Energy Saving Home Improvements in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Top 10 Best South Carolina Energy Savings Home Improvements

These are the Top Home Improvements that you can make in South Carolina, whether it be Myrtle Beach SC or Columbia SC.  What this list is based off of is cost vs. return on investment, because many Energy Saving Home Improvements are espensive to install, and paybacks vary from product to product.  Keep in mind these are only my opinions, however I have been working in the "Green" product industry for quite a few years now, and this is based on feedback I have recieved from thousands of customers.  As the cost of oil rises, the cost of Energy is going to go up, so it is a good time to consider lowering your home or office's energy consumption, to offset rising energy cost.  The company I listed in my last blog, Retro-Solutions Roofing and Insulation Contractors of Myrtle Beach, SC, offer a variety of Energy Saving products, and if your willing to pay for the newer technology, you can actually reduce your energy bill to nothing.  This is not something they recommend because most of these new "green" or energy saving products are still new technology, and very expensive to purchase and install.  Hopefully this will explain why even some of the products I list may not be the best energy saving product, just the most affordable option for most South Carolinians.

1. Spray Foam Insulation - As you can tell from the title of my blog, I am biased on this one, however in the matter of 3-5 years,  you'll be praising yourself for making this investment as it saves 33% more then my second rated energy saving home improvement.  You will have then, in 3-5 years, seen how much you saved, as most homes had fiberglass insulation to begin with.  Last but not least is why this is my number 1 energy saving home improvement, is that it is a lifetime product, and never has to be redone.  The more efficient "building envelope" created by SPF, improves overall performance of your HVAC system, thus reducing energy consumption by the most expensive appliance in your home.  New HVAC technologies have decreased the consumption many heating and air conditioning units use, but so have the other energy consuming products in your home as well.  Insulation and HVAC technolgy go together, however being an insulation guy myself, I rank insulation higher then replacing a functioning HVAC unit, due to price and installation cost.
2. Fiberglass Insulation - The reason why I have put Fiberglass Insulation as number 2 on this list, is because it can be done by the homeowner, thus making it a very cheap energy saving home improvement.  New insulation will show energy saving results immediately, and improve comfortability, however over time these energy savings will deplete as the insulation settles and looses R-Value.  If your looking for short term energy savings and not looking to stay in your home or business for more than 5 years, then this is probably the best energy saving home improvement you can do. 
3. Metal Roofs - Metal Roofs have now been recognized as "Energy Star" products and are generally not too more expensive then traditional architectural or 3 tab shingles.  Metal Roofs provide Reflectivity, thus reducing the overall temperature of your attic.  Even though the metal gets very hot, it reflects the heat, thus reducing the temperature of the undersurface, whereas traditional shingles absorb heat, and often radiate heat.  Metal Roofing combined with Spray Foam Insulated rafters in SC or NC is the ultimate energy saving combo, based on cost and ease of installations.  The drawback is not everyone needs a new roofs, and roofs last a long time, but it is definitely a great option if your in the market for a new roof.
4. Energy Monitoring Systems - Energy Monitoring Systems are an affordable solution for most any homeowners or building owners.  Most commercial real estate and major corporations when to Energy Monitoring Systems a decade or so ago as standards in there stores or buildings.  These energy monitoring systems could help them regulate energy consumption in there stores, thus reducing expenses for the company.  These systems are now becoming more affordable to the average home owner and many people are starting to take advantage of these systems.  Quick, easy installation, and you can find out how much energy that red light on the dvd player is actually consuming, and you might be shocked to find out how much energy usage goes into some of the things around you have plugged in that you never use. Retro-Solutions Insulatioin Company below provides these services and have been given very positive feedback from customers.
5. Solar Energy - Though number one in what solar energy can do for how much power you need from the power company, the installation and cost of materials for solar energy are still too expensive for the average homeowner.  If you can afford a solar powered home or business, and looking to stay in your home or business for a long time, then this is definitely the best energy saving investment you can make in South Carolina.  As you know we get lots of sunshine, so these systems really produce to capacity.  One positive move in the solar energy sector, is the operation of more expensive appliances in the homes, like solar powered water heaters and lighting.  You will definitely see a decrease in your homes energy bill with these simple products, but the energy savings don't add up to the products listed above.
6. Alternative Insulations (i.e. loose fill, cellulose, paper, etc.) - I am grouping all of these together because they provide about the same amount of energy savings as each other, and they are also higher priced then traditional fiberglass insulation.  These new insulations do have better R-Value and Energy Savings as traditional fiberglass, however there small in comparison to what spray foam insulation saves, and the more inexpensive fiberglass is the better choice if your not willing to invest the extra money in spray foam insulation.  The one major advantage these "green" insulation products offer, is installation does not release potentional harmful vapors that you get from the curing process of spray foam insulation.  I suggest to most customers to rent a hotel room for a couple days just to make sure all vapors are cleared.  After the curing process, SPF is completely safe, and very enviromentally friendly.
7. More Energy Efficient HVAC Systems - If your heat or a/c is about to go out in South Carolina, then this would be your number one option because going thru a hot SC summer, especially Myrtle Beach, without a/c would be miserable.  Also if your building or have already insulated and looking to upgrade to a new HVAC system, you should definitely look into some of the new energy efficient systems HVAC contractors have to offer.  Very Energy Efficient, Quiet, and compatable with spray foam insulation systems.  Ductworking has also developed in the past few years, improving HVAC efficiencies dramatically as well.  These are long term investments, and often very expensive to purchase and install, and many homeowners recognize the importance of maintenance of there HVAC systems, and the great service HVAC contractors have provided in recent years due to increased competition.
8. New or Updated Interior Appliances - Most of you reading this blog have been into Sears, Lowe's, or Home Depot looking for Home Improvement ideas and see the huge selection of appliances they carry.  These stores are operating on profits, so they wouldn't put all those appliances out there if they didn't sell, and the reason they sell is because they can increase energy savings tremendously.  In addition to offering energy savings, you can also change the look of your kitchen or home as well when buying appliances, thus making it a more appealing option to many homeowners.  Energy Monitorying Systems like listed above, can identify poor performing appliances, and let you know when to buy new.
9. Energy Star Rated Lightbulbs - If  your like me, then you like to have the lights on so you can see what your doing day or night, so they're on the most part of the day.  This is one of the most inexpensive ways to save energy, as installation is easy, and the price of lightbulbs is inexpensive as well.  This is also something that is quick today, and can start saving you on energy instantly. 
10. Changing Your Habits - Little things like cutting the lights off, closing the door, cutting the temperature a degree lower or higher in the winter or summer, and you can see savings on your energy bill as well.  I rank this number 10 because it is free and a good habit to get into if your into saving energy for the planet as a whole.  The reason it is listed last on my list is because of the new energy efficient products coming out also have timers and use less energy staying on, then starting them up. 

