Like urban legends, myths often persist because they contain a germ of truth. The problem is that germ becomes the focal point and overwhelms the rational and sensible elements of a statement of fact.

The First Quality Roofing & Insulation team hears many myths about insulation as we visit customers' homes and install quality attic insulation in Las Vegas. Rather than focus on how these fallacies got started, we simply provide the facts and debunk the myths – typical of our let's-get-down-to-business way. The five most common myths about insulation that you, too, may heard are:

Myth No. 1: Insulation is necessary for homes in colder climates; in warm climates, air conditioning is all you need.

Fact: Homes in all climates benefit from insulation. Warm air is a particularly tough force of nature because it naturally and aggressively seeks cooler space – moving from outdoors to inside a home during a scorching Las Vegas summer and in reverse (from indoors to outdoors) in the winter. Air conditioning plays a huge role in keeping a home cool and reducing humidity in the summer. But quality attic insulation in Las Vegas fortifies its resiliency.

Myth No. 2: Insulation can be installed only when a house is under construction. So if you need insulation at any other time, you're sunk.

Fact: Insulation can be installed at any time without damaging the structural integrity of a home. Spray foam insulation makes installing quality attic insulation in Las Vegas especially straightforward, as do insulation blankets in the form of batts or rolls.

Myth No. 3: Even if insulation saves me 15 percent on my energy bill, as the U.S. Department of Energy says, it still seems like a cost trade-off because I have to pay for materials and to install it.

Fact: Even First Quality was surprised when Remodeling magazine reported that the value of attic insulation actually exceeds the cost of installation. It was the only one of 29 home improvement projects to do so – chalking up a cost-to-value percentage of 107 percent. Installing quality attic insulation in Las Vegas also: bolsters humidity control; blunts dirt, dust, pollen and other outdoor contaminants; blocks rodents, pests and insects from entering a home; and muffles outdoor noise. Quality attic insulation in Las Vegas is an investment that pays multiple dividends.

Myth No. 4: Choosing an insulation with a high R-value is all that matters.

Fact: The “R” in R-value stands for resistance – or, more accurately, thermal resistance – meaning how well the insulation prevents heat from flowing through it. While the R-value of insulation is important, First Quality takes other crucial factors into consideration, too, such as how well an insulating material blocks air infiltration and moisture and whether it will adapt to the place in which it is being installed. Cellulose, for example, does not conform well to tight crevices.

Myth No. 5: The more insulation, the better.

Fact: This is like saying, “The more oil you place in your car, the better.” Like oil, insulation is a positive and necessary substance, but there is only so much you need. Any excess becomes unnecessary.

Before installing quality attic insulation Las Vegas, First Quality always takes the time to educate homeowners about how much insulation their home needs. Our informative Home Insulation Guide may help get you started. Then call First Quality at 702-262-7847 to make an appointment for an in-home consultation – and maybe even the chance to debunk more myths along the way.