by Charles Hendricks | Mar 15, 2013 | Building Science, Local Leaders
Give a brief summary of what your company does and who you are as a company.
Elite Insulation & PolyPro LLC is a locally owned and operated family business established by Bob, Ken and Chris Wells. Being involved in the traditional fiberglass insulation for many years, we have witnessed changes in the insulation industry. Namely, the increasing cost of energy, consumer driven environmental awareness and a demand for more efficient homes.
Traditional insulation has its limits and in order to meet consumer needs, Elite Insulation & PolyPro set out to provide a range of insulation systems that would significantly improve the way homes and buildings are insulated. Spray Polyurethane foams (SPF) and their associated hybrid methods are those systems. We are the Valley’s leading full-service spray polyurethane foam insulation company.
Our many years of industry experience ensure that we provide valuable insight and offer solutions that keep projects on track and within budget. Customer satisfaction is our priority and we take pride in our commitment to quality and service. Our sales and operations staff are spray foam experts that have been properly educated in the building science concepts, with over 80 years combined industry experience. Polypro applicators are thoroughly trained professionals that specialize in installing SPF correctly and rapidly and have the benefit of using the newest and most up to date equipment.
Give us some background on your company. What do you do and why do you do it?
I (and my brother Chris) have literally grown up in the insulation industry. My Dad, Bob Wells, managed an insulation contracting branch while we were in school and we would work installing insulation in the summers. He seemed to really like giving us the jobs that his installers would refuse, such as the really tight, dirty, crawl spaces. At 22 years old I was made a branch manager for a that same large corporation in the Shenandoah Valley, and held that position for 6 years until myself and my family decided to branch out and start our own business.
Do you have an ideal client? If so, what do they look like?
An ideal client for me is just someone who will trust in our expertise and allow us to help them get the best possible job while remaining within their budget. Good communication always helps too.
What is your favorite success story in the past few years?
I think for a contractor or anyone in the construction related industry these days, staying in business is the biggest success story. Other than that, winning back to back (2011& 2012) SPFA National Excellence awards, as well as being a finalist this year for the same award (third place), speaks volumes about our company and has certainly been exciting for us.
What do you like to do for fun? Favorite restaurant? Favorite place to spend a Saturday afternoon?
Anything that I can do with my kids or family, I consider fun. Recently, with my kids becoming more involved with sports, I find myself really enjoying watching them play. We also really enjoy tailgating at JMU football games, and “primative” family camping. My favorite restaurant is any place that can prepare an excellent “Pittsburgh Rare” steak. Hands down, my favorite place to spend a Saturday would be surf/pier fishing somewhere in the Outer Banks, while “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” plays in my head.
What is on your (iPod, radio, phone) while you work?
I usually don’t listen to music while I work, but in the gym you can find just about everything on my phone, from Pink Floyd to Hard Rock and Rap. Classic Rock, Rock, and Country would be at the top of the list with Pink Floyd being my all-time favorite band.
What is your favorite book?
It has been a while since I have fully finished a book other than “The Cat in The Hat”, but as I remember, “The Sphere”, by Michael Criton was one of my favorites. I am a big science and science fiction fan. One thing that I do read cover to cover is Discover Magazine.
What is your favorite app for your phone or iPod?
All of my favorites have navigation in common. Telenav is my general navigation app that has never failed me. SageQuest is the app I use to locate our fleet trucks in real time, and RunKeeper is my personal trainer and record keeper for my exercise routines.
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I think that would be a toss-up, as I have extremely fond childhood memories of vacationing in Nags Head, but just recently was fortunate enough to go on a Disney Cruise (my wife is a travel agent) with my wife and kids. One of the stops was Cozumel, and as a biology major in college, I could snorkel and look at ocean wildlife in crystal clear water for days on end. Also, when I did get out of the water, I had the most wonderful Mexican food to snack on. For me, snorkeling and good Mexican food is a tough combo to beat!
What historical figure would you most like to have dinner with and why?
