Spray foam insulation is a great product. Homes insulated with it can be some of the most efficient and also comfy homes constructed. I have actually been in lots of these residences as well as can inform you that when spray foam is set up correctly, they exceed 99% of fiberglass batt-insulated, stick-built homes.
Spray foam comes in two tastes, open cell as well as closed cell, and also supplies both parts of the structure envelope - the insulation as well as the air obstacle. The building envelope should completely border the conditioned space, as well as the insulation needs to be touching the air barrier. Because spray foam is both insulation and also air barrier, correct positioning of insulation and also air barrier is guaranteed.
What's not assured, however, is that all spray foam houses will certainly be efficient and comfy. I've seen a variety of homes with troubles even though they're protected with spray foam. In order of frequency, right here are the problems I've seen, with descriptions complying with the checklist:
Spray foam isn't thick enough.
Spray foam installers missed out on a few of the air leakage websites.
Spray foam installers didn't understand the structure envelope and also sprayed either also much or too little.
Spray foam contracts and retreats from mounting.
Spray foam isn't thick sufficient.
This is more typical with shut cell foam, but it happens with open cell foam, also. Because shut cell foam has a greater R-value per inch, installers typically spray 2" in wall surfaces and also 3" in rooflines to meet the energy code needs of R-13 and R-19, respectively.
Open cell foam generally fills the mounting dental caries completely, so it's easy to tell if the installer has actually sprayed sufficient. Closed cell foam doesn't fill the tooth cavity, so you have actually obtained to spot check in a lot of areas to ensure you don't get shorted.
The video listed below is from a residence near Charleston, South Carolina that I visited recently, as well as you'll see that the home owner in this instance didn't get his money's worth. I understood quickly when I strolled right into the attic room that something was incorrect due to the fact that it was hot up there. In a properly insulated spray foam attic, the temperature level will not be a lot greater than your house temperature level.
The trouble was that the installer was doing his initial spray foam work ever before, as well as the thickness of the insulation varied from zero (visible roof deck) to about 9". Unfortunately, excellent standard density doesn't cut it. The protection needs to be uniform due to the fact that a whole this page lot of warmth will undergo the under-insulated areas.
Spray foam installers missed some of the air leak sites.
Once I obtained a contact us to take a look at a 10,000 square foot house that had spray foam throughout, yet the owners had a serious trouble in their very first summer in your home. When I showed up, they took me to the master collection, where 2 towels were on the flooring - to catch the rainfall falling off of the supply signs up in the ceiling!
The issue was that the installers missed out on some areas at the soffit in the attic room above the master room, as well as voids around the tray ceiling enabled the humid air into the area, where it naturally located the cold surface area to condense on.
As this example highlights, it is very important to secure the envelope totally. Among spray foam's most significant marketing points is its air-sealing capability, yet it can't secure places where it's not splashed. Among the good aspects of making use of spray foam in brand-new construction is that you can do a Blower Door examination prior to the drywall goes in. Also much better, you can evaluate for leakages with a haze machine.
Spray foam installers really did not recognize the building envelope and sprayed either insufficient or also much.
In complex houses, seeing precisely where the structure envelope is can be an obstacle. If the installer misses out on areas, it may or might not be an air leakage, but it will certainly be a thermal bypass since of the absence of insulation. Every component of the structure envelope should be insulated, or the home will have excess warm loss/gain.
One more issue I've seen is that the installer sprays extra foam due to the fact that they haven't identified the place of the building envelope, the limit between conditioned as well as unconditioned area. In the picture listed below, that wall surface with foam throughout it has actually conditioned room on both sides. The home owner paid added and also obtained nothing for it.
Spray foam is thrown away on dividing wall surfaces.
Spray foam agreements as well as retreats from mounting.
I've seen this only once, and it was with shut cell foam, yet I have actually heard of it occurring with open cell foam, as well. I don't know the information, yet I have actually heard it could result from a negative set of chemicals, incorrect mixing, or expensive a temperature level. Whatever the reason, it's not an advantage. The photo listed below programs exactly how the spray foam retreated from the studs. A little of uninsulated location like that amounts to a lot of warmth loss/gain when the entire home has that problem, as it did here.
Spray foam drew away from the framing in this residence.
Final thought
Don't presume that just due to the fact that a house is insulated with spray foam that it's immediately a winner. Every item has its risks, and spray foam is no exemption. The good information, however, is that spray foam's issues are generally less constant as well as easier to get rid of with proper planning and also follow up.
I've been in plenty of these residences and can tell you that when spray foam is set up properly, they outmatch 99% of fiberglass batt-insulated, stick-built houses.
What's not guaranteed, however, is that all spray foam homes will be comfortable and efficient. One of spray foam's biggest selling points is its air-sealing ability, but it can't seal places where it's not sprayed. I've seen this only once, and it was with closed cell foam, but I've heard of it happening with open cell foam, too. Don't assume that just because a home is insulated with spray foam that it's automatically a winner.