For anybody reading this blog, I hope it has been helpful, as I have been in the "green" product or energy saving industry, long before it was affordable alternatives to the average consumer.  Now that technology has improved, and cost of installation for most of these products have came down tremendously, it offers homeowners and business owners alike many different ways to cut energy cost in South Carolina.  These top 10 Energy Saving Home Improvements can save you not only in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and North Carolina, but across all of the United States.  Climate and temperature can change these ratings, however this is personal experience that I have had with feedback interviews from former customers.  If your looking to make some energy saving home improvements in the South Carolina area, then call 706-951-0158 for some more information on saving energy in the Carolinas.  Also, be sure to check out Retro-Solutions new webpage, and they have free estimates for most of the products I have listed above.

New Website for Experienced Spray Foam Insulation Installer in South Carolina

RETRO-SOLUTIONS

Experienced Spray Foam Insulation Company

Licensed NC & SC Insulation Contractors

Free Spray Foam Insulation Quotes in South Carolina

Trusted Spray Foam Insulation Company located in Myrtle Beach, SC, part of Horry County SC, in the heart of the Grand Strand Region.  This insulation company in Myrtle Beach provides, spray foam insulation services, to all of North Carolina and South Carolina.  Guaranteed to get a proper install of Spray Foam Insulation, Wall Foam Insulation, or a spray foam insulation banded crawl space encapsulation.  Highly recommended Spray Foam Insulation Service provider, so contact them today to start saving money on Energy Bills, with spray foam insulation.

