other blog post, or contact us thru any of the methods listed below.  Don't let big box retailers sell you on traditional fiberglass insulation until you get a price from us for a far more superior insulation system with much better r-value ratings.


Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com 

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Green Home Improvement Tax Credits for 2011 & Estimated Energy Savings

See How Much Our "Green" Building Products Save Homeowners in South Carolina & Nationwide Averages

"Green" Building Product	Avg./Year Savings^	ROI Payback Est. (yrs.)*	2011 Tax Credit/Incentive**	Energy Star Rated
Spray Foam Insulation	33% or more	3-5 yrs. avg.	$500 Tax Incentive	Yes
Wall Foam Insulation	up to 33%*	305	$500 Tax Incentive	Yes
Crawl Space Encapsulation	up to 25%	4-6 years if done alone	$500 Tax Incentive	Yes
Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters	90% a year	2-3 years	$300 on Unit Purchase	Yes
Solar Panels	varies, 90% normal on powered devices	10-20 years	varies	Yes
Energy Monitoring Devices	4-10% Avg.	less than 1 year	none	Yes
Standing Seam Metal Roofing	10-20% avg.	10-20 years	varies	Yes

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Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
Website: http://www.scroofingcontractors.com 
Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Difference between Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation & Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation R-Values

What is Spray Foam Insulation and What is the Difference between Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation & Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation?
First off Spray Foam Insulation is a two part, polyurea resin and isocynanate, mixed product, and when these two chemicals come together, they mix thru a chemical reaction, and the end result is spray foam insulation, the ultimate home insulator. This unique method of making the insulation in place is what gives spray foam insulation its high ratings for R-Value, because it can seal gaps and cracks where traditional fiberglass insulation can not get. Both open cell spray foam insulation and closed cell spray foam insulation are produced the same way, and both have great qualities, however in different circumstances one may be a better choice than the other. That brings us to what is the difference between open cell spray foam insulation and closed cell spray foam insulation?

The main and most obvious difference between Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation and Closed Cell Insulation is the weight of the product. Open Cell Spray Foam Is a much lighter material than Closed Cell so it gives it the softer feel. Another reason for the softer feel is the cells inside the foam are left open, so air can enter and exit the cells, thus being call Open Cell. Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation is a more denser product and the cells inside of the foam are left closed, thus giving the name Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation and the Harder feeling to the foam. The major factors in considering what is best for your home is strength requirement or R-Value requirements, vapor control, above or below grade, and budget requirements.What are the R-Value's for Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation and Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation?Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation has a much higher R-value than Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation given the density of the product. The drawback is it requires more product to do the same coverage area as Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation so the slight lose in R-Value doesn't usually constitute the extra cost of using Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation. R-Value stands for heat value per unit of area. Most spf products will give you R 6.0 or R 7.0, compared to traditional fiberglass which is R 3.5. The higher the rating, the better the performance, and as you can see spray foam insulation is double the R-value of traditional fiberglass insulation. Even if you don't understand R-Value, you will be able to see the energy savings on your power bills, as spray foam insulation will reduce energy consumption by 33% or more in your home or office. This is why spray foam insulation is one of the best energy saving home improvements you can make to your home or office in South Carolina or North Carolina.What are the Major Advantages to Spray Foam Insulation being installed in your home or office?
The major advantages of having spray foam insulation installed in your home or office in South Carolina and North Carolina are:

• Spray Foam Insulation Saves you money and pays for itself in the course of 3-5 years usually, in energy saving.
• Higher R-Value, no other insulation product on the market can beat spf's R-Value rating.
• The tight seal spray foam insulation creates helps prevent moisture, air, and gas infilitration.
• SPF helps reduce moisture and mold in the home or office.
• Spray Foam Insulation will reduce and deaden, sound travel and noise.
• Benefits Modern Building Science Techniques and Energy Efficient Green Building Standards.
• Energy Efficient Homes are more valuable, and spray foam insulation also makes homes more sellable.

For more info visit: http://www.scroofingcontractors.com
Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Spray Foam Insulation Test for Homeowners Looking to Install Spray Foam

Top Questions to ask yourself if your ready to invest in Spray Foam Insulation in South Carolina and North Carolina:

• Is your home or office building already insulated with fiberglass insulation?Even Insulated with fiberglass insulation, is your home or office still warm in the summer or cold in winter?
• Do you have a extremely hot attic space in the summers?
• Do you pay more than $200/month on Energy Bills?
• Does it Seem Like your HVAC system is running constantly in extreme temperatures?
• Have you received tax credits for insulating your home yet?
• Does your home seem to produce a lot of dust & allergens?
• Do you have moisture problems where some of the insulation is installed in your home?
• Are you willing to pay a slightly higher installation and material cost (vs. fiberglass) for long term energy savings?

