Hit Piece: Spray Foam
Spray foam in walls and attics is Over-Hyped, Over-Priced, and a Homeowners Potential Nightmare
Over the past 10 or 15 years, as spray foam became a more marketed and suggested product online, more homeowners turned toward this new insulation for inside their walls and attics. Spray foam was a quickly growing industry, propped up by rising energy costs and government incentives. It was (and still is) a pricey insulation, but the marketing assures buyers that the benefits will outweigh any drawbacks.
Fast forward a few years, and more information began to come out about this new product, information that came directly from customers and was not filtered through a marketing department. Pushy salesmen were overselling the abilities, and the placement, of this foam. And some of the new information about spray foam, when used as insulation inside inner and outer walls, or as attic insulation, was not good:
- Smells: There are bad smells from improper mixture of the component chemicals – smells some describe as 'fishy'. When the chemicals are not able to off-gas as they usually would, such as in a proper ratio mixture, the resulting fumes can cause headaches, hurt the eyes, and can lead to rashes, as well as labored breathing. Inexperienced technicians, rush jobs, and lack of proper attention are to blame for improper mixing of spray foam chemicals. Choose your insulation company carefully! Unified Insulation trains the fourth Friday of every month - Check out some of our pictures below of Unified Insulation's continuing education on spray foam's latest and best techniques!
- Air Gaps: Open cell foam inside walls will absorb moisture from the woodwork, begin to collapse in on itself, and shrink as it collapses. Air gaps form as a result of the shrinking foam, which then enables drafts to flow into and through the home – Something this insulation is said to specifically prevent!
When mixed correctly, by a crew that has had proper training and continuing education like Unified Insulation Systems (We continually train the 4th Friday of every month!) spray foam will not have an off-putting smell. It should also only be used in locations that allow the insulation to perform at its maximum ability. If a company is suggesting that you use foam any and everywhere in your home, be wary!
Where Unified Insulation Uses Spray Foam
Rim Joists – Rim joists are upper portions of the attic walls along the perimeter that are above ground level. Pipes often enter the basement in this space and being above ground level means that it is susceptible to air gaps and air leaks. Spray foam has amazing air sealing abilities and a rim joist is a perfect use case of this insulation. They're often low in square feet, meaning less product, and less cost to the owner! The foam used in rim joist placement is closed cell foam. It is fully waterproof, stops air and vapors from entering, and will not absorb water from the wood (like open cell foam does when used inside inner walls).
Air gap Sealant – Spray foam can be used as an air sealant in many locations. We use it to seal around pipe entrances and exits in the home, and to seal our house-wrap when insulating attic eaves. The house-wrap allows us to form a barrier filled with cellulose insulation between the eaves and the other 'lived-in' portions of the attic. Gaps, access holes, and all around the perimeter are sealed with spray foam to ensure that no air can move in from the sealed off sections. Similar to caulking around plumbing, we only use the spray foam in limited areas to provide an proper air seal.
Mobile Home Supports – Unified Insulation is one of the only Mobile Home Insulation Companies in the Akron area, and we use spray foam around the base of mobile home supports to stop water from absorbing into the stone and to seal the edges of the plastic vapor barrier. It completely stops moisture from exiting the vapor barrier. This is a single-part foam that requires no mixing and is prepared in ready-to-use cans equipped with nozzles for accuracy.
So in conclusion, if a company is recommending that you use spray foam inside your walls, over your entire attic floor, or in other large areas, be a little wary! This is going to raise the price of your home's insulation dramatically, can cause bad smells that linger in the room, and may not be effective over time when open cell spray foam is used inside walls.
Unified Insulation recommends cellulose insulation for use in outer walls, which we blow in with a blowing machine. This insulation is the most cost effective, made from over 80% of recycled materials, making it the most Eco-friendly and Green insulation, and costing up to half the price of fiberglass, which is generally considered a very affordable insulation! At Unified Insulation we only use spray foam insulation in limited spaces, this saves our customers money and future headaches!
Give us a call today, we are you're local Akron insulation company 330-773-7377! We have a 60 mile operating radius around Akron, meaning we insulate all the way to Cleveland, Ashland, Youngstown, and more! Schedule a free quote with Jeremiah and we'll show up with thermal cameras to show you just where your home may be vulnerable and provide our plan to insulate your home! We have financing available, click here to learn more. Its a no-pressure offer and risk free! Call today!