Retro-Solutions Insulation Company provides these Services:

• Spray Foam Insulation
• Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation
• Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation
• Crawl Space Encapsulation
• Insulation Removal Services
• Solar Energy
• Energy Monitoring Systems
• much, much, more......

So contact Dan at: 706-951-0158 for more information or visit there new webpage at: http://www.scroofingcontractors.com/

Crawl Space Encapsulations in South Carolina Using Spray Foam Insulation

Crawl Space Encapsulations With Spray Foam Insulation
(How Encapsulating Your Crawlspace can Save on Energy Bills)

What is done to my Crawl Space in South Carolina, when Encapsulated with 3 mil plastic and a Spray Foam Insulation Band?

1. Your crawl space will first be cleaned and removed of all old insulation, debris, and examined for moisture problems, mold, etc.  A good insulation contractor will make sure to check the home or mold, water moisture, or water moisture damage before installing a crawl space encapsulation system using 3 mil Poly and a spray foam insulation band.

2.  Your crawl space will then be prepped and fitted with a 3 mil poly layer, sealing your home and crawlspace from the probably wet and dirty crawlspace floor.  The installers will then run the 3 mil plastic up the walls of your crawl space and tack the plastic in place, so that the next step where the spray foam insulation will go on evenly.

3.  The 3 mil plastic will then be sealed off around the band of the flooring system, creating a new building envelope for your home, thus resulting in more energy efficiency in your home. 

This is a very simple process and is also a lot more cost effective then doing spray foam insulation on the underneath side of the floor.  Crawl Space Encapsulations in Myrtle Beach, SC offer many benefits, and one is that of crawl space pest control.  However, when chooosing a insulation contractor, you need to make sure that the contractor you choose knows the local building codes for termite treatments on the band board.  There is only a couple of inches of play when installing the 3 mil plastic, and it must be below the termite treatment line.  This is a common mishap for some insulation contractors, but a good insulation contractor will know this.  This leads me into my next topic of discussion for this blog post which is what are some of the Advantages of Crawl Space Encapsulations with Spray Foam Insulation in South Carolina.

Advantages of Crawl Space Encapsulations

• Energy Efficiency - by encapsulating your crawl space in Horry County SC, or any other warm climate, you improve the overall efficiency of your HVAC system
• Get Rid of Damp and Musty Smell - by encapsulating your crawlspace, you will have a much more dryer and cleaner smelling crawl space.
• Humidity and Moisture Control - Crawl Space Encapsulation in South Carolina can decrease humidity and moisture in your crawl space.
• Crawl Space Pest Control - because most insects and other pest that attack your home thrive in wet, moist enviorments, having a clean, dry crawl space will control the amount of pest your see.

The crawl space of most residents homes in South Carolina and North Carolina are usually a neglegted area when it comes to maintenence and energy efficiency.  I hope that this blog post will inform whomever may read it the advantages of encapsulating there crawl space, and the energy savings that it can bring.

How Does Spray Foam Work?

How Is Spray Foam Insulation Made?

This is a very popular question that most homeowners and business owners alike have when the initial thought of using spray foam insulation in the Myrtle Beach, SC area come to mind as a Energy Saving Alternative.  What I intend to do in this post is educate everyone a little bit on how Spray Foam Insulation Works, and why it saves not only Myrtle Beach, SC residents money on energy, but all over the Coast of NC, SC, and GA.  You'll hear me talk a lot about these areas as these are the main areas I worked when I was in the Spray Foam Insulation business.  So Lets Explain a little bit about how spray foam insulation is made.

Spray Foam insulation is made by combining 2 chemicals, pushed together with air, which react to form the foam:

1. Part A: A Isocyanate or Isocyonine Product
2. Part B: A Poly Based Resin, usually specifically designed for the part A Chemical.
3. Air: One of the most important parts of the spray foam process.
4. Heat: Heated by two powerful heaters on the proportioning unit, in hot climates like Myrtle Beach, SC the heaters may actually cool the chemicals in extreme heat conditions, without the proper heat requirements, you will not get good foam.

