Spray Foam Questions and Answers

Answer:   

There are too many variables to give a Square footage price or general cost unless you know exactly what Poundage of foam you are pricing out. 

However The Short answer:  Spray foam Materials are more costly and much more effective that traditional insulation materials. On average Spray foam runs About 30% more at the very minimum of the cost of fiberglass and cellulose insulation Depending on the Weight of foam chosen. But, spray polyurethane foam is so effective it can not be compared to standard insulation materials such as provide a continuous Air barrier, Proven Energy Saver, The most powerful Insulator on the market, Moisture Barrier,Deters Mold Growth, indefinite lifespan, Does not shrink, Crack, Settle and is Eco Friendly. Keep in mind that the prices below are budgetary, and will vary job-to-job. 

Spray foam is sold by the board foot not square foot. ( 12 x 12 x 1 inch thick) Spray foam has so many weight options of Open cell and closed cell foam, Such as Envirofoam™ Low Density Foam, Medium Density Foam, High Density Foam, TRU-2 and greater weights.

With all the different materials available we would need to know the exact foam poundage, depth, R-value desired and application. 

The best way to get a price is to supply the plans or have a site visit and discuss with the installer what you are wanting or an idea of a budget so you can get the best possible application for the specific budget you have in mind. 

If you are going to compare bids you will want to compare the exact material and depth of material and application areas. Walls, box sills, roof deck or attic ceiling. If not, you will receive bids that could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars apart. Making sure you are getting bids for the exact same material is key.

Nationally open-cell Spray foam Averages $0.29 to $0.65 per board foot and closed-cell Spray foams average $1 to $1.50 per board foot for material cost only not including Labor, Prep ETC. These are National Averages and are not Envirofoam's Pricing.  Envirofoam Pricing is Lower than the national Averages because we not only Install the foam We are also the Manufacture of the material. 

                                                                 For more Information on cost  Click The button Below

                                                       To learn The difference between Open and closed cell Click Here 

Answer: The term R-Value is Resistance to Heat from One side of an assembly to the other side of the assembly in a controlled environment with no Air Movement or Moisture over the lifetime of the material.

The problem with this testing procedure is that no one builds their home in a vacuum to never see air or moisture.

Spray foam insulation takes in to account both air movement and Moisture in determining the “Effective” R value of the material. This is why is takes so little spray foam to be more effective Than Fiberglass or cellulose. Just 2 inches of Closed cell foam is much more effective than 6 inches of fiberglass Batts. 

An extraordinary article was Written by David B South of the Monolithic Dome Institute Named “The Myth of insulation Values” you can Read the Article Just Click Here. 

Answer: Nearly any surface. Most Surfaces just need to be clean, dry and oil/dust free. SPF will sometimes have trouble adhering to very slick surfaces and some types of polyethylene liners. Foam Will not stick to Plastic and will have trouble sticking to some foam boards that have a plastic coating or release agent. Some extremely smooth/slick surfaces will need preparation. For the most part SPF will adhere almost any surface that can be painted such as OSB, Plywood, Steel, Concrete, Tar paper and house wrap.

 Answer: Properly installed SPF will not damage any pipes and wires. There are however many different types of foam from different manufacturers, with different installation procedures and processes. To avoid damage, the material supplier’s processes must be adhered to by a qualified SPF contractor. 

Answer: It is generally accepted that all trades on smaller job sites need to stay out of the building during the spray processes and for 12 hours after installation is completed. On larger job sites, ventilation fans and polyethylene walls, and danger signs can create “safe zones” and “no entry” zones. 

Answer: Yes, you can actually reduce the size of the HVAC systems needed, by correctly matching the the size of the HVAC system with the tightly sealed spray foam building envelope, thus reducing the cost of the system. In some instances, utilizing closed cell SPF can eliminate the need for a vapor barrier. You can also build with 2 x 4 vs 2 x 6 studs and get the R-21 required by most inspectors. this can save on lumber cost, windows ans doors. 

Answer: Yes, and we are seeing more and more homes using their utility bills as a strong selling point. There has recently been a shift, with high energy prices, and microscope has been placed over the cost to run and maintain a home. There’s just no comparison between an SPF insulated home and a similar conventionally insulated home. 

Answer: Yes, and SPF’s ability to air seal help greatly with airborne sound transfer. Spray foam works great for sound control in combination with other insulation materials. It should be noted that significant sound transfer happens mechanically, through the building structure, so if sound “deadening” is paramount, building design (whole wall and ceiling assemblies) will also need to be addressed. Choosing the correct foam for sound deadening is also key. open cell foam has one of the Highest STC's ( Sound Transmission control ) on the market.  A knowledgeable Spray foam applicator will know what foam to use in what application.

Answer: Yes, there are qualified companies that will do a blower door test with infrared cameras and smoke wands to test the air seal and identify possible missed areas.

Essentially, a blower door test depressurizes a home by blowing indoor air outside. The pressure difference between the inside and outside is converted to airflow in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The airflow measurement can be used to determine the air change rate, measured in ACH or Air Changes per Hour, which is the time it takes for the entire volume of air in a home to be replaced.

Answer: Because of its rigid nature and ability to adhere to many materials, closed-cell SPF (ccSPF) can provide structural enhancement to framed buildings. Racking strength of walls, as well as uplift strength of framed roof decks can be significantly increased with the addition of just 2-3 inches of SPF. 

Answer:There is no spray foam “wand,” or at least one has not been designed yet that has been accepted by the industry as an effective option. The fact that this question gets asked so often, is actually a ongoing joke among spray foam professionals.