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Smart Solutions for the Atlanta Climate

Frequently Asked Questions

Navigating the humidity and heat of Georgia requires a specialized approach to home comfort. At GCS Spray Foam Insulation, we get a lot of questions about how our technology handles the unique demands of the Atlanta metro area. Whether you’re curious about R-values, air sealing, or how much you can actually save on your summer cooling bills, you’ll find the answers here. We believe an informed homeowner is a comfortable one—explore our most common inquiries below.

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Improve indoor air quality and protect your property with our modern insulation solutions.

GCS Spray Foam Insulation FAQ

Spray foam has been around since the 1960’s. It was used in military applications (insulation on submarines, etc.) It has been used in residential applications for the past 20 years and has redefined what insulation should be.

Our spray foam insulation begins as large drums of an “A” and “B” solutions that are mixed at a high temperature and extremely high pressure to form the substance known as “polyurethane spray foam insulation”. The foam comes out of the specialized application gun at roughly 200 degrees.

Our technicians wear protective clothing and respirators to avoid contact with solution or vapors. This process should only be attempted by skilled, highly trained technicians.

Closed-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) is a much more dense, hard and rigid foam with an R-value of 6.8 per inch. It is often used in attics with metal roofs, attic floors, exterior walls, crawl space sub-floors and metal sheds. As with all foams, the airtight barrier that is created is what prevents dust, pollen, mold and mildew from penetrating the envelope. The tiny cells in this type of foam are literally “closed off” making it impervious to air and water.


Once applied this foam expands to 20 times it’s liquid volume. Its performance is superior to commonly used fiberglass insulation because of it’s ability to adhere to nearly any building material and it’s ability to provide a continuos barrier against air and moisture infiltration.


The results of using closed-cell SPF are a cleaner environment, greater noise reduction, and substantial energy savings. Additionally, Closed-cell foam has been shown to increase building strength and wind resistance up to 300%.


Open-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) is an extremely lightweight soft foam with an R-value of 3.8 per inch. It is often used in attic roof-lines, exterior walls and basement ceilings. It can also be used as a sound barrier for theater rooms, bathroom and plumbing pipes.


In attics, open cell is highly recommended for it’s performance due to the thickness, air sealing and insulating properties of the foam. At an average of 5.5 inches (R-value of 21), open cell foam applied to the underside of the roof decking will eliminate radiant heat from affecting the indoor temperature and HVAC unit performance. Basically, it keeps conditioned air inside the home/business while preventing un-conditioned air from entering the structure.


On average your attic temperature should not see more than a 10-13 degree difference from the living space below it.

The best foam to use should be determined by the application.


Closed-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF)


  • Crawlspace (ceiling and walls of crawlspace)
  • Basement (unfinished walls and ceiling)
  • Garages (ceiling of garage…when there is living space above)
  • Walls (exterior walls)
  • Metal Roofs (underside of roof decking)


Uses for Open-Cell Foam



  • Any non-metal Roof (underside of roof decking
  • Soundproofing (interior walls, between floors)
  • Walls (exterior walls)

No, there is no food value to the foam. In addition, by sealing off roof vents, gable walls/fans and all entry points, we eliminate the typical paths that these pests take into the home.

Spray foam insulation provides a sealed thermal envelope. When applied, the insulation conforms and fills each cavity, crack, and void. This seals the home against wind, dust, moisture, pollen, mold spores, insects, and numerous allergens. Foam provides a healthier, quieter, draft-free, indoor environment.

Once applied and cured, the spray foam insulation is in place for the life of the structure. It should never have to be replaced.

The square footage of the application area(s) is the determining factor. Generally, we can complete most residential applications within a day. Complete encapsulation (attic, crawl space, walls) projects will most likely take a few days. Our number one focus is to ensure the quality of the application vs. how quickly we can apply it.

No. Attic and roof venting were developed because of the inferiority of non-foam insulation. In the winter in northern climates, moisture typically condenses on the interior side of insulation because the interior wall temperatures are relatively cold compared to the warmer air toward the center of the house. The only way to get the moisture out of the house was the creation of ridge and soffit venting.


Unfortunately, this also results in the loss of heat. In the summer, venting is typically used to remove warm air from un-insulated attic spaces, one of the purposes of which is to protect the underside of roof shingles from excessive heat.


With Spray Polyurethane Foam, there are no such problems. The temperature of rooms in the winter is uniform throughout, thus eliminating any chance for condensation to occur. In the summer, the attic is just slightly warmer than the rest of the house, there is no potential for roof shingle damage.


For mold to exist and grow, moisture, warm temperatures, and a food source must be present. Polyurethane foam insulation has no nutritional value and is not considered a food source for mold. The use of polyurethane eliminates air movement within the wall cavity, eliminates condensing surfaces, and reduces the potential to accumulate moisture.