I would thoroughly enjoy sitting and eating with one of the great Egyptian Pharaohs (take your pick). There are so many unanswered questions from this time period, maybe we could learn a thing or two.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 14, 2013 | Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
Green Building continued:
The client is responsible for forming the best possible team to achieve the green building goals they, the client, sets for the project. In selecting your architect and contractor you must sort through the green washing that has become very prevalent in the construction industry. Your architect should have a proven understanding of building science as shown through past successful projects and appropriate certifications (Registered Architect, Construction Document Technologist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, LEED Accredited Professional, and EarthCraft trained). Your contractor should have past experience building high performance homes, understand the team approach means all parties are involved through the entire project, and have an openness to innovative solutions.
A green home is one whose construction and lifetime operation assure the healthiest possible environment while representing the most efficient and least disruptive use of land, water, energy, and resources. Green building pays dividends to the home owner through lower monthly utility bills, healthy indoor air quality, low maintenance, and knowledge that you are having the minimal negative impact on future generations’ ability to achieve the same.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 13, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
There are many definitions of what green building is or does. Definitions range from a building that is “less bad” than the average building in terms of its impact on the environment to a building that is “high performance.” My definition is a home / building that meets the budget, is adaptable, durable, preserves or restores habitat, reduces energy and water use, and provides healthy indoor air quality.
It is critical to make the decision to “go green” early in the construction process. The first step is to create a team that understands building science, works well together, and are experts at green design and construction. A balanced team for home design includes an architect, contractor, and a client. All parties have to work together to design and build the project in order to achieve the best solution. Eliminating any team member from any part of the process will result in a building that is not as green as possible.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 11, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. The EPA recommends that you test your home for radon and install a mitigation system if the level is 4 picocuries per liter or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced. So what is the correct way to test for radon?
1. Purchase a do-it-yourself short-term test radon test kit from your local home supply store. Be sure to read the directions carefully and follow them exactly. These DIY kits are inexpensive and can be very accurate if used properly.
2. If the test comes back marginal or high, hire a local independent building inspector(here or here) or certified radon tester to do a long-term test.
There is no known safe level of radon, so if there is radon present take actions to reduce it. There are several methods to reduce radon in your home, but the most common is a vent system and fan which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it outside. You can also try to seal all the gaps and cracks, create positive air pressure in your basement, add a fresh air exchange, or introduce fresh air ventilation into the space.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 4, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
As we learn more about building science homes are being built tighter through good construction details. This is a GOOD thing. The new worry is that many products used in homes off gas chemicals known in the industry at Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). These chemicals have adverse short and long term health impacts on the people living in your home. While we are still learning a lot about what chemicals are safe – if any – you should be sure to use those proven products that are available with a NO-VOC option. Paints, caulks, adhesives, stains, and joint compounds are just the starting point. Discuss with your architect the options, which products seem to be working and which have durability issues, and make wise decisions for your family. Product selection along with a appropriate ventilation system in your home will lead to better health for everyone living there.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 1, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
In a recent Facebook post, I included this statement:
Caulking is one of the best protections for Healthy Indoor Air Quality in a home.
Which led to this question:
How does caulking help with healthy indoor air-quality?
The answer came from Insulation and building science expert, Ken Wells of Elite Insulation.
Air infiltration can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs, and contribute to problems with moisture, noise, dust, and the entry of pollutants, insects, and rodents. Reducing infiltration can significantly cut annual heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment. According to a 2005 National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) study, an energy savings of up to 62% can be realized by undertaking specific air tightness measures. In addition to energy loss, air infiltration reduces occupant comfort, interferes with efficient operation of mechanical systems, reduces indoor air quality, and contributes to condensation and moisture damage in the building envelope system. Using tight construction methods is said to be like closing a hole in your wall the size of an open window.
According to the Air Barrier Association of America, a “typical 2,500 square foot home has more than a half mile of cracks and crevices.” Unsealed, about a third of the air leakage in a home occurs through the floors, walls, and ceilings.
In a recent Facebook post, I included this statement: