Spray Foam Insulation...What is your experience Pros/Cons? Thinking of having house done...........

[masmdu]

Anybody have any experience with spray foam insulation?

I just got an old house that is minimally insulated and a friend suggested spray foam insulation.

What is the Good/bad/ugly of this?

Thanks!

EDIT (for clarity) This is the professionally applied foam. Not the can stuff you use for small diy projects. Has an R value of 6.5/ inch

[Buzz Clik]

1. You're talking about the stuff that you can buy in cans that expands when applied?

If that's the general stuff (even if you're buying in bulk), it has a host of problems. There are cheaper alternatives, such as the blow-in insulation, that is cheaper, made of recycled materials, and avoids some of the problems associated with the foam.

[Warpy]

2. The real ugly is the release of chemicals

especially if the place ever catches on fire.

Having said that, I opted for foam on my flat roof. It's a fantastic insulator. However, my roof doesn't release any vapors into the house.

Do some research on the costs of foam versus blown in insulation. The latter settles slightly over time, but it is very slight. It's more environmentally friendly.

Here's a quickie overview: http://www.healthgoods.com/education/Healthy_Home_Information/Insulation/blown_insulation.htm

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. You should x-post this at the DIY/Home Improvement forum!

Lots of smart people there. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

[T Wolf]

4. It will also have a tendency to "settle" over time, requiring "refilling." There are better

alternatives.

[gollygee]

5. We used the blow-in stuff for our garage

It works really well and is made of recycled materials.

[NOW tense]

6. I think it is a great insulator.

The toxic fumes are not good though.

Are you opening up the walls to do this, or are you drilling holes?

[masmdu]

7. Walls will be open to the studs

[dysfunctional press]

9. if you're opening the walls to the studs- why not use regular fiberglass batting insulation?

:shrug:

[NOW tense]

12. I like the idea of Wet cell spray cellulose

Here is a good article on insulation.

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/ask_an_expert/answer_17.html

[ejpoeta]

8. seems ok. we used it in a remodel several years ago.

[DCKit]

10. I've always thought foam insulation was best for remodels, because:

1) Other types of insulation allow moisture to migrate. In the winter, it is likely that interior humidity would condense on the inside of your siding causing rot, and, in the summer, that it would condense on the plaster and cause mold. Properly installed foam prevents this migration.

2) Foam fills crevices that no other form of insulation can reach.

You'll need a qualified contractor with a track record and, though the price is high compared to the others, it should provide a higher R-value and, even better, stop nearly all the leaks, further decreasing your heating bills.

Cellulose is no slouch for attic insulation, though the attic has got to be well ventilated to prevent condensation. Further, with the addition of boric acid, it is nearly fire and completely vermin-proof. Since it's comprised of little more than shredded newspaper and boric acid, the price should be the least of any "store-bought" insulation, though I don't know how much pressure our recent energy crisis put on the demand and price of any kind of insulation.

There are also insulating and/or reflective panels that fit between the roof rafters which can channel hot air as well as both insulate and reflect heat (in or out, depending on the season). Hot always moves toward cold and always faster as the temperature difference increases. If you can keep the attic warmer in the winter, you'll lose heat from the house more slowly - Cooler in the summer and the AC won't be working as hard (and you won't need to run it nearly as many days).

If you want to start cheap (compared to whole-house foam and blown cellulose), get busy plugging your leaks, weather-stripping the doors and windows and making some insulating shades/curtains. The return-on-investment of plugging acutal holes, gaps and cracks where the wind moves freely will be much faster than even whole-house insulation and way too much heat is lost through uninsulated glass. A thermal shade can easily have an R-value 2-4x better than a double pane window. You just have to remember to close them at night.

Good Luck!

[maveteran]

11. Fast and cheap but

Be sure it's installed properly or you get little value from it.

[Grey]

13. As I understand it there are

Several different types of spray on foam. Make sure you get the right type for the job.
I had a friend contract for spray foam and the contractor used the wrong kind.
It cracked between the studs and caused heat leaks, then it was no longer a vapor barrier.
I wish we had used spray-on when we remodeled.

[supernova]

14. You can get soy-based spray on insulation

You get the benefit of foam, but not the chemicals mentioned above.

I'm considering it for my 1950s era brick ranch, both for the crawl space and the attic.

http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/dj_technology/article/0,,HPRO_20157_3679395,00.html