Preparing Attic For Spray Foam Insulation

Earlier this year i got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic.

Preparing attic for spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation is a great product. I ve been in plenty of these homes and can tell you that when spray foam is installed properly they outperform 99 of fiberglass batt insulated stick built homes. Consumers are often told by spray foam contractors to do the rafters. Homes insulated with it can be some of the most efficient and comfortable homes built.

One huge benefit of the spray foam insulated attic is that conditioned air leakage from the ac furnace duct system is contained and used to condition the attic. When you contract with kc spray foam for your spray on insulation needs this step is included in our price quote. This alternative to traditional building insulation fiberglass can be applied into wall cavities holes concrete slabs and even onto roof tiles and. If you re not do the attic floor.

A lot of builders and homeowners are going with spray foam insulation because of the airtightness benefits but then the questioner mentioned that the spray foam contractor had intentionally left big holes to the outside by not sealing the gable vents. If you re using the attic for living space then you need to insulate the rafters. When we seal the attic with spray foam it s as tight as a butter tub. Install ventilation baffles essentially plastic or foam vents into the eaves by pulling the existing insulation away from the roof positioning the new vent chute so the bottom extends six inches into the overhang and stapling it into place.

When you insulate the top of your attic with spray foam you re bringing your attic into your home s envelope. The prep work ahead of a sprayed insulation job is an important step. The prep work for adding insulation to your attic includes air sealing installing attic ventilation isolating heat sources bringing electrical up to code stocking up on supplies preparing the workspace getting all dressed up. It s also how we ensure we leave the site better than when we started a job.

That s because it s easier for the contractor to spray than clean up existing insulation deal with any can lights or venting etc. As a result you can reduce the temperature in your attic by a lot anywhere from 120 degrees to around 95 during peak summer. And you avoid wood rot and mold. Spray polyurethane foam is a chemical product that is created by two materials isocyanate and polyol resin that will react with each other when they are mixed and will expand up to 30 to 60 times its liquid volume as it is sprayed in place.

We come in and cover all windows doors. The last thing you want to do is add insulation to your attic without air sealing first. It s how we protect the job site from overspray. This application effectively seals off the attic from the outdoors and eliminates air leakage and infiltration through the attic and roof areas.

However in a traditionally insulated attic insulation on the ceiling the attic is vented. I can also tell you that 73 of all statistics are made up on the spot so please don t ask for. Only spray polyurethane foam can be used for this application as batt insulation will end up sagging and blown insulation simply can t adhere to the roof decking. Nothing unusual about that.