Other insulations are less successful at controlling air infiltration and at providing adequate insulation to eliminate condensing surfaces, thus increasing the likelihood of having an environment that is susceptible to mold. Closed-cell foam is approved by FEMA for use in flood regions.

R-Value is one of the most misused and misunderstood measurements in the world. The test results are determined in a 75-degree (F) lab with no wind load and ideal humidity. In such conditions, the two insulation types are identical with respect to heat transfer.


However, once the insulation is installed in a home in real-world conditions, the heat loss/gain of fiberglass and cellulose is outrageous since cold and warm air move freely about them through convection. Spray Polyurethane Foam is an air barrier, and it is physically adhered to the wood framing members of a structure, thus minimizing air infiltration.


Think of fiberglass as a screen and Spray Polyurethane Foam as a window. Coincidentally, most furnace filters are made from fiberglass. These filters are obviously designed to allow the free movement of air through them.


The Science of a Sealed Home

Why Spray Foam

Traditional insulation materials like fiberglass often leave gaps where air can escape, forcing your HVAC system to work overtime in the Atlanta heat. GCS Spray Foam Insulation provides a complete air seal that expands to fill every crack and crevice in your attic, walls, and crawlspace. By creating a high-R-value thermal envelope, spray foam significantly reduces energy loss, stabilizes indoor temperatures, and can lower your monthly utility bills by up to 15% or more. Invest in technology that pays for itself.

Spray Foam Uses

Protect Your Indoor Air Quality

Attics– 30-50% of your home's 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, gables, 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).

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 are 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 insulation. In the summertime, cold air-conditioned air can easily escape through these same cracks, voids, and crevices.

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 onto the ceiling of the garage.


This will eliminate harmful exhaust and other outdoor pollutants (as well as moisture) from escaping up through the ceiling and into the conditioned space above. This will also create warmer floors (winter), fewer drafts, and much more efficient heating and cooling of the space above.

Feature

Spray Foam

Fiberglass/Cellulose

1

Air Sealing

Creates a 100% airtight seal.

Allows air to pass through.

2

Moisture Resistance

Repels water and prevents mold.

Can hold moisture and sag.

3

Lifespan

Permanent (50+ years).

Degrades/settles over time.

4

Pest Deterrent

No nesting or food value.

Common nesting material.

Building Science

GOAL: Perfecting the “Building Envelope”: -the “building envelope is defined as: a total system of construction materials and design components that control the temperature, movement of air, and moisture both in and out of the building.”


Challenge: “The Stack Effect” – Sometimes called the “chimney effect”—is a problem most homes have. Basic science tells us that warm air will rise and cooler air will sink. In summer, your attic temperature routinely can hit 140 degrees. This warm air builds up and pushes all of your conditioned air down through the home and out through the floor of the lowest level.


Problems Associated With “The Stack Effect”

Heating and cooling systems work much harder than they need to to maintain the desired level of comfort (thus leading to excessive utility bills)

High temperatures in attic spaces can lead to condensation/moisture buildup on equipment (reducing the lifespan of that equipment)


In homes with a crawl-space, up to 50% of your air on the first level of your home comes from the crawlspace—often laden with high humidity, mold and bacteria.



SOLUTION: Attic & Crawl Space Encapsulation

We apply Open-cell spray polyurethane foam directly to the underside of the roof decking, from the peak of the roof all the way to the soffits. In addition, we unplug all attic fans and seal around them, seal all vents, extend any necessary plumbing stacks to the top of the attic (for required ventilation), creating an “Attic Encapsulation”.


We now prevent the heat (that would normally rise up through the ceiling and go out the roof vents) from escaping, thus backfilling the home with precious heat that previously would have been lost. Even in a relatively well-sealed home, about half of the air escapes each hour out of the upper levels. The problem is endemic because the standard design of homes is to vent air out the top.

Crawl Space

We apply Closed-cell spray foam directly to the ceiling of the crawl space. By sealing every crack, nook, crevice, we are stopping contaminated air from moving up into the home, preventing ground vapor, mold, humidity, bacteria and gases from being drawn up through the floor into the living space.


The closed cell foam dramatically improves the structural integrity (up to 300%) of the floor joists and eliminates the creaking of the floor that you find in older homes and is impervious to moisture while like at the same time allowing the home to breath (similar to GORTEX).


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Expert Advice on Protecting Your Property Investment

Your Questions, Answered

Is spray foam worth the investment for an Atlanta home? How does it impact your property value? At GCS Spray Foam Insulation, we provide the facts you need to make the right choice for your budget and your building. From attic retrofits to new commercial construction, we’ve compiled the essential details on longevity, moisture control, and long-term performance. Get the clarity you need to start your next project with confidence.

Our Location

2897 N Druid Hills Rd #261, Atlanta, GA 30329

(404)-519-7012

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