Is spray foam insulation worth it?
Spray foam insulation is worth it because it can save you thousands of dollars in energy bills. The upfront cost of spray foam insulation is higher than blown-in, but spray foam is more effective. Spray foam insulation gets in every crevice behind your walls and fully insulates your home effectively.
Is spray foam insulation good or bad?
Therefore the short answer to the question in the header is “spray foam is good when PROPERLY installed, and BAD when installed in inappropriate places or in an incorrect manner. There are also issues of the impact on the environment, and potential impact on the health of the people living in the homes where the product is used.
What are the problems with spray foam insulation?
What Causes Spray Foam Insulation Problems
- Application Errors. Application errors can increase heating and cooling expenses for the homeowner. ...
- Homeowner Error. Consumer error leads to the third cause of spray foam insulation problems. Homeowner error is primarily a problem with due diligence.
- Unmet Expectations. Why do you want to insulate your home? ...
Is spray foam safe to use?
When it comes to spray foam insulation, not all areas in your home should have this building material installed like in areas of the home where heat is conducted. The use of spray foam in areas of a home that produce heat can be dangerous and will ultimately increase the risk of a fire to occur in the environment.
Do you need a vapor barrier with spray foam?
A vapour barrier is not necessary with closed-cell foam but with open-cell spray foam such as Icynene®, it is sometimes required. Any air that migrates though a building envelope will carry water vapour. As Icynene® spray foam creates a seamless air-seal, it controls air leakage and the moisture in the air.
Is spray foam a moisture barrier?
Moisture Barrier Open cell spray foam is not a moisture vapor barrier, and will allow moisture to pass. So, if you're considering spraying foam to the roof deck of your new or existing home, you want open cell. If there's a roof leak, water will pass through the foam, and you will quickly be able to find your problem.
What can I use instead of vapour barrier?
What can I use as a vapour barrier?Elastomeric coatings.Aluminum foil.Paper-backed aluminum.Polyethylene plastic sheet.Asphalt-coated Kraft paper.Metallized film.Vapour retarder paints.Extruded polystyrene or foil-faced foam board insulation.More items...
Does foam board act as a vapor barrier?
Rigid foam board, especially foil-faced polyisocyanurate, creates a vapor-impermeable barrier, so the wall would have limited drying potential. Even more permeable types of insulation, such as expanded polystyrene, are vapor barriers when the installation is thick enough.
Why do lenders not like spray foam insulation?
So why is it a problem for mortgage lenders? By sealing the roof space with this material, air circulation can be restricted to the roof and timbers. This can lead to condensation, which in turn can eventually lead to the rotting of the wooden roof supports.
Where should you not use expanding foam?
When NOT to Use Spray Foam InsulationFor areas that are too close to electrical boxes:For areas too close to ceiling light boxes:Open-cell spray foam on your roof:For closed-cavity spaces:If you have a history of skin, respiratory, or asthma problems:
What qualifies as a vapor barrier?
A vapor barrier (or vapour barrier) is any material used for damp proofing, typically a plastic or foil sheet, that resists diffusion of moisture through the wall, floor, ceiling, or roof assemblies of buildings to prevent interstitial condensation and of packaging.
What is the best material to use for a vapor barrier?
Reinforced polyethylene plastic sheeting (poly) comes in a variety of thicknesses and strengths. A 6 mil thick poly is commonly used as a vapor barrier and offers short-term savings to the homeowner.
What materials would make a good vapor barrier?
Materials such as rigid foam insulation, reinforced plastics, aluminum, and stainless steel are relatively resistant to water vapor diffusion. These types of vapor retarders are usually mechanically fastened and sealed at the joints.
Does spray foam insulation cause condensation?
Because foam insulation is seamless and airtight, condensation does not occur. Meaning that cold and warm air will never meet. There for impossible for them to reach a dew point and create condensation on your walls and roofs.
Will spray foam stop water leaks?
Closed cell spray foam can keep that water out, but that's not a fix because it isn't going to magically disappear or dissipate. Closed cell is water impermeable, which makes it great for a lot of projects, just not this one and here's why.
Can exterior foam insulation cause mold and moisture problems?
The benefit of foam insulation in the exterior wall when it comes to moisture is it doesn't provide a favorable material for mold to grow in and most foam products contain no food value for mold. Foam insulation also creates a needed air seal that will keep your home comfortable and energy-efficient.
Does spray foam insulation cause condensation?
Because foam insulation is seamless and airtight, condensation does not occur. Meaning that cold and warm air will never meet. There for impossible for them to reach a dew point and create condensation on your walls and roofs.
