Sprayed Foam Insulation

The foam is expensive but will pay for itself over time. Some worry it makes houses too tight. It works good for walls and floors. I was told blow in works best in attics because it is cheap, seals in over time and you can make changes if you want. Like said before the foam once its in there are little changes you can do.

As much as I like the term "blown in" , I believe you are right that he was referring to the spray insulation.

I believe the highest R value per inch is from blown in fiberglass, or BIBS. You end up with 4.2 per inch rather than the 4 with the foam.
You will have to get a contractor who can do it, but it works great.
I spent a summer installing it and it would be my first choice on a project.

Note of caution: If you have a hairy chest and arms, never be actually holding a can of that expanding foam insulation when it explodes.

Don't ask me how I know.

P.S. - and some of it can actually run down your front and get into your nether regions, before turning into a permanent fixture on your body.

Here is a website for a contractor that did a demonstration at the Fort Dodge home show in 2007. He uses an open cell foam, others use a closed cell foam. I don't know the difference. iowasprayfoam.com

I have already told my wife that when we build our new home, it will have the spray foam in it. I will also run all electric in conduit, so I can upgrade if I need too. Especially the data and coax lines. If you do have your whole house insulated with spray foam, I would encourage the installation of an air to air heat exchanger with the heating system to bring in outdoor air and condition it as it enters the home.

If this can handle the moisture, since it will be exposed to the outdoors on the underside of the porch; and if animals and insects aren't attracted to it for whatever reason, then it seems like the ideal solution for the floor of my three seasons room. Now all I need to do is find a contractor that does it.

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I use them to generate leads for my business, and they won't recommend someone who is not licensed and insured. So it kinda helps pre qualify people for doing the jobs.

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Originally Posted by Psyclone

I am thinking about insulating under the floor of my three seasons porch. I was talking about this with the guys that were staining my house. One guy said to use spray on foam insulation. I guess it will defy gravity when apply and must work something like that Great Stuff foaming product. I'd never heard of or considered spray on insulation for something like this. Does anybody know anything about it? Sounds like a pretty simple solution.

The porch sits a couple of feet above the ground. I may also want to do something to close it up to block the wind, but that's a different issue for a later time. Just wondering if this spray insulation is a workable solution and where you get it.

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It works very much like great stuff but is expensive. I wouldn't recommend the DIY route unless you're a VERY handy person and don't mind getting sticky stuff on you that even lacquer thinner has a difficult time getting off. The professionals use big barrels of the stuff and a pump located in an enclosed trailer. For smaller areas, they make 20lb cans, similar in size to a propane tank for your grill.

Some of the stuff is Icynene, some of it is polyurethane. Google "icynene" to learn more.

If the area's not getting wet from rain, I'd just put Kraft faced fiberglass bats underneath it. If you're worried about deterioration of the paper kraft facing, go to a mobile home supply store and get the stuff they cover the underbellies with.

When comparing cost/benefit, keep in mind that most heat loss is lost thru the ceiling, not the walls or floors.

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Originally Posted by Wx4Cy

MrsWx wants to put it in our attic but we don't know what it costs. How does it compare to regular insulation?

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It's about 2-3 times the cost. But the stuff is so tight that you have to add an air exchanger to your HVAC system to get the moisture out of your house in the winter time which adds additional cost. If you don't, your windows fog over with condensation and the mold grows on the drywall in the ceilings.

If a person is a little nuts about the humidity level in their house and wants it at a constant percentage year round, then spray foam and an exchanger system makes sense. But it's not exactly cost effective.

I researched the stuff inside and out before I built my house and decided not to use it.

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Originally Posted by cytech

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I use them to generate leads for my business, and they won't recommend someone who is not licensed and insured. So it kinda helps pre qualify people for doing the jobs.

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WOW! I have used a variety of sites like this and get very few replies, but I got a phone call from the guy in what must have been under a minute after I submitted the request. I hadn't even left the website when the phone rang. And it's 11:30AM on Sunday!

This particular guy didn't do the spray foam kind of work, but he did recommend Ron Weber Urethane Insulation and even gave a rough estimate of what it would probably cost.

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Originally Posted by usedcarguy

It's about 2-3 times the cost. But the stuff is so tight that you have to add an air exchanger to your HVAC system to get the moisture out of your house in the winter time which adds additional cost. If you don't, your windows fog over with condensation and the mold grows on the drywall in the ceilings.

If a person is a little nuts about the humidity level in their house and wants it at a constant percentage year round, then spray foam and an exchanger system makes sense. But it's not exactly cost effective.

I researched the stuff inside and out before I built my house and decided not to use it.

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Thanks for the advice. I think we'll go the cheaper traditional route. Now, do I want to do it myself or pay to have it done?