Gaines Group Architects
attic insulation

Ready for winter? Check your attic.

As the cold weather approaches, it is time to make sure you are ready for the change. The easiest place to make improvements in most homes is the attic.
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First day of winter

Make your home comfortable this winter

Do you want to make your home comfortable this winter? I purchased an older home, built in 1975, a few months ago. The location is perfect and the layout is functional for what we need as a family right now. However, the house was not energy-efficient at all when we moved in. It...
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air leaks

Is your home comfortable? Energy Audit Follow up

An energy-audit is a great “tune-up” for your existing home. I have been offering energy-audits for free for people in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County now for about four years. My goal is to help people reduce their monthly bills by identifying easy to correct...
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attic insulation

Insulation in Your Attic Can Determine Your Comfort in Your Living Room

It is important to have the right amount of insulation in your attic: The minimum amount of insulation you should have in your attic ranges from 8 – 12″ depending on your insulation type. Spray foam could need less. Adding insulation over what you already have is an...
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attic insulation

Get an Energy Audit to Verify Your House Doesn’t Have Unwanted Guests

I went out to do an energy audit at Massanutten yesterday. The home was clearly well maintained. It was 30+ years old, was not showing signs of neglect, and the heat was ON. It was very warm inside just like the homeowners like it. We took a moment to talk about their concerns...
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harrisonburg spray foam

How Much Insulation Should You Have in Your Attic?

There are three main types of attic insulation: fiberglass, cellulose, and foam. In new construction we almost always specify open-cell spray foam insulation. It creates an air-tight envelope for the top of your home. So how much should you install? Since it is air tight, R-38...

My attic is killing my monthly electric bills – what problems do you see?

In a mixed humid climate (Central Virginia) the attic is probably the most important element when trying to achieve a healthy, energy-efficient, and durable solution. There are a lot of problems in this one – what do you see? I will post my thoughts tomorrow.