These are just a few questions you should ask yourself if you are considering spray foam insulation as a source of reducing energy cost in your home or office building. If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you are probably a good candidate for spray foam insulation. Retro-Solutions Insulation Contractors of Myrtle Beach, SC offer a variety of different Spray Foam Insulation services, with both Open Cell and Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation solutions. Our experienced team of Spray Foam Insulation experts, can guide you thru which type of SPF you need in your home, and which spray foam insulation product will benefit you more, but we will try to break down some of the differences for you now.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Spray Foam Insulation Video

Spray Foam Insulation YouTube Video Post



If you've been keeping up with our Energy Saving Home Improvements blog, then you've already read about how spray foam insulation is installed, so now you can see how spray foam insulation is installed with our new YouTube video.  Retro-Solutions Construction Company installs Spray Foam Insulation all over the Coastal Carolina areas, and many of our potential customers would like to see how it works, and how it is installed.  Well in our new video posted on YouTube, customers can see how spray foam is installed, and how it is made in place.  Notice in the video how spray foam seals all gaps & cracks, providing the best insulation system on the market.  If you didn't believe that spray foam insulation is a far superior insulation system to fiberglass insulation from reading our blog, then now you can see why it is a superior way to insulate your home.  More videos and photos to come, and keep up with our blog for more Energy Saving Home Improvement ideas.

Here is the direct link if the video doesn't play or you want to follow us on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftV6ao5VfOg

For more information, or to get a spray foam insulation quote in North Carolina & South Carolina, contact us thru any of the methods listed below.  Once again, thanks for reading our blog, and be sure to stay tuned for more ways to lower utility bills.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost?

How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost in North Carolina and South Carolina?

If you have been keeping up with our Energy Saving Home Improvements blog then you already have a lot of information to make an informative decision on whether or not spray foam insulation is a product for your home.  The only other factor now is how much does spray foam insulation cost?  What we intend to do in this blog post, is educate a potential spray foam insulation buyer, on how an estimate is calculated for installing spray foam insulation in a home or business.  Although prices will be generalized, as cost of material vary from month to month.  The main factor for this variable is the fluctuation of gas prices, and the overall weight of raw materials to make spray foam insulation.  Each barrel weighs 500 lbs, and it takes 2-500 lb. barrels to do the average home in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia.  Spray Foam Insulation is a fuel dependent industry, as spray foam insulation equipment is generally run off a diesel generator, and requires the use of fuel to make and install quality spray foam insulation.  Even with the fluctuation of gas prices, we can give you a general idea of what spray foam insulation will cost, on average, to install in a home or business in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia. 

 

How Homes and Businesses are measured for Spray Foam Insulation Estimates

 

Raw Materials for Spray Foam as said above are sold in 50 gallon barrels, with a Part A and a Part B, each part costing the same amount.  When chemical manufacturers sell to spray foam insulation installers, they give a board foot amount of coverage, that one set of 2 barrels will do.  Most homeowners do not know how board feet is calculated, nor what the coverage area 1 board foot would equal in their home, so we want to first explain how board feet is calculated, and then converted to a square foot measurement:

1. Measure the width (W) and thickness (T) of the the area in inches.
2. Measure the length (L) of the area in inches and divide it by 12.
3. Solve the following equation to calculate board feet: (W x T) x (L ÷ 12) = board feet.
4. Divide the number of board feet by the thickness of the board. This will give you the square footage of the area going to be sprayed.

This is how spray foam insulation contractors determine how much raw material is going to be needed to cover the square footage that is going to be sprayed with spray foam.  Once they have calculated the raw materials needed to spray foam the area requested to be estimated by the homeowner, they can give the homeowner a price of material needed to cover that area.  As stated before, prices of raw material change frequently due to the variable cost associated with producing and transporting the raw material.  This is important to homeowners because this is the cost that is going to be eligible for tax credits. 

