As a homeowner, you may find yourself avoiding the costs of hiring a professional company for certain projects in order to save a little bit of money. You may be tempted to engage in DIY installation projects when the need arises in new construction or when your current installation requires replacement. It is important to understand that you may – in fact – experience several negative consequences as a result of this choice.
There are many risks associated with handling various types of insulation. Before skipping out on hiring a professional, you should become familiar with some of the dangers of DIY insulation. In this guide, we will outline these dangers.
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Improper Installation
The first danger of DIY insulation is that there is a chance that you may install the material inappropriately. This could lead to gaps within the product. These gaps render what is placed useless. When installing insulation, you must make certain that the seal is air tight in order for the products to work appropriately. If there are gaps, air will make its way through. Your home will become drafty and will be more prone to moisture accumulation. In addition to this, improper installation could pose a wide assortment of health risks for all that reside within the home.
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Skin Irritation
If the insulation being placed is fiberglass, and your skin comes into contact with it, it will instantly become irritated. You will quickly find that where the contact was made become red, itchy, and you may even experience pain. Even if you are using a spray foam type of insulation, the chemicals may still irritate your skin upon contact. These products may also irritate the nasal cavities and the eyes.
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Respiratory Problems
If you come into contact with the material from DIY insulation, you may find that you develop respiratory problems. This stems from the fibers within the insulation. These may cause coughing, and wheezing. If you suffer from asthma, the insulation may exacerbate the symptoms that accompany the illness. If you use spray foam insulation, the same respiratory-based symptoms may occur. The spray foam contains harmful vapors and aerosols when it is initially placed. Shortness of breath, lung irritation, a sore throat, and a stuffy nose may develop.
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The Development of an Allergy
It is very possible to develop an allergy after being exposed to insulation. This is called “sensitization”. If this happens, it is possible to – eventually – develop asthma.
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Installation is Difficult
When a professional installs insulation, it looks very simple. The truth of the matter is, though, it can prove to be difficult to do DIY installation. It comes with many health risks, you must inspect the home and determine what type of insulation that you require, gather up all of the materials, install it, and test it to make sure it is properly installed.
Contact Us Now
If you do not want to invest a lot of time and effort into DIY installation of insulation, contact us here at Southern Industries Home Improvements. We are detailed, licensed, insured, and will take all of the work and dangers out of the process: (833) 240-4900