Sparky480

How do you guys feel about the spray foam insulation in houses?

Mr. Sparkle

First off, I hate it.

Second, I feel like in a decade or two we will hear about it turning to dust and settling in the wall, ultimately destroying the R value of the home.

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captkirk

Not sure about the new stuff but its been found that some of the older/earlier stuff would emit formaldahyde as it broke down in the wall. And that bit of infor came from my chemist friend. Im sure formaldayde is not to good for you.

crazymurph

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.

captkirk

I remeber how they were pimpin that stuff out on some early episodes of TOH.

Briancraig81

I don't like it. It does a good job though, I was in an attic one time that had it, it was around 95 outside and I wasn't even breaking a sweat running back and forth tracing out a few lines.

From our standpoint though, it is a PITA if you have to add or remove anything in an attic that has it. It's basically a bigger version of 'Great stuff' foam insulator. Have you ever tried to cut and remove that stuff? It's on there for good.

I've always wondered if someone wanted that stuff removed from there attic, how would you do it?

woodchuck2

I dont like it much, PITA to snake a wire through it. There is one home here that had it done through the whole house, then they had to install a fresh air system so the house could breathe. Kind of defeats the purpose i guess.

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nolabama

its very popular in new orleans - i would say at least 1/2 of the homes i have done were spray foamed
i dislike it for the same reasons as everyone else
you probably could charge more when you deal with it in an old work situation soo... it's greaat

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Fredman

If it's "closed cell" foam then it get hot as hell while curing and will melt certain types of low voltage wire insulation i.e. Cat 5 etc.

Smurf tube is a good idea for the LV - I've talked to the spray foam reps who inform the open or closed cell foam will not harm NM.

The last "foam" house I did had closed cell only in the outside walls for it's increased "R" value and open cell in the inside walls for soundproofing.

These are jobs that you really do not want to miss anything on!

eds

I have done a couple jobs with the open cell. I normally cut in vanity light boxes on the trim, but now they get set on the rough. Depending on where they spray the foam we box out recess lights, some of the recess company actually require a lamp reduction if they are installed in foam. I know you can fish tru open cell, but good luck on closed cell.

Toronto Sparky

Seems to me a few years ago they made everyone rip out the "Formaldehyde" foam..
Very expensive to say the least.

Personally.. I find it tends to shrink away from the studs over the years making it somewhat useless.

(Old Stuff)
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/mah...inaiqu_008.cfm

(new Stuff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjxW...ayer_embedded#

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