Now that we have the square footage price of materials, we will then add in the labor cost associated with installing the spray foam insulation.  Though figured as a fixed cost for most insulation contractors, labor rates vary from contractor to contractor.  This is really the most important factor homeowners need to concerned with, as it is normally the deciding factor on which contractor the homeowner is going to hire.  Normally an experienced spray foam insulation contractor is going to cost a homeowner less money to install spray foam insulation, given they understand the building envelope better.  An experienced spray foam insulation has also seen more homes & buildings, and will be able to find the best building envelope for the homeowner that is going to maximize energy efficiency of the home.

Once you have material cost, and labor cost, the only factor left to calculate is profit & overhead which most contractors include in the same line item on a estimate.  Here again, a more experienced contractor is going to be more affordable because they generally have proved to insurance companies that they are a safe & worthy contractor, and also have lower operating cost because there equipment is probably already paid for, thus reducing cost to homeowners.  Profit rates vary from contractor to contractor, however there gonna be in line with competition in most markets.  Homeowners need to understand that a company needs to make a profit or else they wouldn't be in business, so don't panic if you see this line on an estimate.  Contractors including this line is actually a good sign, because they are being up front and honest with homeowners, indicating that they're giving the homeowner a fair price and also going to deliver a quality install. 



Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com
Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Save Money on Utility Cost in Myrtle Beach, SC

Home Improvement Sale in Myrtle Beach & Horry County SC



Retro-Solutions Construction Company is proud to announce a sale on Energy Saving Home Improvement products proven to lower utility cost in Myrtle Beach, SC & Horry County.  With the dog days or summer finally arriving, with temperatures climbing into the High 90's, Retro Solutions is offering a sale on our Energy Saving "Green" Building Products.  If you are a homeowner or business owner in the coastal Carolina area looking to lower utility cost, and improve the overall comfortability of your home or business, then call us today.  We can help make your home a cooler, more comfortable place to live and work.  Below is a list of our services and Coupons for saving money on installation.

1. Spray  Foam Insulation - Recieve $100 off Spray Foam Insulation services when re-insulating your home.
2. Wall Foam Insulation - $100 off when having all exterior walls on your home re-inuslated with wall foam insulation.
3. Standing Seam Metal Roofing - $150 off Standing Seam Metal Roofing on New or Existing homes in the Horry County, SC and surrounding areas
4. Crawl Space Encapsulation - Get $100 off crawl space encapsulation when getting your entire crawl space encapsulated w/ spray foam insulation
5. Tile Roofing Products- $150 off any Energy Star rated tiles installed by Retro-Solutions Construction
6. Solar Powered Hot Water Heaters - $100 off purchase and installation of a solar powered hot water heater system in Myrtle Beach, SC and surrounding areas.
7. Home Energy Monitoring System - $50 off installation of a Home Energy Monitoring System
8. Other Energy Efficient Roofing Systems - $150 off any roofing system that has a energy star rating or "green" building product listing.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company has some great sales going on right now on Energy Saving products.  We have Free Estimates on all our services, and more information on our services can be found in our other blog post and on our company website.  All the products listed above have been proven to lower utility cost dramatically for homeowners and business owners alike.  So take advantage of these additional savings on installation, in addition to many tax credits being offered to South Carolina homeowners as well.  This is the time of year in South Carolina where homeowners pay the most for utility cost, so call us today to help us lower your utility bills.  You can't beat these savings anywhere so Call Dan today for a Free Estimate at 706-951-0158.


Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Remodelling With Spray Foam Insulation

Remodelling with Spray Foam Insulation in the Carolinas

With high inventory levels and a poor real estate market across the nation, many homeowners are deciding to remodel their existing home, instead of buying new.  In addition, most real estate markets are not seeing the increase in real estate value of their home from year to year, as in recent years.  This has lead to many homeowners looking for other ways to add real estate value to their home, and remodelling is the best way to add value, and curb appeal to your home.  One home improvement a lot of homeowners in North Carolina & South Carolina are making, is re-insulating their home to make it more energy efficient, and in turn lowering utility cost.  With rising utility cost and increase in gas prices, energy efficiency is a top priority among most homeowners looking to remodel.   By re-insulating, homeowners can see a return on their investment in the form of utility savings.  Current tax credits for re-insulating is also encouraging more homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their home.  In order to maximize utility savings homeowners are turning to "green" building products like spray foam insulation, wall foam insulation, and crawl space encapsulations.  Though slightly higher in installation cost, energy & utility savings are much higher as well, helping to offset installation cost.  "Green" building products not only help homeowners save money on utility bills, going green also helps to save the environment as well. 

