Saving Money in the Long Run

Penny Wise but Pound Foolish

Save money for the lifetime you are in your homeThis year, more than ever before, you will want to make the holidays special.

Due to COVID and the on-again, off-again restrictions, travel isn’t recommended, which means that while your in-laws will hopefully be staying home this year, you probably won’t be taking a long siesta on a Mexican beach either.

Have you been putting off finishing areas of your home to have a home office/ home school/ she shed/ man cave… Will your garage be the place to host guests for a few months to come? Now is the time to do it! Perhaps you need to replace your heating unit, but upgrading to a larger unit, not to mention the additional heating costs, gives you a headache, so you put it off again.

There is one easy way to give you and your family what everyone really wants for Christmas; a comfortably warm and cozy home.

That Age-Old Saying is Still True Today
I know you’ve heard, and probably used, the adage “penny wise but pound foolish.” This saying applies to those in the greater Chicago area who believe that simply using the pink fiberglass insulation is good enough because that’s “what everyone uses.”

To be honest, that might be what contractors use because it’s inexpensive and keeps their costs down, but it’s definitely NOT what smart people use.
I remember a client who was building a new home and went along with the contractor’s suggestion for fiberglass insulation. It was good enough for others, so she thought it would also be good enough for her.

We had one of those “Polar Vortex” cold fronts move through Chicago that year. As this woman was shivering under the covers in her old home, she remembered that the old house was also insulated with fiberglass.

She immediately called the contractor and insisted on spray foam insulation. She did NOT want to be shivering in her new home the way she was at that moment in her old one.

The contractor told her that spray foam would cost her considerably more. After calling Chicago Green, we explained how the initial outlay was more than the traditional fiberglass, yes, but in the long run, she would save far more money in energy costs while remaining warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

I gave her an estimate and got the job.

Do the Math
Generally speaking, a single-family home (3000 sq’) that uses spray foam over fiberglass will cost an average of $10,000 more.

While that seems expensive, you should look at the overall savings if you were to stay in that home over 30 years.

The initial $10,000 works out to about $60 a month for a 30-year mortgage. You will save far, far more than $60 a month in energy bills each and every month over that same 30-year period.

Even if you don’t stay in the home for 30 years, having spray foam insulation is a big selling point.

For the home I mentioned above, we applied spray foam to the underside of the roof, the crawlspace, and the basement walls. This ensured that her new home would be virtually airtight (other than windows and doors, of course). There would be no cold spots, no unusable rooms or basement, no drafts, and a major soundproofing advantage over fiberglass.

When this was completed, we spoke with the HVAC contractor and we were able to reduce her cooling needs by 40%, which means she purchased a smaller tonnage compressor. We also reduced her heating needs by 60%.

This client saved money right off the bat by being able to use a smaller heating and air conditioning unit because her new house was so well insulated.
Within 4 short years, this client will recoup all the money she spent on the spray foam insulation and she will save money every single month after that. Not every year, but every single month.

When this was completed, we spoke with the HVAC contractor and we were able to reduce her cooling needs by 40%, which means she purchased a smaller tonnage compressor. We also reduced her heating needs by 60%.

Does Your Brother in Law Want to DIY?
I don’t want to talk smack about anyone’s family member or your friends, but the cold hard fact here is that spray foam is really NOT a DIY job.

Spray foam is a mix of chemicals that must be mixed in the proper ratios, but they need to be mixed at the right temperature. No, not the temperature of the room, but of the chemicals.

The area needs to be prepared correctly, the chemicals must be mixed properly, and they need to be kept at the right temperature. Any deviation from these rules means the job will fail.

I’ve seen plenty of DIY jobs where the foam shrank and pulled away from the walls or the roof, allowing moisture to form behind the insulation and grow mold.

I’ve also seen gaps or low spots, which cause homeowners to complain of drafts.

Last, but not least, these chemicals can be dangerous to your health if you aren’t using the proper safety equipment.

I understand that people want to save money where they can, but I’ve seen plenty of homeowners with well-meaning friends or relatives who botched the job. Not only did we need to redo the work, but it cost the homeowner extra because all the DIY foam had to be removed first.

Call us for an estimate and you will be pleasantly surprised at how little the difference is between a DIY kit and a professional job.

Give Your Family What They Really Want This Year
Since you and your family are going to be home for the holidays this year, why not give everyone the gift of a warm, comfortable living space?

Call us today and I will be happy to show you how spray foam insulation will save you money in the long run.

We understand that money is a big concern to everyone right now, which is why we are proud to be a team member with Hearth Financing.  We will work with you until we find a payment plan that will suit your needs.

One of the best investments you will ever make to your castle is spray foam insulation. There’s a reason why we are Chicago’s Top-Rated spray foam installer- we do it right the first time!

I always say that COMFORT is only a FOAM call away! We are open and ready to serve you today, so call us for a free estimate so you and your family can have the warmest, coziest holiday season ever. Next to Mexico, that is.


About the Author, Tom Decker

With ten years of experience selling spray foam insulation in Chicago, Tom Decker is THE person to call and the Chicago Green Insulation is the organization to hire when you are looking for top notch quality and performance as well as someone who can deal with the needs of code officials, home owners and general contractors. Call the others in Chicago, if you are interested in the cheapest price, call Chicago Green Insulation if you are interested in using your dollars to make Chicago a better city for all of us!

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