Can spray foam insulation cause mold?
Adding spray foam insulation in potential problem areas is a great way to insulate your home and goes a long way towards mold prevention. It is mold-resistant because it expands when it gets wet, meaning there's no room for mold or mildew!
Do I need roof vents if I have spray foam insulation?
By using an air-impermeable insulation, like spray foam, on the roof deck will stop any air movement. If the home's building envelope is completely air sealed, then the air traveling up to the attic won't be unbearably hot, and there will be no need to cycle it out with vents.
Will spray foam stop water leaks?
Closed cell spray foam can keep that water out, but that's not a fix because it isn't going to magically disappear or dissipate. Closed cell is water impermeable, which makes it great for a lot of projects, just not this one and here's why.
What is spray foam?
When professionally installed, spray foam (Spray Polyurethane Foam) serves as a vapour barrier. The application satisfies all the pre-requisites for a vapour barrier as specified by the majority of building codes. In fact, SPF does the most complete job of any application – it provides excellent thermal insulation; an effective air barrier; and an efficient vapour barrier all at one time. Best of all, installing SPF provides the highest R-Value of any insulation material available today.
Why is SPF foam used in insulation?
Beyond thermal insulation, SPF is particularly effective because it impedes the accumulation of moisture. In a typical residential home, almost 60% of the heat loss is somehow related to the moisture in the air, so it makes sense to stop undesirable moisture movement, and consequently stop heat loss. Spray foam does it all, and more – it’s essentially a “built in” vapour barrier that does not absorb moisture and won’t allow mold to grow. No other product can compare.
How good is Great Northern Insulation?
From reputation to responsiveness, HomeStars consistently ranks Great Northern Insulation at better than 95% for customer satisfaction. Thanks to everyone for the great ratings!
What is SPF insulation?
In fact, SPF does the most complete job of any application – it provides excellent thermal insulation; an effective air barrier; and an efficient vapour barrier all at one time. Best of all, installing SPF provides the highest R-Value of any insulation material available today.
Why is Great Northern Insulation important?
Great Northern Insulation helps to identify performance issues, while taking advantage of improvement opportunities.
What is 3M energy?
3M TM energy-saving products are designed to keep warm air in, and cold air out, while keeping energy bills down. Products optimize energy efficiency in buildings and homes; improve indoor environment for occupants; and effect the reduction of seasonal energy costs. 3M products are authorized for LEED credits (Leadership in Energy/Environmental Design).
Is spray polyurethane foam good for building?
For many professionals, Spray Polyurethane Foam has proven to be the best overall product for the job. And while municipal building inspectors recognize SPF as a vapour barrier “system”, there remain various interpretations, depending on locale. At Great Northern Insulation, the team can professionally assess a project and verify code requirements. As it is, SPF delivers consistent results in spaces where air and moisture control are critical to the success of the project.
How to contact Vermont Foam Insulation?
Feel confident that the moisture issues in your house are being addressed for good. Call 802-367-3113 or contact us today and tell Vermont Foam Insulation more about the problems you’re facing in your home.
Can you spray foam insulation in a basement?
If the area is only a bit damp, you can sometimes solve it with basement spray foam insulation alone. To deal with increasingly significant water issues in the bottom areas of a home, the experts at Vermont Foam Insulation offer a wide range of basement and crawl space services to address any situation we may find in your home. These solutions can include:
Is spray foam insulation good for a house?
Seeing that most moisture intrusion into a home actually enters as a result of air leaks and not water vapor diffusion through the building materials of your home, spray foam is an all-in-one solution for limiting heat transfer, air movement, and moisture intrusion in your house.
What class of foam is vapor barrier?
Many of them don’t agree that vapor barriers are so necessary even with open-cell foam insulation. There are three classes of vapor barriers. For example, closed-cell foam is from Class II and open-cell is from Class III.
What type of barrier should I use for a house in climate zone 5?
For example, if your house is located in climate zone 5, you should use vapor barriers of class III.People who don’t know the exact requirements sometimes use double vapor barriers. But it may cause dew point occurring ...
Do you need a vapor barrier for a closed cell house?
If you want to know, does your house need vapor barrier, and what kind of barrier must be used, you should take into account climate zone, usage of building, and the type of house assembly.By the several code requirements, if you use closed-cell foam, vapor barrier is not necessary.
Why is spray foam the best air barrier?
Air barriers are a complete seal of the building envelope. This means all seams in the building system will have to be sealed. The reason spray foam works as the very best air seal is due to two factors. First it is liquid applied.
