Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. How much does it cost to insulate a house?
- A. That depends on many factors such as size and age of the house, existing insulation, area you want insulated and your budget. That is why it is best for one of our energy consultants to visit your home and assess your options for improvement.
- Q. How do I know that you are the best contractor to do the job?
- A. Previous customers and competitors agree; we are thorough and deliver the building performance we say we will. Check out or testimonials on the resources page and Angie's List.
- Q. Why should I choose Hayes over another company whose price is much lower?
- A. You get what you pay for-you can either get a detailed, thorough job tailored specifically for your home or a general package with material limits and cost caps. Our knowledgeable installers and consultants have a great understanding of their trade and a genuine desire to see every customer get the best result possible. Click here for more details.
- Q. What if I can't afford to do everything recommended?
- A. Our energy consultants prioritize their recommendations so you know which improvements need to be done first and what can wait. We are also willing to show you what improvements you can do yourself and the best way to do them.
There are also programs available for low interest loans at various lending institutions around the metro. The Metropolitan Energy Center tracks what is available. Click here for details.
We accept payment by check, cash, and all major credit cards.
- Q. How do I determine if this work is really going to save me money?
- A. Energy improvements and their paybacks have been tracked for decades. Hayes installs proven improvements at code requirements. Energy efficiency improvements reduce the amount spent on energy bills and maintenance on your heating and cooling equipment. Most energy improvements qualify for federal and state income tax credits as well. As utility rates continue to climb reducing the amount of energy your home consumes becomes more and more important.
Here are some free resources to get your started:
-Energy Star provides a calculator to estimate savings for replacement appliances. www.energystar.gov
-Metropolitan Energy Center has a whole house survey. http://mec-portal.greenenergycompass.org/
- Q. Does insulating have any other benefits besides comfort and energy savings?
- A. Absolutely! If your home is properly air-sealed, many of the outside allergens, dust and bugs not be able to enter your home, resulting in better air quality. Insulation also has acoustical properties meaning the house has a softer and quieter feel and outside noises have less impact.
- Q. What is a blower door test?
- A. A blower door test is the industry standard way to test air leakage in a home. The blower door can be used to give a score of a home's air tightness. It can also be used to find the individual air leaks. The measure returned is ACH which is air changes per hour. This number explains how many times in 1 hour the house has completely new air.
ACH ratings scale
.10 Too Tight! You need fresh air exchange.
.35 Good ACH Rating to reach.
.60 This is a inefficient and uncomfortable house.
1.00 You may as well live in a barn. It would be cheaper and almost as comfortable.
- Q. What is a the building envelope or shell?
- A. The building envelope (shell) includes everything that separates your home from the outside: walls, ceiling, doors, windows. The building envelope (shell) elements should all have an air barrier, appropriate thermal barrier, and should be properly designed to control any moisture that could arise in the shell or outside of it.
When The Hayes Company evaluates your home envelope we look to see if these barriers are present, doing their job and if they can be improved to improve the comfort of the home.
- Q. What insurance do you carry?
- A. Hayes is fully insured for liability as well as worker's compensation.
- Q. Can I use spray foam in my house?
- A. Yes. Hayes has a proven track record for insulating and air-sealing to reduce air-infiltration and increase thermal protection. From bungalows to estates spray foam gets the job done.
- Q. What is the difference between closed cell and open cell?
- A. There are two main performance differences:
1) Closed cell foam acts as a vapor barrier. Open cell does not.
2) Closed cell foam has a higher R-value per inch than open cell.
So, why not just use closed cell all the time? Well, the cost of closed cell is significantly higher per inch. Also, you don't always want or need a vapor barrier. For most applications, the air and thermal barriers provided by open cell foam is all that is necessary.
- Q. What manufacturer do you use for shower doors?
- A. Southeast Aluminum and a variety of others. We want to get you the best product at the most reasonable price.
- Q. What are the edging options?
- A. We can do straight line beveling and pencil edging on mirrors in our shop. Other edges we send off-site.
