Opinions On Spray Foam Insulation Anyone

sprayfoambob

I want to know how many contractors out there are recommending spray foam insulation as an option for their new cnstruction or renovation projects?

thom

You can guarantee a fire will be toxic. The foam does a great job of insulating. It also does a good job of creating a nasty fire and toxic fumes.

JBBS

Agreed. I'm currently working on a 7 story apartment complex where we burnt a small piece (out of boredom) and it went up like a styrofoam cup. There may be different types though that have different burning characteristics. Does a great job insulating however, locks the studs in tight as well.

genecarp

i have been to many efficiency seminars lately, there are certain applications where foam is good, difficult situations, around ducts and pluming. the thing that has kept me from using it in my jobs is reports of it settling, tests can be performed, thermal imaging etc..i have used rockwool on my last two jobs, one was a new waterfront home, after rockwool install, the jobsite got REAL QUIET.

Dustball

I don't see any way that sprayed urethane insulation will "settle".

Michaeljp86

Might be differnt types and some settle. That dap can of spray foam will settle but that great stuff Ive never seen settle. And as far as I know the expanding foam they use in walls is polyurethane like the great stuff.

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dkillianjr

I hear it does a great job insulating and seals alot of little spaces. I do remember though, I was talking to a builder in my area and he was saying they were having problems with it melting the jackets on the wires in the walls. I guess it generates heat as it dries.



Dave

HellisLikeNewrk

I do a lot of insulating work. I use various formulation of expanded urethane foam for air sealing, fire-blocking (code requirements), and areas where moisture is an issue. My primary insulator is cellulose.

ICYNENE is the latest on the market. Great product if used properly. DO NOT USE ON WOOD FRAME HOMES! ASHRAE did a study and found that if you use a vapor barrier both on the interior and exterior of a frame home, you may have mold / rot problems (house can't dry out). Closed cell foams are moisture barriers. According to ASHRAE you should not use a vapor / moisture barrier on the interior of a home... that way if any moisture gets into the sheeting it can dry to the interior (water vapor will pass through gypsum board).

So I use closed cell foam as I stated above. Everything else, I use cellulose.

GreginAlaska

It's used a lot where I live, it's great for making a tight house.

I wonder if the soy based foam works good and is safer?

Magnettica

I have never worked on a new or remodel job where the spray insulation has been used.

It must be expensive.

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woodchuck2

It has great R-value and seals up any drafts but in my opinion a house should breathe a little. I have also found it hard to fish wires through it when a change has been made after the drywall is installed.

Garrett

I do alot of door and window installs and some of the manufactures recomend spray foam Pella being one. Being that many of the homes are old the foam provides air tight seal as well as help secure the door in the opening( keep in mind these houses are old!) and help keep water out especially where they have put siding over siding and created a leake due to improper flashing or lack of. I like it so far as long as 10 years from now they dont say that was the worst thing you can do lol.

Stickman

Pretty scary stuff when it burns!!!!!! Seal up tight some of these old houses with old timers living n them and I hope they got a bird to tell them when to get out, if not there gonna be dead!!!! How many times have you seen a old person heat there home from there oven!!!! And with the rising cost of fuel and the lower social security rates your gonna see these older folks doing more drastic things to stay warm. Best for a home to breathe.

GreginAlaska

You don't want a tight structure without proper ventilation. heat recovery ventilators are pretty common up here...I call that "controlled breathing".

Michaeljp86

Just put newspaper on the walls, thats lasted for 100 years. Whats the R rating on newspaper?

__________________
I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson

Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system.

handyman1

I am remodeling a rambler built in 1950 and find walls are insulated with foam. There is a paper barrier with foil stapled over the studs. It appears to have shrunk approximately 10% with 1" gap between insulation & studs/plates. Has anybody else seen this ? Indications are that this was installed when originally constructed, anyone know the type of material used ?

GreginAlaska

I dunno...but it works ok for hydroseeding mulch.

GreginAlaska

Asbestos. I'm kidding! I got no idea.

genecarp

yes i have experianced this , i dont know the type of foam

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bassfisher

It is not modern foam. It is prob urea formaldehyde which is now
illegal and considered a toxin.

Modern injected or sprayed foams combine the insulation & air infil-
tration at the same time. More heat is lost to air bleeding through
loose insulation.
You can always open a window or put in a heat exchanger, mould
issues are not a problem.