Here is a list of some of the most popular energy saving home improvements our customers are having installed in 2011:

• Spray Foam Insulation
• Wall Foam Insulation
• Crawl Space Encapsulation
• Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters
• Standing Seam Metal Roofing
• Tile Roofing Systems
• Solar Integrated Roofing Systems

If you are a homeowner in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia reading this blog, and looking to save on utility bills in 2011 and in years to come, then call Retro-Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, SC.  We have experienced, professional, and licensed install teams across all of NC, SC, and GA, and we can help make your home or business more energy efficient. 

For a Free Estimate on any of our Services, follow this link: Free Estimates


Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Salisbury, NC Homeowners Can Save Money on Utility Bills With Spray Foam Insulation

Save on Utility Bills With Spray Foam Insulation in North Carolina

If your a homeowner in North Carolina you already know that thru the months of May thru June, your utility cost is going to go up do to high temperatures and high humidity producing lots of heat, keeping your A/C running most of the day.  Heating and Cooling are the number one utility cost for most homeowners, so areas with hot climates in the summer, like North Carolina, experience a spike in utility cost for homeowners with traditionally insulated homes.  The air conditioner runs most of the day just to keep your home at a comfortable temperature level, and some homeowners find that even with the A/C running all day, there house still feel warm and uncomfortable during the hot summer month in North Carolina.  We call this the "hot house" effect.  This blog post is to let homeowners in North Carolina know that their is a solution to high utility cost during the summer months, in addition to lifetime energy savings.  Spray Foam Insulation can save homeowners 33% or more on utility cost versus traditional fiberglass insulation.  What this blog is going to explain is why spray foam insulation works so much better than traditional fiberglass insulation in North Carolina, and how payback on investment with spray foam insulation is a lot higher than with traditional fiberglass insulation.  Lets first talk about how fiberglass insulation works.

The reason why many homeowners in North Carolina experience the "hot house" effect, is that most homes are insulated with traditional fiberglass insulation, creating a buiding envelope, that traps hot air in the attics, and crawl spaces of most homes.  Vents and fans are designed to vent the attics, however many attics in North Carolina with traditional fiberglass insulation, are 30-40 degrees warmer than the rest of the house.  In poorly vented attics, we have seen temperatures of up to 180 degrees.  Thru a process known as convection, the hot air in the attic will covect heat thru fiberglass insulation and sheetrock, to make temperatures warmer in the home.  In turn, the A/C will run longer, in order to compensate for the extra warm air entering the home.  A new A/C unit may be able to blast the cool air into the home, and cool a home quickly, however this does not eliminate the problem of warm air entering the home.  So even with a newer HVAC system, your house is still getting warmer faster due to the hot air in the attic convecting heat into the home thru the ceiling.  The best way to eliminate this heat in the attic is to balance the temperatures between the two spaces.  In order to do this, the builidng envelop must be changed, to include the attic space, and crawl spaces where applicable.  The only way to do this is to make these areas conditioned space, which means moving the insulation from the ceiling of the home to the rafters of the roofing system, creating a semi-conditioned space.  Fiberglass insulation can not be installe in this method, due to air gaps and unsealed space, which would result in condensation forming.  The only way to get this desired method is to use Spray Foam Insulation, which can penetrate and seal all gaps and cracks, eliminating the possibility for condensation.

Since spray foam insulation can penetrate all gaps and cracks, and is made in place, it eliminates the worry of moisture or condensation forming in the attic, allowing the insulation to be installed on the rafters of the roofing system.  By installing the spray foam insulation on the rafters, it totally changes the dynamics of your home's building envelope.  Instead of trying to vent warm air out of the attic, as traditional fiberglass insulation systems are designed, spray foam insulation works to balance the temperature of the attic space with that of the home, and also prevent warm air from entering the attic space thrue the roof as well.  This building envelope design not only reduces attic temperatures, it also uses the inefficiencies of your HVAC system to cool attic space as well.  Even in a well designed duct systems, there is always energy loss, and spray foam insulation takes advantage of this energy loss, helping to cool the attic space and balance temperatures between the home and attic space.  With the balance of temperature, and the elimination of warm air entering the attic space, A/C systems operate much more efficiently than with traditional fiberglass insulation.  Spray Foam Insulation also has a much higher R-Value than traditional fiberglass insulation, reducing the loss of cool air leaving the home as well.

