An office building that always feels stifling and stuffy, a retail store with a drafty stockroom, or an apartment complex with units that vary between sweltering and downright frigid may be a sign that your building’s insulation needs some attention. 

When it comes to commercial spaces, the comfort of tenants, residents, occupants, and guests is paramount. However, how can you know when it’s time to replace your insulation — or if the insulation is the culprit for your building heating and cooling issues? 

Here’s five tips from the experts and Oaks Brothers, Inc — an expert commercial insulation contractor that’s been helping commercial buildings restore comfort, safety, and energy efficiency to their spaces for over three decades. 

Five Signs You Need New Insulation 

If you’ve been experiencing any of these issues, consider evaluating your insulation. All of the following are signs that your insulation isn’t doing its job properly.

1. Increased Energy Bills 

The first sign your insulation isn’t doing its job is a creeping energy bill. Of course, as utility prices rise and seasons change, you can expect a correlating change in your bills as well. But if you notice a consistent rise in energy consumption, that could point to insulation that is no longer keeping your building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

Make sure you (or your property manager) is clued into your building’s average energy consumption, so you can make decisions when you see noticeable changes. When 

2. Visible Moisture, Mold, or Water Damage 

Another way to tell your insulation has some issues is visible moisture, typically in the form of condensation, mildew, or mold. This means humidity levels are elevated in your building. This can be a direct cause of poor insulation performance, but it can also mean water intrusion has happened and has caused damage to your insulation. 

An expert with experience in exteriors as well as insulation can help you identify the root cause of your moisture issues, and design a fix that replaces any compromised insulation as well as repairing exterior cladding that may have let water inside.  

3. Drafts or Uneven Temperature Indoors 

If you are noticing significant changes in temperature, drafty areas, or spaces that seem to never get as hot or cool as the rest of your building, you may have a problem with your insulation. Insulation should keep your property at a relatively even temperature, and prevent conditions outside from having an extreme effect on your interiors. 

4. Visible Damage to Insulation 

Another sign that your insulation’s performance is compromised is visible damage to the insulation. It may seem obvious that something that looks damaged wouldn’t perform — but since insulation is often hidden within the walls, you may not notice the damage immediately. An uptick in pests may signify that insulation has gaps or holes, leaving space for pests to enter. 

In addition, if you look at the insulation itself and can see that it’s sagging, discolored, and has areas of changed texture, you likely have a problem, even if you can’t see visible holes. 

If you can spot any signs of damage to your insulation, it’s likely that it needs to be replaced.

5. Age of Existing Insulation 

Finally, insulation does have an expiration date. While it won’t necessarily “go bad,” it may lose insulating properties over time. If your structure is over twenty years old, you may want to assess if your insulation is still in good condition. 

Some types of insulation, like fiberglass insulation, can last decades when well-maintained. Other types, like cellulose, may degrade sooner. However, the quality of application as well as the maintenance over time makes the biggest difference. 

What Happens When Insulation Deteriorates

In short — nothing good. Insulation helps keep your building at a comfortable temperature for occupants, but it also helps protect your building. If insulation isn’t working properly, your building will have a harder time staying cool or warm. This will directly impact your cost to heat and cool your space! 

It can also lead to moisture issues, as warm or cool air causes condensation, or compromised exteriors lead to water intrusion. This can create a damp and musty environment, and at its most extreme, create conditions where toxic mold thrives. 

Finally, though damaged insulation is not a structural issue, it can lead to faster corrosion of metal, rotting of wood, and degradation of your structural integrity. Ensure you protect your property by keeping your commercial building well-insulated!

What to Know About Commercial Insulation

Insulation is measured by an “r-value,” or a numeric measurement of how well it resists heat transfer. A high r-value means that the material is more insulating, and allows less heat to pass through. 

It’s important to consider the r-value of the material that will be insulating your commercial building, as well as other factors like longevity, environmental conditions like the climate and weather, as well as the structural demands of your space. Commercial buildings also often have requirements for energy efficiency that may impact your choices for insulation. 

Different options can be: 

Sprayed insulation

Sprayed foam insulation is a common choice for commercial buildings, due to its low installed cost, flexibility of application, and performance. Spray-applied insulation has an r-value per inch that varies from 3.2 to 7.5. Depending on the thickness and materials used, a spray-applied insulation will have a total r-value of 12-28. 

EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) 

EIFS is a non-load bearing, multi-layered system that includes exterior cladding, weatherproofing, and insulation. It provides a decorative, customizable finish that allows you to choose the style and texture. EIFS includes an insulating layer, cementitious adhesive base coat, fiberglass mesh for reinforcement and durability, and a final finish layer. This is an efficient option for commercial buildings in need of new insulation. 

Get Expertise from Commercial Insulation Contractor 

If you have a commercial building and are concerned about the condition of your insulation, get in touch with Oaks Brothers, Inc. We are a family-owned company with over 3 decades of experience as exterior and insulation contractors. 

We know how to ensure commercial buildings are insulated properly, leading to lower energy consumption, smaller utility bills, and increased comfort for occupants. Plus, we also handle exterior cladding and fireproofing — meaning we can handle everything your exterior project needs. 
Learn more about our services and how we can help commercial buildings maintain safe and comfortable conditions.