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spray foam

| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on May 14, 2008 04:07am

Like everyone else in North America, I am trying to step up the insulation in my home before next Winter hits. I am looking to buy a spray foam system that I can use to tighten things up. I am not looking for something that I will be doing lots of houses, probably just mine.   Any suggestions? Open cell, closed cell?

Don’t want to spend a fortune doing it but don’t want the HomeDepot insulation in a can either.   Any suggestions??

 

 

Reply

Replies

  1. User avater
    talkingdog | May 14, 2008 10:27am | #1

    tigerfoam.com

    Probably not cheaper than hiring a pro to do it, plus
    you are subjecting yourself to the intense toxicity of
    uncured foam.

    1. User avater
      Jeff_Clarke | May 16, 2008 03:53am | #3

      This is what we have - http://www.ncfi.com/residential.html 

      Amazing stuff.

      Temperature dipped into the low 40's the other night.  Inside stayed in the high 60's ... with NO heat on.   For 10 hours.

       

      Jeff

      1. timothyo | May 16, 2008 08:10am | #4

        A couple of thoughts when you compare foam to other forms of insulation.
        On the positive side:
        1) most closed cell foams strengthen the structure substantially
        2) most sprayed in foams do a great job of cutting air infiltration On the negative side
        1) price-- compared to blown in cellulose blanket, the best bids I have seen are about four times the price-- or more.
        2)fire-- most of these foams are ridiculously flammable and must be covered with sheetrock or some other fire/flame retardant
        3) diminishing returns-- most of these foams do a great job when you apply 2 inches, but have seriously diminishing returns after that. That is why foam is often coupled with blown in cellulose, blown fiberglass or standard FG batts.
        4) Pollution and indoor air quality-- some of this stuff is better and some of it off-gasses really awful chemicals that will affect the overall environment and your indoor air quality.I am building a house for myself and have looked at all of this pretty hard. There are good reasons why a lot of the more experienced builders on this site (and some of the greenest of the green builders) like cellulose. Check it out.

        1. User avater
          Jeff_Clarke | May 16, 2008 04:16pm | #5

          The NCFI insulation does not support combustion - in other words if you take a piece and hold a lighter to it the foam self-extinguishes.

          Jeff

          Edited 5/16/2008 9:16 am ET by Jeff_Clarke

          1. timothyo | May 16, 2008 06:19pm | #6

            It looks interesting. I will check into it further.

        2. Willy50 | May 17, 2008 02:48pm | #7

          Thanks for all the info and input.

          I guess the perfect spray foam insulation would be non toxic, non flammable and as inexpensive as conventional insulation, cellulose etc.

           

          Thanks all

          1. BigBill | May 17, 2008 05:31pm | #8

            Have you looked at this?

            http://www.airkrete.com/

          2. timothyo | May 18, 2008 08:47pm | #9

            I have looked at this and I have read up on it online. It looks like a great option, but I don't know anyone who has actually used it. Have you? It is written up as efficient, environmentally friendly, fireproof and very stable. I have seen nothing on the costs.Do you have any experience with this product?

          3. User avater
            Jeff_Clarke | May 19, 2008 06:32am | #10

            R-3.9 / inch (airkrete) doesn't cut it.

            Jeff

      2. Clewless1 | May 21, 2008 10:35pm | #11

        bogus web site, dude. ?

        1. User avater
          Jeff_Clarke | May 21, 2008 10:42pm | #12

          No - it's legit.  They must be having problems today.

          Jeff

  2. reinvent | May 14, 2008 01:53pm | #2

    First see if there are installers in your area.

    http://www.icynene.com/LocateDealer.aspx?country=1
    http://www.biobased.net/dealers/find.php
    http://www.insulstar.com/installers.html
    http://www.corbond.com/find_installer.htm

    If you have no luck with that then go the DIY route.

    http://www.rhhfoamsystems.com/

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