Attic Retrofit
Since 2009, Comfort by Kodiak has been providing the most effective attic retrofit projects available in the high alpine of Colorado. Through application of building science principles, attention to detail, and some trial and error to determine the best materials, we've perfected our process, resulting in attic insulation systems that enhance comfort, energy efficiency and building durability, while preventing mold, and drastically reducing the formation of ice dams.
The most important feature of an attic retrofit project is to prevent the escape of indoor air through the attic floor, and through fiber insulation systems. We achieve this through myriad techniques such as air-sealed hatches, top-hats for recessed lights, and air-sealed flue chase fire-stops, but all of these features have one critical material in common: spray foam.
Comfort by Kodiak is the only mountain region Home Performance contractor using ComfortRX, a Greenguard certified, low-pressure nitrogen applied, two-part polyurethane foam for air-sealing work. Because it is low-pressure applied, this foam system is safe for use in occupied homes! High-pressure applied foam results in plastic floating in the air for up to 48 hours, causing lung damage. Furthermore, one-part foam does not adhere in dusty environments and will not provide a lasting air-seal improvement. Latex sealants, such as Eco-seal, are messy, water-based, and cannot be applied in temperatures less than 50 degrees. Neither of these alternative sealants bridge gaps larger than 1/2 inch. While usually more expensive to apply, our ComfortRX spray foam is the right choice for your project, especially considering that the air-sealing operation presents a one-time opportunity before blown insulation is added.
Repair and improvement of attic wall insulation systems is another feature of our work that is critical to performance. Common building practice is to install fiberglass batt insulation by friction fit to these irregular cavities. We remove the insulation, and install blocking and spray foam to seal the cavity at the floor, then reinstall the batts, or add new batts. If the wall is only 2 x 4, we'll install a continuous blanket over the cavity insulation for a more reasonable R-value. The final important feature we install is a vapor permeable air-barrier over the entire system, with seams and edges sealed with our specialized spray foam. This ensures that the batts perform at their listed rating, and prevents them from falling down over time.
After the attic air-sealing work is completed, the existing insulation is re-set, and blown cellulose insulation is installed as a capping for your fiberglass insulation. At Comfort by Kodiak, we install Applegate loose-fill cellulose in attics.
http://www.applegateinsulation.com/
Applegate is locally produced in Colorado and contains up to 85% recycled materials. There are many advantages to cellulose insulation, but the best feature researchers discovered is that when you "cap" your fiberglass insulation with cellulose, it not only adds R-value, it actually restores the effective R-value that fiberglass loses during cold weather.
We're proud of our attic retrofit projects and the lasting improvement provided, to enhance comfort, energy efficiency and building durability, while preventing mold, and drastically reducing the formation of ice dams. Comfort by Kodiak is the only mountain region contractor with a 6+ year track record of achievement in the Home Performance with Energy Star quality assurance program, and over 100 successful projects locally. Thank you for considering our company's well-considered and experienced installation for your comfort needs.