What all these factors of the spray foam insulation building envelope design means is, your air conditioner runs less, thus reducing your utility cost by 33% or more in North Carolina. In addition to providing these huge energy savings, Spray Foam Insulation also offers a number of other major advantages & benefits that fiberglass insulation does not offer as well. Spray Foam Insulation is about creating sustainable living solutions such as reduced mold and allergens, and lowering the amounts of dust found in your home.  Spray Foam Insulation has also been proven to prevent pest such as ants and termites from entering the home, in combination with homeowners having up to date pest control policies.  Spray Foam Insulation is a "green" builidng product, in addition to being an energy star product as well.  Tax Credits are still available, and homeowners can get credits upt to $500 for 2011.  Spray Foam Insulation can be installed in new or existing homes, giving any homeowner the chance to take advantage of the huge energy savings that spray foam can bring.  Though cost of installation for spray foam insulation is higher than that of traditional fiberglass insulation, payback on investment is a lot quicker and homeowners realize energy savings over the life of the home, making spray foam insulation an home improvement that will actually pay the homeowner back over the life of the home.  Being a lifetime product, Spray Foam Insulation will loses little or no R-value over the lifetime of the product, eliminating re-insulation cost associated with having to replace fiberglass insulation every 10 years.  

In summary, whether your looking to get a cooler home in the summer in NC, or looking for a new product to re-insulate your home, spray foam insulation is the best choice.   Most homeowners look at their home as a long term investment, making spray foam insulation even a better choice due to the lifetime payback in energy savings.  Not only will you be making a wise investment for your home, you'll also be doing your part to be "green" & more enviromentally friendly.  Being a "green" building solutions contractor, we love to hear satisfied customers stories about having spray foam insulation installed in their home, or about any of the other energy saving solutions we can offer North Carolina residents. If your looking for more information, please see our other blog post, visit our company website, or call our local North Carolina phone number at 704-636-9338 or our home office in Myrtle Beach, SC at 706-930-0322.  We offer competitive pricing and affordable solutions to saving on utility cost in North Carolina & South Carolina, however our business is in the promotion of green energy solutions to save the enviroment.  We love promoting spray foam insulation and other "green" building products, so please comment with current information or ideas for blog post. 


Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Home Office: Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158
North Carolina Sales: 704-636-9338
http://www.ncroofingcontractors.com
Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Why General Contractors are Installing Spray Foam Insulation in New Construction

Spray Foam Insulation & "Green" Building Products in New Home Construction

With the changing face of new home construction in the United States, many General Contractors are looking for ways to differentiate their product from what competitors are offering.  One way many general contractors in South Carolina & North Carolina are differientiating their homes from other general contractors homes, is the use of "Green" Building Products; to offer potential homebuyers in North Carolina & South Carolina, long term energy savings and payback in utility bill savings over the life of the home.  The great thing about new construction, is that new homes being built, open all kinds of new options for energy saving "green" building products. In a tough housing market like today's economy, a builder needs every possible way to differientiate there home from others on the market.  Long term energy savings, payback on investment, Tax Credits for Home Owners, Energy Star Ratings, and other great qualities can help sell a home a lot more quicker, then a typical fiberglass insulated home that offer little energy savings to homeowners.  Some reports have reported as high as 80% of potential homebuyers in today's economy have insulation and energy efficiency on their list of things their dream home will have.  Spray Foam Insulation, Crawl Space Encapsulation with Spray Foam, Solar Powered Appliances, and Energy Efficient Roofing have all been proven to sell homes faster in today's real estate market.  Lets talk about a few ways "Green" Building can pay off for general contractors in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia real estate markets have been flooded with homes from bankrupt spec builders, foreclosures, and just areas flat out being overbuilt.  Though housing inventories are depleting, many general contractors are having trouble luring potential home buyers away from foreclosures and short sales, with the main reason being that they are trying to offer the same product at a higer price.  The most popular way our general contractor clients are finding to build and sell successfully in North Carolina, South Carolina, & Georgia Housing Markets, are "green" building products & other materials that offer long term energy savings.  Though cost of these products are slightly higher traditional building materials, it still cost a lot less to install "green" building products in new construction versus retrofit installation in existing homes.  Another reason why "green" building materials help sell homes in North Carolina, South Carolina, & Georgia has a lot to do with the hot climate the southeast experiences during the summer, giving many fiberglass insulated homes the "hot house" effect.  What we call the "hot house" effect, simply means that even with the A/C running all day, your home still fills warm or hot during the summer.  Spray Foam Insulation is the best solution to eliminate the "hot house" effect, and is even more energy efficient installed in new homes, then being retrofit into existing homes due to walls and other open spaces being exposed.  Here is a list of some of the most popular "green" building products and materials general contractors are using in new construction in North Carolina and South Carolina real estate markets.

