Zika and low e insulation

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

I know there was a thread somewhere about fears of moving because of Zika. Watching the CBS news tonight Zika and Puerto Rico came up. Now Puerto Rico is in a medical emergency. So I did a little research and math. 3.5 million people 10,000 cases. 10,000/3./!\ I AM A STUPID SPAMMER /!\ = roughly .003. But a 1/4 of the population will have it by the end of the year. There are 1900 new cases. Maybe I am missing something hear but that kinda sounds like "Chicken Little and the sky is falling " thinking.

OK another subject I was reading thru Rey's post 9n budgets and several people mentioned lack of insulation in houses. Just wondering if anyone is usin low e insulation
http://www.low-e.com

If the website is deleted do a search on low-e Insulation. I put this on the underside of the hood of my truck. There is a 30 degree differance between engine compartment and out side of hood. It also works as a sound deadner

See also

Living in Puerto Rico: the expat guide - Guide
Zika update - 1 Reply
Zika threat - 7 Replies
Zika Virus - 28 Replies
WHO Zika Response Unit - 10 Replies
Health Insurance - 2 Replies
Preventive care in Puerto Rico - 2 Replies

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

The 1900 is in a week, the real number is larger than 10,000, most people are never tested and mosquitos are agresive.
But luck will have it that most people never have any symptoms and in a few days they will be inmune, the real danger is to recrntly pregnant women and the rest can simply avoid getting pregnant for a while. As I understand after they are bitten they are inmune and if they get pregnant after that there is no danger.

So why not just get exposed and get it over with?

As to insulation..... If your windows and doors are open insulation would help keep the blocks from radiating the heat inside during the night. But the real value would be to a closed house with airconditionel, in that case it will help a lot. Some of the construction can use good insulation but most people prefer to save the money and just use regilar blocks.

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

Does the DETT help? Are you on the mainland or on the island some of your post indicate you are still up here and others I am not sure. I am counting the days to our trip

247realestatepr Active member

55POSTS

9 years ago

My 2 cents..Im local to PR..only know 2 people with zika and they are alive and kicking..you never thought they got it!! have never got dengue chikungunya or zika, think is just a matter of location, taking measures and 1% luck.. Brazil hs all of the above in huge quantities..and no one is dead or sick..yet??!!...

Tropical weather is cold hot humid dry and all in between...no need for heaters may be blankets in christmas air conditioning in summer if you don't like 95° in summer... come here and enjoy the fun!

Regards

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

We will be down there next month for two weeks. I sent you a PM

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

hturner12 wrote:
Does the DETT help? Are you on the mainland or on the island some of your post indicate you are still up here and others I am not sure. I am counting the days to our trip

I am Native Puerto Rican, I am still in the states but ill be moving to the island in about a year. I already have the lot in PR where I will be building in the future. I have a lot of family still in the island and they been after me to move back.
I visit several times a year and talk with a lot of people.

DETT seems to help. These mosquitoes are mostly day time, regular mosquitos at night. Should wear repelent all the time.

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

Sound like we may be moving about the same time

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

I am depending on my wife having Two knee replacements and recovery before I can put my house on the market, then it is up to the buyers.

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

I have to oscopes on my left knee in 2 1/2 years. Si I feel for her

frogrock Serial expat

509POSTS

9 years ago

#10

By declaring Zikah an emergency, they can get their hands on federal money. Regarding insulation: Houses here are built with cement and there is no need for a heating system, so insulation is not a big factor.

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

#11

I know you don't need it to keep warm. Somebody had mentioned the blocks keep the heat in house making it harder to keep cool

WarnerW Serial expat

314POSTS

9 years ago

#12

Concrete is a thermal sink, so it heats and cools slowly. What that will do in Puerto Rico is keep your house cooler than the ambient temperature in the morning, and warmer than the ambient temperature in the evening.

As far as construction for insulation goes, modern concrete construction is a fusion of concrete and foam insulation. Here's an example of a system used by a builder in Rincon:

http://en.mdue.it/

Don't know what its R-value might be, but that's gotta be a better-insulated wall than a standard stick-built house with fiberglass insulation.

Typical ways to keep your house cool are high ceilings (12 ft. or more), ceiling fans, or mini-split air conditioners.

hturner12 Active member

77POSTS

9 years ago

#13

That why I see high ceilings listed in all the real estate ads

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

#14

Yes I have been looking into the M2 panel form of construction for a while, not only does it provide some insulation, but it also cuts down on noice and the building is created a lot faster. According to the documentation it is a cheaper solution for manual labor because it takes a lot less time to build and each panel can be carried by a single person and put in place.

The key is to find contractors that have experience with this form of building. I will likely build my house with it.

Nice video https://youtu.be/Jufs8t1iKyQ

adlin20 ViP

1057POSTS

9 years ago

#15

We both been traveling back and forth between PR and the mainland for the past few years. We have yet to meet someone with zica. As some folks here had mentioned the local government is trying to capitalize on the zica virus to get some money from the federal government. I'm not saying is not real, but our government is exaggerating the issue to get more grand money. I bet most of that money will be diverted to "others needs".