Frequently Asked Questions

Insulation

Due to its total coverage and the tight seal it creates, spray foam insulation is ideal for small gaps, crevices, and cracks in your home’s envelope, as well as around piping and ductwork.

Two of the most popular types of insulation are cellulose and fiberglass. They both are effective at helping reduce sound transfer and can be blown into wall cavities. Their main differences are:

  • Organic (cellulose) vs. synthetic (fiberglass) materials
  • Color
  • R-value and weight

Professional installation helps ensure the best results. Another way to make sure your insulation is working as efficiently as possible is to seal any air leaks, which can undermine the performance of insulation, and make sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible. One way to do this is through an ENERGY STAR home assessment.

Blanket insulation can be made up of rolls or batts, and it’s one of the most commonly used types of insulation. It is mainly installed in spaces that are relatively free from obstructions.

Although it’s difficult to measure exactly how much insulation can save based on a universal scale, in our experience, homeowners can save a lot of money each year by installing insulation! We believe re-insulating is a great way to maximize your home’s energy efficiency. Specifics about how much energy you can save with insulation depend on where you live, the size of your house, the type of HVAC systems you have and more.

For historic building insulation, sustainable, natural materials such as cellulose, wood, plant fiber or will (which is known as “reversible” insulation) are recommended for materials. Cellulose insulation is usually considered the best insulation for older homes, especially the walls.

Re-insulating your home provides all the benefits mentioned before – higher energy efficiency, lower monthly bills, more comfortable home, etc. You probably need to re-insulate your home if it was built in the 19070s or earlier. When considering whether to install more insulation, look out for:

  • Higher than normal energy bills
  • Drafty rooms
  • Uneven temperatures from room to room
  • Air conditioning running more than normal during the summer
  • Ice dams in the winter

Learn more about re-insulation »

Limiting the transmission of sound from one area to another requires a material that encloses the source of the noise, forming a barrier between the source and the adjacent area. This is what insulation does! Fiberglass and cellulose are the best types of insulation for soundproofing purposes.

R-value refers to how effective insulation is at stopping heat transfer. The higher the R-value, the better! R-value depends on a few things, including the material, thickness and density of the insulation. To achieve the highest possible R-value and to get the most out of your insulation, it’s important you insulate correctly – improper insulation installation can completely debunk your home energy efficiency efforts!

Insulating your home actually offers more benefits than just lowering your energy bills. Insulation:

  • Keeps your home more comfortable year round
  • Helps improve the efficiency of your air conditioner
  • Muffles noises from outside (and between different levels and rooms inside your home)
  • Can boost the resale value of your home
  • Helps reduce or even eliminate air leakage
  • Can decrease your carbon footprint

Insulation is essentially any material used to fill the spaces as well as little gaps and crevices in your home (behind walls, above ceilings, etc.) to resist heat flow by reflection, absorption (it depends on the material!). This increases your home’s energy efficiency and helps reduce your monthly bills – heat doesn’t as easily leak into and out of your home, keeping it much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

An insulation contractor can help you determine how much insulation you need. But generally speaking, there are a few factors that affect how much you will need to insulate:

  • Climate zone you live in (you can refer to this zone map to see what zone we are in!)
  • Age of your home
  • Type of HVAC system you have
  • The area(s) of your home you need to insulate

Fireplaces

Direct-vent fireplaces are sealed combustion units. Because they don’t use air from your home to operate, the fire is always behind a piece of safety glass, acting as a fireplace screen.

There are many energy-efficient gas fireplace inserts available. Here at MIG, we have found that Kingsman inserts are among not only the most energy-efficient but also the most attractive.

When it comes to choosing between a gas and wood burning fireplace, it all comes down to your preferences—there is no “best” fireplace.

Gutters

Yes! Together with Gutter Helmet® (a gutter guard system), the Helmet Heat® gutter heating system helps prevent damage caused by snow, ice dams and more.

Learn more about ice dams and how to prevent damage to your home

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Standing water in your gutters is usually indicative of a leak (either in the gutters or a downspout), which can be caused by small sticks or twigs, tree branches, leaves, etc.

Do you need new gutters for your home? You have probably heard of both seamless and sectional gutters. But which one should you get? What is the difference between them?

Shower Doors

Ordinary glass is prone to damage and aging from hard water, soap, humidity and more. ShowerGuard is an entirely different kind of glass that’s protected during manufacturing with a patented ion beam process. This technology permanently seals the glass surface and creates a shower door that stays beautiful with just a minimal amount of cleaning.

There are a few problems you may be experiencing with your shower door. Common signs that you need to replace it include incorrect operation (door doesn’t close all the way or doesn’t fit properly), rust, cracked glass, etc.

A framed shower door has framework, usually chrome or gold, around the operable part of the door while a frameless door doesn’t have any framework.

Closets

Do you have a small closet that just never seems to stay organized? This is frustrating—but the problem can be fixed with a good custom design and organization!

Energy Efficiency

If you know where your home has the most potential for energy efficiency, you can start by insulating those places.

The Comprehensive Home Assessment shows you exactly where your home is costing you extra money—it’s a fast-track solution to maximizing your home’s energy efficiency.

The Comprehensive Home Assessment is a two-phase assessment of your current home to help improve its energy efficiency and comfort.

Learn More

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