Expanding Foam Insulation » DIY

DIY Expanding Foam Insulation

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:29:29 +0000

There are several manufacturers of expanding foam insulation who offer various products for the do-it-yourself handyman and small contractor. You might have a small insulation job that does not require the services of a large insulation installer.

There are different products for different purposes. It is important to find the matching product for your job. These products generally come in handy sized cans and are easy to use.

Here is a list of typical special purpose expanding foam insulation products. Check the labeling to determine if the product is designed for interior or exterior use, toxicity to animals and plants, cleanup, and storage.

Acrylic/Latex Foam Sealant

Paintable
Clean up with soap and water
Low expansion
Reusable dispensing
Interior use

Minimal Expansion Sealant

Seal small cracks and gaps
Insulate against energy loss

High Expansion Sealant

Fill larger holes and gaps
Block insects and pests

Window & Door Sealant

Seal around window or door frames
Low pressure to not bow

Exterior Filler and/or Adhesive

Adhesive for landscaping projects
Direct water flow in and around water gardens
Fill decorative planters for artificial arrangements

Fire Block Foam Sealant

Fill and seal fire service penetrations
Retard fire and/or resist flame

As you can see from this list, there are many choices that give you the right product for your expanding foam insulation and sealing application. Wear protection eyewear and clothing for safety and easy cleanup whenever you use expanding foam insulation.

Expanding Spray Foam Insulation Installation

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:58:31 +0000

To prevent heat escaping through the attic and the walls of a home fiberglass batts have been a traditional insulation. New advances in insulation offer a better solution that is easy to install and on the budget.

The contemporary best practice is expanding spray foam insulation installation. Foam fills the cavities in between the framing studs of the walls and attic. Spray-on foam expands to fills in air gaps, unlike standard fiberglass insulation, which lets air pass through and around it. Even as a house expands and contracts the foam insulation expands and compresses with it. This prevents warm air from escaping through cracks and spaces.

A professional installer has the equipment to cover large areas quickly so that it is more cost effective than doing it yourself, but for small areas and sealing cracks you may choose to do it yourself. For a large space being installed with expanding spray foam insulation, the liquid to sprayed evenly between studs on the inside of the exterior sheathing. The material quickly expands 100 times its volume to fill all the gaps in the stud wall or rafter space. After the foam has set a handsaw is used to smooth off the excess from the framing. The wall or ceiling is now ready for drywall installation.

A better air-tight envelope is achieved by using expanding spray foam insulation in the walls and attic. The foam is non-toxic, high R-value, moisture-proof, fire resistant, and sound damping.

Spray Insulation

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:37:12 +0000

Spray Insulation is worth looking into for many reasons, even if it’s not always the ideal solution. Although it is more likely to be the best option for new construction, its features also serve the needs of many existing homeowners who are adding to or trying to improve their homes.

For example, even if the spraying must be done by professionals, and therefore is more costly than other options, the high R-value of spray insulation can make it cost- effective over time, through lower heating bills. In very cold or hot climates this advantage may be well worth the cost.

Spray insulation also carries the advantage of filling uneven areas well. The sprayed foam expands to fill cracks and fit into irregular spaces that would be difficult to work around with other kinds of insulation. The do-it-yourself handyman might be very relieved not to have to work in difficult nooks and crannies, and to just let expansion of the foam do the work.

Another advantage is that spray insulation adheres well to the surface onto which it is sprayed. If a house is being expanded upward, to a second story, then spray insulation under the new floor will be securely in place and offer good insulation for years. It might be a better solution than trying to attach other forms of insulation in such a space.

There has been some debate about the moisture barrier qualities of closed-cell foam spray insulation. Such foams, e.g., polyisocyanurate or polyurethane, offer higher R-value than open-celled foam, e.g., polyicynene. The latter allows for some passage of water vapor after the insulation is installed. The advantages and disadvantages in relation to moisture barrier issues are important to discuss with an insulation expert on a case by case basis.

When a wall is already closed in, the most practical and economical way to insulate it is with spray foam insulation.

Foam is not the only product that can be sprayed for insulation. Cellulose and fiberglass fibers also can be sprayed, if they are mixed with some sort of adhesive or foam to keep them in place.

Because various forms of insulation can be used together and because every situation has its own considerations, the homeowner considering spray insulation would be well advised to consult several insulation contractors to weigh all the options before deciding how to proceed. Ask each of them to make a bid in writing for insulating a defined area to a certain R-value. It might also be useful to have a home energy audit if your purpose is to increase the energy efficiency of your house. Contact your local utility company for information on this.