Attics – 30-50% of your homes heat and air conditioning is lost through air leaks in your attic. The chimney/stack effect draws air in at the soffit, through recessed lighting fixtures, attic stairs, wall outlets and mechanical penetrations (water and gas service, telephone and cable connections, etc.) and releases it through ridge and/or gable vents. This upward air flow creates a suction that pulls the conditioned air up and out of your home.
Using Spray Foam to Convert attics into a semi-conditioned space in hot climates by closing soffits, gable and ridge vents is a positive design approach in reducing the moisture loads in houses and buildings. This can be achieved by moving the insulation from the floor of the attic and applying Open-Cell spray foam directly to the underside of the roof deck to seal all the vents (preferred method).
This design prevents the moisture laden outside air from entering the attic and subsequently into the living area of houses and buildings. The air seal also prevents the radiant heat from migrating into the living area. Lower humidity levels create indoor air quality that is much more comfortable to live in.
Basements – In below grade spaces, the importance of thermal insulation takes a back seat to water vapor and moisture penetration. If the basement is unfinished, we can apply a flash coat of closed cell foam directly to masonry walls (block or poured concrete).
Condensation often forms when warm air comes into contact with the cool masonry wall. This is why basements feel damp. The foam acts as a complete moisture and vapor barrier that keeps warm air away from cool concrete and masonry surfaces. The result is drier, warmer basements.
Crawl Spaces – Cold floors over top of a vented crawl space is a common problem. Many floors over crawl spaces have no insulation while others have some fiberglass batts that often are sagging, degraded and/or damp and even moldy from condensation as a result of cold air contacting the warmer sub-floor.
In either case, cold damp air enters the living space above through the poor insulation, cracks and voids not covered by the the insulation. In the summertime, cold air-conditioned air can easily escape through these same cracks, voids and crevices.
By applying closed-cell foam directly to the ceiling of the crawlspace, we can effectively seal every crack, void and crevice thus reducing harmful crawlspace air from entering the living space above. The foam also greatly increases the structural integrity of the floor above and eliminates the creaking commonly found in many older homes.
Walls – In new construction, walls can easily be sprayed with open or closed-cell foam to increase structural integrity (up to 300%), reduce drafts and complete the “building envelope”. This application can eliminate drafts that rob heat through electrical, mechanical and plumbing penetrations in the framing.
In existing homes where walls are finished (drywall or plaster covers walls cavities), the only effective option would be a “drill-n-fill” solution in-which we would drill small holes at the top of the wall cavity to allow for a hose to be inserted and fill the wall with cellulose insulation.
Soundproofing – Spray polyurethane foam insulation is highly effective as a soundproofing material. It can be applied in ceilings separating different floors in the home, in bathroom walls, music studios, band rooms, ceiling of a garage with a living space above it, etc.
Garage Ceilings – Many homes are built with little or no insulation in garage ceilings. This is especially troublesome if there is living space (apartment, home office, bedrooms, etc.) located above the garage. if the ceiling is not finished, we recommend spraying foam directly to the ceiling of the garage.
This will eliminate harmful exhaust and other outdoor polutants (as well as moisture) from escaping up through ceiling and into the conditioned space above. This also will create warmer floors (winter), fewer drafts and much more efficient heating and cooling of the space above.