1. Spray Foam Insulation - our number one seller to general contractors and homeowners, as it offers lifetime insulation solutions to the potential and existing homeowners both, with 33% more energy savings then fiberglass, and payback on investment over the life of the home.  Closed Cell Spray foam insulation  adds structural integrity & pest control capabilities as well. 
2. Crawl Space Encapsulations - create a dry, clean crawl space that offers additional energy savings to homeowners, and also offers pest control qualities as well.
3. Solar Energy Powered Appliances - with cost of taking a home completely solar still being very high, the development of Solar Panel technology has allowed affordable installation of solar panels to power high energy using appliances like hot water heaters and pool heaters, reducing utility cost for homeowners on average of $300/year or more.
4. Standing Seam Metal Roofing - popular in style, and also an "Energy Star" rated product, offering addittional home energy efficiency for potential homebuyers.  The reflectivity quality of metal roofing has been proven to lower utility cost for homeowners.
5. Home Energy Monitoring Systems - Contractors this would make an excellent housewarming gift for new homeowners that can lower enegy cost even more.  Old TV's, computers, and such can be increasing utility cost for the family.  Low Cost Installtion & Monitoring make it the perfect housewarming gift for new homeowners, and an addittional weapon for existing homeowners to fight high utility cost.

If you are a general contractor or a potential new home builder in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia looking to install new "green" building technology into new construction homes, or existing homes during remodel or addittions, then call Dan at Retro-Solutions Construction Company at 706-951-0158 for a free estimate, or for general information on "green" building products offered in the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia areas.  We can help homeowners and general contractors both, with energy saving home improvement solutions that really do lower utility bills & improve overall saleability of your home in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  Read our other blog post for more information on our products and services.  Increase the value of your home:

http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Retro-Solutions Construction Company Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 706-951-0158 http://www.scroofingcontractors.com Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Augusta, GA Homeowners Save on Utility Bills with Spray Foam Insulation

Augusta GA Spray Foam Insulation Company & Energy Efficient Roofing Contractors 

If your a homeowner in the Augusta, GA and surrounding CSRA area looking to lower utility bills, then you might want to read this blog post.  With the hot summers in Augusta, a poorly insulated or underinsulated home, will keep your air conditioner running all summer in the Georgia and South Carolina heat.  Many of our customers in the CSRA area, experience high power & utility bills in the summer, due to the A/C trying to keep the home cool.  Many of our customers have already tried fiberglass insulation as a solution to keep their home cool; but the Georgia heat, and the inefficient building envelope system fiberglass insulation incorportes fail to properly keep homes cool in the Augusta, GA and surrounding areas.  Historic Homes can really experience the "hot house" effect because of steep pitched roofs and large attics, and with lots of room for hot air in a fiberglass insulated building envelope system.  See our previous blog post for more on the building envelope definition, and the difference between the building envelope design fiberglass insulation used versus the building envelope system used with spray foam insulation. 

If you have fiberglass insulation now, you probably know what we are talking about, because its like a sauna when you go into the attic space of your home.  What makes Spray Foam Insulation 33% better then fiberglass is the balance in temperature between living space and attic space, balancing the overall home temperature, thus improving the overall efficiency of your HVAC system.  By spraying the rafters of the home with spray foam insulation, including gable walls, closing soffit vents, and eliminating non-conditioned space, our spray foam insulation systems can save homeowners in Augusta, GA 33% or more on utility cost.

One of the main reasons we wanted to point out the ,Augusta, GA, Richmond County, GA, Columbia County GA, Saluda County, SC, and Aiken County, SC (CSRA) area customers, is that they see some of the biggest energy savings of all our spray foam insulation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia.  Being in the sandhills region, the sun can really beat down on a home, so spray foam insulation's unique building envelope design, with the insulation on the rafters versus the ceiling of the home, also helps to reduce the transfer of heat thru the home.  Energy Efficient Roofing Systems, uses of solar energy powered appliances, and other "green" building materials known to lower utility cost for homeowners in Georgia.  With a large market of Historic Homes in the Augusta, GA area, many historic homeowners are including spray foam insulation into budgeting cost for historic home renovation projects; as long term savings on energy bills will offset higher installation cost versus traditional fiberglass insulation.  Retro-Solutions Construction Company is proud to have installed spray foam insulation in a number of Historic Homes, in addition to retrofitting new homes with spray foam insulation in the Augusta, GA and surrounding CSRA area.  Spray foam insulation is at a all time low to have installed in your home, but with rising oil prices, cost are likely to inflate with increased gas cost. 

