March 2023 - Elivad

Benefits of Attic Insulation

An attic can be a great bonus or focal point when buying or selling a home. The extra space, potential living space, and aesthetic value can easily transform a simple house into a real home. But unless it’s properly insulated, you could also expect future headaches. Attic insulation can provide a range of benefits. But what are they?

Energy Savings

According to the Energy Information Administration, projected electrical costs nationwide are expected to rise slowly over the next several years. However, utility costs rose a whopping 14.3% between 2021 and 2022. That’s double the amount of inflation. Any type of consistent cost-reduction effort can lead to significant savings. Insulating your attic can help reduce the heat that escapes from your home during the winter, and keep your home cooler in the summer, which can easily lower your heating and cooling bills.

Increased Comfort

If your home is drafty or regularly fluctuates in temperature, it could be due to the need for proper insulation in your attic. Heat rises, and it can easily escape through an uninsulated room or attic. By reducing heat transfer, insulation can help keep your home at a more consistent temperature, eliminating hot and cold spots and improving overall comfort. While cool air doesn’t rise as significantly, it can still escape if insulation isn’t intact.

Reduced Noise

Unless you live in the middle of the woods in complete silence, chances are outdoor noises have bothered someone in your home. Traffic, road construction, line workers, airplanes, and even neighbors playing music or hosting seasonal barbecues can affect you inside your own home. Insulation can also help reduce outside noise by absorbing those sound waves, making your home quieter and more peaceful.

Extended Roof Life

Winter in the Midwest is especially rough on homes. The weight of accumulated snow can cause materials to shift and bow, but the snow alone isn’t the worst part–it’s the ice. As the snow melts and re-accumulates, the water thaws and refreezes. Without proper insulation and roof repairs, that water can seep beneath your external materials. That ice then forms and expands inside your home. Once the ice melts, guess where it drips and collects? Inside your home. That can lead to all sorts of other problems, including decay, pests, and mold. Insulation helps regulate the temperature in your attic, which can prevent ice dams from forming on your roof during the winter, reducing the risk of roof damage.

Better Indoor Air Quality

According to the EPA, Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. And indoor air pollution can be up to 5 times worse than outdoor pollution concentrations. Insulation can help prevent moisture buildup in your attic, which can reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth and improve indoor air quality.

Environmentally friendly insulation doesn’t just reduce energy costs. Insulating your home is an environmentally friendly choice as it reduces the amount of energy required to heat or cool your home, thus reducing carbon emissions and your environmental footprint. Be sure to contact Modern Pros when you’re ready to get a quote for attic insulation.

4 Reasons to Feel Lucky with Invisalign

lucky with Invisalign impressions dental

Traditional metal braces are a go-to for many adolescents and even adults with moderate to severe orthodontic concerns. However, there are alternatives, such as Invisalign, to getting a perfect smile without feeling like you’ve lost the lottery in the process. But what are some reasons that may help you feel lucky with Invisalign?

Aesthetic Angle

Unlike traditional metal braces or even “clear” braces, Invisalign is virtually invisible. This means that you can straighten your teeth without any type of bracket, wire, or cement fixture on your teeth. In fact, no one has to know that you are wearing the aligners unless you decide to tell them. This is a huge advantage for people who are self-conscious about their appearance or who work in professions where appearance is important. It’s also a huge bonus for socially active teens or adults who don’t want metal braces to steal the show during a first impression or even while on a date.

Continual Comfort

Invisalign aligners are made of a smooth, comfortable thermoplastic material called SmartTrack. The multilayer polyurethane/co-polyester is safe for dental needs and created to be comfortable while repairing a number of bite or visual concerns. Unlike traditional metal braces, they don’t have any sharp or protruding edges that can irritate your mouth or cause discomfort. This means that you can wear them for extended periods without experiencing any discomfort.

Freedom and Convenience

Braces are fantastic for repairing dental issues over time, but there are a lot of rules during the procedure, especially when it comes to food. They can also be difficult to clean, get food stuck in the brackets, build up bacteria and decay in the mouth, and even leave stains on the teeth, which result in more dental visits. Invisalign aligners, on the other hand, are removable, which means that you can take them out to eat, brush your teeth, floss, and clean the aligners before replacing them in your mouth. This makes it much easier to maintain good oral hygiene during your orthodontic treatment. It also means that you don’t have to make any major dietary changes, as you would with traditional braces. So popcorn, candy, and even chewing gum can still be enjoyed within reason.

Faster Results

The procedure time for traditional braces varies depending on the individual’s needs. But most issues regarding spacing or overcrowding concerns take a minimum of 36 months. In many cases, Invisalign treatment can be completed in a shorter period of time than traditional braces. This is because the aligners are designed to gradually move your teeth into their correct positions over time rather than clamp and require mechanical repairs throughout the procedure time. Invisalign aligners allow your teeth to shift more naturally and the aligners need less attention from your orthodontist. That means that you may be able to achieve your desired results in as little as 12-18 months.

Ready to feel lucky with Invisalign? Contact Are braces making you feel like you’ve lost your pot of gold? Visit Chandler dentist Dr. Brigham Baker and discover how to feel lucky again with Invisalign. today to see if Invisalign is right for you.

Need a Roof Replacement? 5 Cost Factors to Think About

Regardless of whether you own a home or a commercial business, at some point, you’ll probably need to consider roof replacement. This is especially true in the Midwest, where the weather can quickly wreak havoc on external structures. But before diving into the first “deal” you find, consider some of the cost factors involved with replacing your roof so you’re not taken by surprise or, even worse, choose the wrong roofing contractor in Michigan.

Home Size and Shape

Homes and businesses can have varying roof shapes, which affect overall roof replacement costs. Issues such as the slope or pitch of the roof, roof accessibility, and actual square footage of the roof can require significantly more materials and labor. If safety is a concern, your hired contractor may need an extra worker or even a team of contractors to help them complete the job.

Types of Damage and Structural Problems

Your chosen roofing contractor in Michigan will need to know what type of damage and potential structural problems occur. Damage may be limited to moderate winds, fallen limbs, or even minimal water damage. But heavy water damage, ice dams, and other weather-related or structural issues may cause extra labor, extended work times, and far more replacement materials. Survey the issues from ground level and get closer to take pictures if safety isn’t an issue. The more a contractor knows about the repair needs upfront, the more likely they’ll be to provide a relatively cost estimate.

The Extent of Existing Roofing Materials and Required Demolition

You may not know how many layers of roofing materials are on your home or business roof, but knowing that upfront will help with cost estimates. If you have multiple layers to your roof, that will extend the demolition time. But don’t worry if you’re not immediately aware of that information since a good roofing contractor can discover that for you. Just be wary of any contractor who claims it’s okay to install new shingles or other materials over worn roofing materials. That will probably lead to extensive rot or other damage, which will lead to more structural damage and higher repair costs later.

Preferred Roofing Materials

One of the biggest cost factors for replacing your roof will be the materials the homeowner and contractor agree to use. If you don’t care what materials are used or if you want to go as cheap as possible, a good contractor may suggest asphalt or specially treated fiberglass shingles. But if you decide you want wood or slate shingles, expect the final costs to swell, especially compared to an estimate that didn’t originally include those high-end materials.

Extra Installation Requirements

Roof replacements and repairs don’t always just include roofing materials. Sometimes the customer needs a special coating or waterproof barrier. Perhaps they also want a skylight installed. Often, gutters and shingles also need to be replaced. Know what extra installation options you need or want and expect the overall costs to reflect those decisions. Call us when you’re ready to discuss those needs with a roofing contractor in Michigan, and we’ll help you make the best decisions for your situation.