"Fake-out" Insulation

Today's sales call was interesting. Many of you may have "fake-out" insulation in your attic - and don't even know it.

What is "Fake-out" insulation? It is insulation that appears to be installed correctly and you would never know it was incorrect unless you did a "lift check." In today's attic, the client asked me to quote adding an additional R19 value over his existing R19 fiberglass. Upon my climbing into the attic, I did my lift check to see what type of insulation was installed (vapor barrier, etc.). Upon lifting up one section of paper backed insulation, it was approximately 2" in thickness, stapled to the joist and HANGING over the cavity. This means that there was an air pocket, making the insulation non-effective and fooling the client into believing that he had an R19.

I continued on my trek across his attic to a foiled section of insulation, performing another lift check. This was even better. It was foil PAPER, no insulation attached. R- BIG ZERO. So, this gentleman who was looking for an R19 add is now looking at an overall R36 add. Big difference.

The funny part of the story (if you want to call it funny) was that 2 other contractors had already been out, did a groundhog investigation (poked their head up through the hole) and gave him a quote for R19. Funny sad, I guess.

The moral of this sales call? Don't believe everything you see.

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