Retro-Solutions Construction Company is a licensed spray foam insulation contractor & roofing contractors in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.   We offer a variety of Energy Saving solutions for homeowners in the Augusta, GA and surrounding areas.  If your looking to lower utility cost in Augusta, GA then contact us today at 706-951-0158.  Below is a list of services we offer to the Augusta, GA and CSRA area:

• Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation
• Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation
• Crawl Space Encapsulation with Spray Foam Insulation
• Wall Foam Insulation
• Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters
• Solar Panels
• Energy Efficient Roofing Systems - Tile Roofs, Slate Roofs, Standing Seam Metal Roofs
• Home Energy Monitoring
• Residential & Commercial Insulation Services
• Residential & Comercial Roofing Services
• other "Green" Building Products

Please read our other blog post for more information on our products and services.  Retro-Solutions Construction Company offers the best Spray Foam Insulation Services, and Energy Efficient Roofing Services in the Augusta and CSRA area, so call us today for Free Estimates on any of our services, or visit us on the web at:

http://www.csraroofingcontractors.com/ or call Dan at 706-951-0158

Areas Served:
Augusta GA, Thomson GA, Evans GA, Martinez GA, Appling GA, Grovetown GA, Harlem GA, Hephzibah GA, Blythe GA, Washington GA, North Augusta SC, Edgefield SC, Aiken SC, Johnston SC, Batesburg-Leesville SC, Greenville SC, Spartanburg SC, Columbia SC, Lexington SC, and most of South Carolina, North Carolina, and east of Atlanta Georgia.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company 706-951-0158

http://www.csraroofingcontractors.com/ Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits | Historic Home Renovations | Historic Home Roof Restorations

How to Get a Cooler Home & The "Building Envelope" Factor

How the Spray Foam Insulation Building Envelope Works

"The building envelope is the physical separator between the interior and the exterior environments of a building. Another emerging term is "Building Enclosure". It serves as the outer shell to help maintain the indoor environment (together with the mechanical conditioning systems) and facilitate its climate control. Building envelope design is a specialized area of architectural and [[engineering practice that draws from all areas of building science and indoor climate control."  Cited from, and more can be read at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Building_envelope&oldid=432330358

We wanted to start with a good clear definition of the "Building Envelope" so that homeowners and business owners will know what we are referring to, when we talk about the building envelope.The building envelope is very vital to the overall efficiency of the way a home or business is heated and cooled.  The way homes and most commercial buildings create the building envelope is by using insulation and some kind of vapor barrier, to prevent moisture from developing inside the home.  The best example of this would be the typical R-13 Kraft Faced Fiberglass insulation that goes into most home in South Carolina.  Both fiberglass and Spray Foam Insulation create a buidling envelope system sustainable to control indoor temperatures, however their is a huge difference in the building envelope designs that each insulation system incorporates.  What we are going to try to educate you on in this blog post is how the building envelope is designed for fiberglass insulation vs. the design used for Spray Foam Insulation.  We are also going to show you how the Spray Foam Insulation building envelope design is far more superior design to that of traditional fiberglass insulation designs.  Then we will talk about how Spray Foam Insulation improves temperature balance in your home, with its unique building envelope design, and how this will improve overall comfortability in your home.



The biggest reasons why homeowners in North and South Carolina experience "Hot Homes" persay, even in very well fiberglass insulated home, is because of the building envelope design that is created when fiberglass insulation is properly installed.  Fiberglass insulation is typically installed in the ceiling rafters of the attic, walls, and floor joist of your home, with the vapor retardant side (paper side) facing the controlled enviroment.  This creates a building envelope, that is designed to trap cool or warm air inside the  home, and eliminate heating & cooling non-liveable space.  Proper attic ventilation, soffit vents, solar fans, electric fans, gable vents, ridge vents, and other venting methods are then used to release hot or cool air.  Venting also allows air to flow on the underside of the roof, preventing condensation and moisture in the attic area.  The main reason why fiberglass is installed differently from spray foam insulation is because if fiberglass insulation is attached to the rafters of a home, especially in extreme temperatures summer brings in the Carolina's, it does not eliminate air flow, thus creating conditions for condenstion, leading to moisture in the attic space..  Even in cathedral ceilings, cellulose injections, foam injections, and other newer methods of insulation are being used because of serious moisture issues many homeowners have seen with fiberglass insulation installed in cathedral ceilings.  In crawlspaces, fiberglass insulation is attached to floor rafters, taking the crawlspace out of the equation.  New fiberglass insulation systems will save homeowners a good amount on utilities,  however over time many figerglass insulation systems begin to lose R-value and fail to insulate, due to sagging sagging, and loss of depth of insulation.  Even if your not in the price range for spray foam insulation, fiberglass is definitely a good way to save short term on utility bills.  Now that we know how the fiberglass insulation building envelope works, lets compare it to the building envelope design using spray foam insulation in a home in South Carolina.