With the two chemicals pumped into the proportioning unit, they are heated up to the proper temperature to achieve proper spray foam insulation, once heated they are pushed thru 2 seperated hoses wrapped with a heater cord into the spray foam gun.  The gun is powered by an air line which forces the chemicals into the gun's mixing chamber, where they begin the chemical reaction which makes spray foam.  The process happens so fast that the two chemicals are pushed out mixed in almost a paint like looking substances.  Within 10 seconds on Open Cell Foam the paste or paint like substance will expand 100 times of itself within this 10 second time lapse.  Closed Cell foam will expand, but not as much, and generally takes 30-40 seconds to expand to full width, Closed Cell Foam is generally applied in two layers to meet the building code requirements for spray foam insulation in Myrtle Beach, SC and Coastal NC and SC areas. This expansion is a part of what makes spray foam insulation work so well at saving energy, as this creates the best seal you can get when it comes to insulation.

How Do Spray Foam Contractors Make This Work?

Spray Foam Insulation Contractors have specialized equipment, and when I mean specialize, only one equipment maker on the market, and only there parts fit them on repairs.  This is a huge investment for a spray foam insulation contractor, so you can tell a good one by the cleanlinest and respect they treat their equipment rig.  Plus all chemicals MUST be heated to at least 120-150 degrees for Open Cell, and I recommend 100-120 degrees for closed cell, however, closed cell foam is very tricky, and you should only use a contractor that has references for closed cell application.  Spray Foam Equipment Rigs cost a lot of money, with a fully stocked rig running $80,000 on the low end, to an avg. cost of $120,000.  Below is a general list of what a good spray foam rig should have on it:

• Industrial Size Generator - The backbone of the rig, without it nothing else works.  Should produce enough electricity to power the other equipment and then some.
• Proper Proportioning Unit - A proportionate unit that is specifically designed for proportioning the Part A and Part B chemicals.  This is crucial as well, it doesn't have to be new, as so much as well maintained and able to handle the air pressure and heat requirements the chemicals demand to create proper spray foam insulation.
• Well Maintained Hoses - the chemicals stay seperated, being pumped thru two seperate hoses, wrapped with a heater cord.  These are the only hoses that are made for spray foam insulation now, if you see anything different, your contractor is way out of date..
• Hose "Whip" - Sometimes you will see spray foam contractors that use a "whip" on the end of there hoses before going into the gun.  A "whip" is made of the same material as the hose, but can give the chemicals a last boost of heat, to help insure proper foam.  These are generally seen more in colder weather conditions
• Spray Foam Guns - Most serious spray foam contractors have more than one spray foam gun because the chemicals react soon as they touch, and tend to "cross-over" easily in extreme weather, so to keep the production going, they have a back-up ready to go.  Some even have more than 2 guns.  Graco models are the top of the line, however there is another maker of a spray foam gun, but not favorably liked by spray foam installers.  The Graco Fusion is personally the best gun I have seen on the market, however their Probler 2 is a popular gun as well.
• PPE or Personal Protection Equipment: A good spray foam contractor puts Safety number one, Sprayers should wear a protective suit, heavy duty gloves, and a forced air mask or respirator designed specifically for spray foam.  Helpers should have a respirator, goggles, and nitrile or heavy duty gloves when handling chemicals or entering into the construction area when spray foam insulation is installed.  As said before, Part A and Part B react immediately upon touching, this can also happen in your lungs, so Safety is a Must when in comes to spray foam insulation in the Myrtle Beach, SC, NC and SC areas, or any other part of the country. 
• Ladders, Scaffolding, aerial equipment, etc. - Spray foam contractors generally carry any type of necessary equipment to get to hard to reach places. 
• Masking Material - Some spray foam insulation contractors seperate their crew into teams, and have a prep team ahead of the sprayers.  But there should always be plastic and tape on the spray foam rig because good spray foam insulation contractors care about their customers personal belongings, merchandise, and homes.
• Gun Cleaning Tools - Specialized Tools designed to clean the spray foam guns.
• Fuel - A good spray foam contractor will keep spare fuel on site to make sure generator never runs out of fuel.
• Trailer or Box Truck - Last but not least, you can tell a true professional spray foam contractor by there truck or trailer, if they come in with the generator, and proportioning unit and materials all on seperate trucks, you might wanna find another spray foam contractor.

