Spray Foam Insulation Florence, Oregon
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Our company installs spray foam insulation in all parts of a house or building structure and we have completed many projects in both the residential as well as commercial sector. We have good experience working in the industry and whether it is removing the old insulation and installing the new spray foam insulation we would like to offer our services to you.
As you know spray foam insulation in Florence, Oregon can be used in almost all parts of the house or building structure but did you ever think of installing spray foam insulation in the crawlspace? Let’s take a look at how spray foam helps when it is installed in the crawlspace, the importance of installing it in the attic and whether or not it needs a thermal barrier.
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Why Spray Foam Insulation in the Crawlspace is Important
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Crawlspaces are one of the most overlooked places when it comes to insulation. Not having proper insulation in the crawlspace leads to cold floors, loss of energy and frozen pipes. The best insulation for the crawlspace is spray foam insulation in Florence, Oregon. Traditional types of insulation like cellulose and fiberglass does not create an air seal and conditioned air will still escape from your living space. Other than this, a lot of moisture comes into the crawlspace and this causes your living space floors to be cold and uncomfortable. Moisture also leads to the problem of mold and allergens.
In order to insulate the crawlspace, with spray foam insulation, all of the old insulation needs to be removed completely. The area is cleaned and if there is any ductwork or mechanicals present, a plastic sheet is laid down to protect it. The walls, and rim joist is sprayed with spray foam insulation. Once the crawlspace is insulated with spray foam, the temperature in the crawlspace and the rest of the house above are the same. Because of the heat present, pipes will not freeze and air will no longer escape, thus this building envelope helps you to cut down on spending on energy as well. |
Does Spray Foam Insulation Need a Thermal Barrier?
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A thermal barrier is a material or product that will give protection to something from thermal damage in case of a fire. Spray foam insulation will burn when it is in the presence of a flame. It will not catch fire by itself but when it is exposed to a flame it will burn.
Thus when using spray foam insulation in Florence, Oregon, you will need to install a thermal barrier to protect it and to limit the fire from spreading. Drywall and plywood are good examples of thermal barriers. Gypsum board also acts as a thermal barrier as it has a fire-retardant material that is built into it. Another option is using DC315 paint that is a fireproof paint and is specifically meant to use on spray foam insulation at a particular pressure. |
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Where you are bound to install a thermal barrier will be determined by the building code of your state; however, generally most living spaces that have spray foam insulation in the walls and forced air heating need a thermal barrier to protect it. Other areas such as the crawlspace that is enclosed and has no forced air heating system will not require a thermal barrier because it is cut off from the living area.
The attic too is separated from the living area because the drywall of the ceiling in the living space acts as a thermal barrier. Any good spray foam insulation contractor in Florence, Oregon will be able to guide you and give you correct advice about installing spray foam insulation and thermal barriers in your home. |
How Spray Foam Insulation in the Attic helps to save on Energy
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Re-insulating your attic with spray foam insulation in Florence, Oregon, helps to keep the heat in and prevents the escape of conditioned air. If you have issues such as the upstairs rooms not being the same temperature as the rest of the house, high energy bills and difficulty in maintaining the temperature in your home and problems with your roof like accumulation of moisture and having to replace it very often, these are signs that the insulation in your attic is improper and needs to be changed.
The most important fact is that, research has proven that at least 30 to 40 percent can be saved on energy bills after installing spray foam insulation in the attic. Your attic can either be vented or unvented. For a vented attic system, the floor of the attic is sprayed with spray foam insulation and for an unvented attic system the roof deck is sprayed with spray foam insulation. Vented attic systems have vents that allow airflow. When you install spray foam insulation on the floor of the attic in this type of attic, the spray foam insulation will prevent the transfer of heat from the airflow and this keeps the rest of your home cool in summer and warm in winter. For all unvented attics, there are no vents and using spray foam insulation on the roof deck enables the entire house to be conditioned. This creates a complete air seal around the entire house or building and all the air throughout the entire house is regulated. In this case the attic space becomes a part of the conditioned house space and is known as a ‘hot roof’. |
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The cost of installing spray foam insulation in the attic in Florence, Oregon averages about $2,000 and can go as high as $10,000. It depends on several factors such as whether you choose to insulate the floor or the underside of the roof, whether you use open cell spray foam or closed cell spray foam insulation.
The thickness of spray foam is also a factor. The average thickness is between 6 and 10 inches but it depends on where you live and the building codes for your state. Using spray foam insulation in your attic will create a complete air seal and minimize the amount of pollen, allergens and other pollutants from entering your home. It will also keep out moisture and you will not have to be worried about issues with mold. You will be able to make better use of your attic as the temperature throughout the house will be regulated. Even though the initial cost of installing spray foam insulation in your attic in Florence, Oregon may be high, it will be well worth in the long run as you will save so much more on energy costs. Spray foam insulation is very long lasting and you will not have to replace it anytime soon. |
Spray Foam Insulation and the Environment
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Nowadays because of increasing awareness about global warming, depletion of the ozone layer and carbon footprints that we cause, you may be wondering if spray foam insulation is safe for the environment or not. There are different brands of spray foam insulation and if you want to find out about its GWP (Global Warming Potential) you should ask your local spray foam insulation contractor which brand of spray foam insulation they use in Florence, Oregon.
According to the EPA, GWP can be measured by comparing the amount of energy that 1 ton of a particular gas will absorb over a given time period which is relative to the emission of 1 ton of carbon dioxide. In other words, the higher the GWP of a gas, the more will the earth be warmed by it compared to 1 ton of carbon dioxide. |
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Earlier, spray foam insulation was considered to be harmful to the environment because it used certain chemicals in as the blowing agent such as HFC-365mfc, HFCF-141b and HFC-245fa. Blowing agents are the gases that are responsible for expanding the foam and giving it its rigid shape. It is these tiny bubbles that act as insulators. These chemicals have a very high GWP. For example, HFC-245fa has a GWP of 1030 which means that it is 1030 time more harmful than 1 ton of carbon dioxide.
However, nowadays, a new type of blowing agent called HFOs (hydrofluroolefin) is used and it has a GWP of 1. Thus there is very little or no impact on the environment at all. HFOs are great to use because of the following reasons:
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Contact Us
If you want to install spray foam insulation in your crawlspace, attic or any other part of the building structure, feel free to contact us for further information. Our experienced team will take care of removal of the old insulation, installation of the new spray foam insulation and safe disposal of all waste materials. We only use high quality spray foam insulation for all our work in Florence, Oregon.