What is spray foam insulation?
The spray foam can act as a air/vapor barrier along side of the insulation. This would mean that an entire building with have a continuous envelope thus ensuring that neither vapor or air could penetrate into the living/working areas.
Why use spray foam?
Using spray foam to get a air seal on commercial, residential , and industrial will be crucial. Using foam as an air barrier will not only create an air and vapor barrier it will also create a seem less insulation system. Control water penetration. Control air flow. Control heat flow.
Can you spray foam on a building?
By spraying foam in place of using other air barrier methods the entire building can be sealed using the same material that is insulating the building. With multiple different types of foam it can be applied on the interior or exterior. It also can be applied on all construction substrates with no preparation needed.
Can spray foam be used on all substrates?
Spray foam can be applied to all substrates found in building construction making it easy to implement. On top of this it can be applied from the exterior as well as from the interior making it easy to use with every design.
Should every project have an air barrier?
Every project should have an air barrier plan. From residential air barriers to industrial and commercial, there should be a way to ensure that air that is meant to stay out will stay out.
Is spray foam insulation good for exterior?
Using the spray foam as an exterior material is an excellent way to help mitigate project costs by applying a vapor/air barrier to the exterior while meeting all insulation codes all in one product and installation.
What is SPUF foam?
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is an airtight foam plastic insulating product installed in-situ by spray application. The product is used in the walls, floors, and roofs, of both commercial and residential construction. There are two broad classes of SPUF; low-density 8 kg/m 3 (0.5 pcf), open-cell and quite flexible foam, and a high-density 32 kg/m 3 (2 pcf) closed-cell rigid foam. Both product classes are studied here.
What is the density of open cell foam?
Open cell (1/2 pound per cubic foot density) foam can control diffusion in climates that are not too cold (eg under 4500 HDD) and when the interior winter RH level is controlled by appropriate ventilation to below about 40%. Open cell foam does not have sufficient vapor control for use in very cold climates (4500 HDD to 5000 HDD) unless the interior winter-time RH is strictly controlled (to below about 30%RH).
How thick is a closed cell foam?
Closed-cell (about 2 pounds per cubic foot density or more) spray foam applied in thicknesses of over 2" (50 mm) will control vapor diffusion to safe levels in all climates up to 10000 HDD and interior winter-time relative humidities of up to an over 50%RH. As thickness increases the level of diffusion control increases. The diffusion control is equivalent to walls with the traditional fiberglass batt and polyethylene.
What are the most common insulating materials?
The most commonly available insulating materials are fibreglass, rock wool, cellulose, and foam plastics . Each class of product has different characteristics, such as fire resistance, costs, vapor permeability, ease of installation, etc. One of the most often listed characteristic is that of the resistance of heat flow per unit thickness.
Can spray foam insulation be used on framed walls?
The research reported here investigated the ability of typical framed walls using spray polyurethane foam insulation, with and without additional vapor barrier layers, to meet these requirements. In all cases, a functional air barrier system was provided (in the form of sealed drywall or a continuous chain of SPF and wood), as this is required in all buildings.
Is spray polyurethane good for insulation?
Medium and high density spray polyurethane foams also provide considerably more vapour resistance than traditional insulation materials. As a result, there will be applications in which medium and high density SPF can serve as the vapour control layer. Unfortunately, there is often confusion on the part of designers, builders and code enforcement officials about if and when these cases exist. If the cases could be identified and codified, the construction industry could benefit from eliminating a time consuming and costly step in construction.
Can polyurethane foam be used as an air barrier?
Spray polyurethane foam of both types can be part of an air barrier system. Continuity must be provided whenever the SPF is not fully adhered to an air impermeable substrate. Foam sprayed between studs provides an excellent air barrier. However, wood-to-wood joints between double studs, at sill plates to floor sheathing, and joints around windows require sealing to provide a continuous air barrier.
What is vapor barrier?
Vapor barriers installed on the interior of assemblies prevent assemblies from drying inward. This can be a problem in any air-conditioned enclosure. This can be a problem in any below grade space. This can be a problem when there is also a vapor barrier on the exterior.
When are air barriers considered vapor barriers?
In the strictest sense air barriers are also vapor barriers when they control the transport of moisture-laden air. An excellent discussion about the differences between vapor barriers and air barriers can be found in Quirrouette (1985).
What is the unit of measurement used in characterizing the water vapor permeance of materials?