Many Spray Foam Contractors have all kinds of other ends and outs on their rigs, but this is a general list of must have things.  If anything from the list is missing, you might wanna consider a new spray foam contractor.   I hope this has been an informative blog post on How Spray Foam Insulation is actually made, and feel free to post any questions to my comments.  As you can see from all the specialized equipment, it cost a lot for a spray foam contractor to stay in business.  This is also what makes spray foam insulation a little more costly than traditional fiberglass or blown insulation, however a good contractor can keep cost low and offer you a competitive price at installing spray foam insulation in your home.  The Part A and Part B chemicals are also very costly, however this is the portion of the install that you can use for tax credits or deductions for using energy saving products.  The good news is a lot more chemical manufacturers are making these chemicals used to make spray foam insulation, so the cost have steadily been on the down swing, making it more affordable, and definitely paying for itself in 3-5 years generally.  If you would like more information on spray foam insulation in Myrtle Beach, SC or SC and NC in general, then give Dan a call at: 706-951-0158

Myrtle Beach Spray Foam Reviews

Myrtle Beach Spray Foam Reviews



This site is dedicated to giving you the most informative spray foam insulation Reviews and News in the Myrtle Beach area.  We we talk about spray foam insulation reviews, we are talking about a number of different aspects that can be reviewed.  So my first post on this blog is going to first educate you on Spray Foam Insulation, what the keys are to a successful spray foam insulation installation, the difference between closed cell and open cell spray foam insulation,  and local contractors in the area that do quality spray foam insulation installations in the Myrtle Beach, and southeastern US.   



Lets first talk about Why Do Spray Foam Insualtion?

• Energy Savings: Most homes in the coastal area of South Carolina see up to 33% by just spraying the rafters of the roof, inside the attic, creating a new building envelope, taking advantage of new sciences in the insulation and HVAC worlds.   More will be explained later about the building envelope and how spray foam insulation can reduce your energy cost in a coastal enviroment like Myrtle Beach, SC.
• Energy Efficiency:  Ever been in your attic in the summer and its 120 degrees or hotter and you just can't stand it?  Thats the reason your air conditioning has to work so hard in the summer to cool your home, most of the time running all day, and not shutting down until at nighttime when the sun goes down.  By using Spray Foam Insulation on the rafters, it creates a new state of the art building envelope, on which spray foam insulation uses the inefficiencies of the A/C system to create a more balanced enviroment in the house, thus  making your A/C run shorter.   By removing the fiberglass insulation from the ceiling, thus using the leakage of your home as a way to bring the attic enviroment down to within 10 degrees of the house space.  How does this help?  Well you have cool air being pumped in your home for one.  If its 120 degrees in your attic, the air coming out by the time it reaches the end of the duct is not temperature it should be, thus your system works twice as hard to get down to the temperature setting on the thermostat.
• Saving the Eviroment or "Going Green":  By reducing the amount of energy you use in your home, it makes your home more "Green" and we look to add more information on other ways to reduce energy in your home on some of our other blogs.  Spray Foam Insualtion has been so effective in reducing energy cost, that the US government offers tax credits and incentives for putting spray foam insulation in your home.  Being a coastal resident myself, I now how hot Myrtle Beach summers are, and trust me spray foam insulation will save you tons of money over the lifetime of your home, paying itself back almost double in energy savings, then the pricey upfront cost.  This is one of the reasons spray foam insulation is almost double the cost of fiberglass insulation.  Fiberglass insulation should be replaced every 5-10 years, as it loses R-Value over time.  With Spray Foam Insulation, it is a lifetime product, and will save you energy until the home is no longer of use to anyone. 
• Tax Credits: please check with your personal accountant, as tax credits and incentives vary from size of home, to area of country, and personal income as well.  Most tax credits are based on material cost, which is a big part of the spray foam insulation cost in the myrtle beach area.

Now we know why we want to do spray foam insulation in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, lets talk about the building envelope, watch this YouTube video for information on both the building envelope and Open Cell vs. Closed Cell Insulation.

Now that we know a little bit about why to use spray foam insulation in the Coastal SC area and Myrtle Beach, the building envelope and its role in the spray foam insulation system, and the difference between open cell and closed cell spray foam insulation, its time to talk about what to look for when picking a reputable spray foam insulation contractor in the Myrtle Beach SC and Coastal SC area.   Here is a list of things I looked for when I was doing quality inspections on the contractors I sold spray foam insulation materials and products too.  All these contractors met the stringent standards most spray foam insulation suppliers have for installer spraying their products. 

1. Cleanliness and Quality of Equipment:  The first thing I would always look at when I would go inspect a contractor, was the hoses, proportioning unit, spray guns, safety equipment, tips, tools, and other things necessary for a good spray foam installation like a larger generator than needed, and a bigger air compressor than the minimum requirements.  These last two play such a crucial factor in a proper spray foam insulation installation, its crucial that these should be top's on a experienced installer's list for there rig.
2. Experience of Installers:  Most quality spray foam contractors have their installation crews split up into teams with one team reamoving and prepping for the sprayers, then another team that does the spraying.  I can always tell when the guys doing the prep work have all large voids covered with landscape fabric, to create a more sound building envelope.  I also look at the sprayer, and a good sprayer really seals the hard to get places good.  A lot of spray foam installers are inexperienced, so these are some of the things you really have to look for when chosing a spray foam installation contractor in the Myrtle Beach, and Coastal SC areas.
3. Knowledge of Sales Staff: A Good sales staff should be able to ease your worries up front, being able to educate you on the building envelope, how your house is going to gain its unique building envelope, and what is going to be your energy savings are going to be near after spray foam insulation is installed.  Experienced sales staff also usually know a general idea of what your gonna get back on any available tax credits or rebates available to  you, however you should always contact your personal accountant as most credits and rebates are based on factors other than insulation, such as income, size of home, and others, but most rebates and credits are based on the material price, which is a huge portion of the spray foam insulation installation cost.
4. Timely Installation: Spray Foam Insulation is major construction to the home, and is very messy in its installation, as it is being sprayed on, rather than laid in like fiberglass insulation.  So a good prep team can ease your worries here, and a good sales person is gonna get you on there schedule and keep you within your schedule date, as it does cause a slight inconvience to install in new or existing homes.  However once the installation is complete, spray foam insulation is one of the most cleanest insulation products, reducing dust and allergens in the home.

My intent for this blog is to help educate Myrtle Beach and Coastal SC residents on the benefits, energy and cost savings, and quality install contractors in the spray foam insulation industry in the Myrtle Beach and Coastal SC areas.   How do I know so much about the spray foam insulation industry?  My first start was in the installation side of spray foam learning about guns, proportioning units, air, open cell vs. closed cell, material handling, and other things you can only learn from installing spray foam insulation, and spraying yourself for a little while.  My next venture was into sales for a chemical company, selling the 2 part insulation products to local contractors, selling guns and components, and other accessories in spray foam insulation.  I am now retired, and just want to promote spray foam as a energy saving alternative to residents of the Myrtle Beach area.  I know how hot Myrtle Beach SC summers are from living here for 16 years now.  Spray Foam Insulation is a life changing product, not only improving the cost of heating and cooling your home, but also in the overall comfortability of your home in the hot summer days.  So below is a list I am starting of the top spray foam insulation contractors, and I will be adding later why I rank these companies in this order.  For more information on spray foam insulation in Myrtle Beach, SC and the Coastal SC area, contact myrtlebeachsprayfoaminsulation@gmail.com for a reputable contractor in your area.

Certified Myrtle Beach, SC Spray Foam Insulation Installers:

myrtlebeachsprayfoam.com : call Dan @ 706-951-0158 for a free estimate and energy analysis report on your home.