In every home, duct work is installed in either the attic or the basement, with the furnace and air handling units normally being located in the same spaces, and condesing units and compressors located outside of the home.  The most popular places for the ductwork systems and air handling units in homes in South Carolina is the crawlspace or the attic, or both in larger 2 or more story homes.  Your probably saying, duh, thats an obvious, but this is the main reason that Spray Foam Insulation's building envelope design can out save fiberglass by  33% or more in utility savings.  With the Spray Foam Insulation building envelope design, spray foam is then applied to the rafters of the roofing system, versus the ceiling joist of the home. During retrofit spray foam insulation projects, ceiling insulation is then removed to create more air flow into the attic from living space below or above.  With spray foam insulation being made in place, it can seal all gaps and cracks, enabling it to be applied to roof rafters, because there is no air left to create condensation, thus eliminating moisture possiblities in the attic. The gable walls and soffitts are then eliminated by creating a spray foam insulation wall that is in line with the existing wall below, eliminating any outside envrioment condtions coming thru the soffit vent. Both open cell spray foam insulation & closed cell spray foam insulation work the same way, adding the attic space into the building envelope desing.  During crawl space encapsulation, the walls of the crawlspace & floor of the crawlspace lined with 3 mil plastic, then sealed with closed cell spray foam insulation, adding the crawlspace into the building equation. 

The reason spray foam insulation building envelope design works so well, is that the ductwork and a/c system are brought into the equation, and the inefficiencies of your HVAC ductwork system, no ceiling insulation, and increased interior airflow; all work to balance the temperature of your home.  With ductwork being conditioned as well, trapped air in the ductwork system will not be as hot upon HVAC start up, thus shortening time for cool fresh air to reach the conditioned space. Spray Foam Insulation systems takes out venting, with windows, doors, and fans as the main sources of ventilation in the home. The overall improvement to temperature balance in the home, improves overall efficiency of your HVAC system, thus creating a cooler more comfortable homes in South Carolina during extreme heat of the summer.  The better your HVAC system is, usually results in better energy savings as well, as newer HVAC units can really blast the cool air in your home at incredible speeds in spray foam insulated homes. 

The temperature balances between fiberglass and spray foam insulation building envelope designs vary greatly. Its not so much that fiberglass insulation is a poor insulator, its just the extreme temperatures of the Southeast like NC, SC, GA, AL, and FL, have some really hot days for long periods, thus creating extreme heat in attic spaces.  Attic temperatures in homes in these states with fiberglass insulation systems can sometimes reach 180 degrees because venting is just not enough to let out the hot air fast enough. With the a/c being a sealed system with most cool air being lost in registers and returns your attic can get up to 180 degrees in some cases, thus meaning the duct work is also a 180 degrees. This means cool air is being heated for a period of time, before it reaches living space. If your HVAC usit is always cooling 180 degree metal ductwork before it gets into living space it means that the air coming out is not coming out as cold as it was designed too, thus making fiberglass insulation work against your overall efficiency of your HVAC system in extreme heat conditions. 

Spray Foam Insulation works with HVAC systems, leaving attic space and crawl space temperatures 10 degrees cooler or warmer than lliving conditions, improving efficiency of HVAC systems in South Carolina homes.  Spray foram Insulation and new HVAC systems work together they make a great energy savings combo.  We hope this has been an informative blog on how to improve a hot home in North Carolina & South Carolina.  If your in North or South Carolina and interested in having spray foam insulation or any other energy efficient "Green" insulation systems, give us a call today at 706-951-0158.  We look forward to providing homeowners with more energy saving home improvement information, and if your not in our coverage area please contact a spray foam insulation contractor today to start saving on utility bills.


Myrtle Beach Services & Construction Company
1357 Wycliffe Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
Website: http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits | Air Barriers | Siliconized Roofing Systems | Mold Removal