The unit of measurement typically used in characterizing the water vapor permeance of materials is the “perm.” It is further proposed here that there should be several classes of vapor retarders (this is nothing new – it is an extension and modification of the Canadian General Standards Board approach that specifies Type I and Type II vapor retarders – the numbers here are a little different however):
Why is it so difficult to keep water vapor out?
No chance. It gets complicated because sometimes the best strategies to keep water vapor out also trap water vapor in. This can be a real problem if the assemblies start out wet because of rain or the use of wet materials. It gets even more complicated because of climate.
Why is there confusion about vapor barriers?
Confusion on the issue of vapor barriers and air barriers is common. The confusion arises because air often holds a great deal of moisture in the vapor form. When this air moves from location to location due to an air pressure difference, the vapor moves with it. This is a type of migration of water vapor.
Why are vapor barriers bad?
Incorrect use of vapor barriers is leading to an increase in moisture related problems. Vapor barriers were originally intended to prevent assemblies from getting wet. However, they often prevent assemblies from drying. Vapor barriers installed on the interior of assemblies prevent assemblies from drying inward. This can be a problem in any air-conditioned enclosure. This can be a problem in any below grade space. This can be a problem when there is also a vapor barrier on the exterior. This can be a problem where brick is installed over building paper and vapor permeable sheathing.
What is the principle of control of water in the liquid form?
The fundamental principle of control of water in the liquid form is to drain it out if it gets in – and let us make it perfectly clear – it will get in if you build where it rains or if you put your building in the ground where there is water in the ground. This is easy to understand, logical, with a long historical basis.
Why are vapor barriers needed?
Similar to how air barriers restrict the flow of air, vapor barriers are designed to restrict the flow of water vapor. To regulate the diffusion of water vapor into a building assembly, vapor barriers should be installed on the warm side of the insulation. Preventing water vapor from entering a building improves the long-term durability ...
What is the key to understanding vapor barriers?
The key to understanding vapor barriers is permeance. All materials are permeable, even steel, but they differ in the degree of their permeance rating, which is the transmission rate of water vapor through a material.
What is moisture barrier?
Moisture, or water-resistive, barriers are materials that are primarily designed to keep liquid water from entering the building enclosure. Moisture barriers are specifically designed not to be a vapor barrier, as the minimum water vapor permeance for a water-resistive barrier is 300 perms.
Where should moisture barriers be installed?
Moisture barriers should be installed on the cold side of the insulation: they are combined with flashing and other materials to ensure that there is a shingled assembly to direct liquid water which passes on the cladding system to be directed to the exterior.
Is a water barrier vapor permeable?
There are also vapor-permeable air barriers, and there are water-resistive barriers that aren’t air barriers. It’s important to understand these three separate functions and determine whether the material you choose provides more that one function.
What is the permeance of 2lb foam?
At 4" the vapor permeance of most 2lb density closed cell foam is about 0.2-0.3 perms- a powerful class-II vapor retarder, but more than 5x the drying rate of 6 mil polyethylene. As long as the roof deck is dry when the foam is applied, the roof deck is protected.
How many perms does a 7" closed cell foam have?
Even at 7" closed cell foam is still only a Class-II vapor retarder at about 0.15 perms, not quite a vapor barrier (less than 0.1 perm). While a Class II vapor retarder in air-tight contact with the roof deck is sufficient protection for the structural wood, it doesn't take more than 2" to get there ...
How much foam is needed for zone 6?
In zone 6 it takes about 51% of the total R on the exterior of permeable insulation to provide adequate dew point control at the permeable/impermeable boundary. Using 4" of HFO blown closed cell foam ( ~R27-R28, about $5 per square foot), and 6" (R22) of half pound open cell foam or blown cellulose (much greener- it's sequestered carbon) gets you to code-min on an R-value basis with reasonable dew point margin.
Can you prevent thermal bridging?
There is no such thing as preventing thermal bridging. An inch of foam is a thermal break that MITIGATES some of the thermal bridging, but isn't much of a thermal break on 8" of wood. You may want to bump the foam thickness and use 1x furring as the nailer, AKA "Bonfiglioli strips". For many tips on how to go about that, see:
Is 7" closed cell foam a vapor barrier?
Even at 7" closed cell foam is still only a Class-II vapor retarder at about 0.15 perms, not quite a vapor barrier (less than 0.1 perm). While a Class II vapor retarder in air-tight contact with the roof deck is sufficient protection for the structural wood, it doesn't take more than 2" to get there (although 2" isn't sufficient for dew point control on a fiber layer at R49 total.) See Table 3:
