SPRAY FOAM
The demand for Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation has exploded in recent years. The main reason is that this material has been shown to insulate up to 50% better than fiberglass or cellulose. In our extreme Permian Basin temperatures, this can make a massive difference to your energy bills.
SPF is highly versatile and can be applied to many surfaces in your home. Its primary benefit is superior energy conservation (higher r-value). We use it for attics, walls, storage containers, garage doors – in fact, any surface that would benefit from resistance to heat flow. Building science has also shown that SPF insulation significantly increases a building’s structural integrity and is excellent for soundproofing.
Many customers understand the benefits of spray foam; however, some also think it’s expensive, complicated, and challenging to install. Of course, if you apply foam without proper preparation, equipment, or high-quality materials, you can set yourself up for problems in the future. However, the benefits far outweigh the costs, as long as you have quality foam professionally installed by a company you can trust.
Here is the process our Urethane USA team typically follows to simplify the process:
If you think spray foam could be suitable for you, please call our experts. They will be happy to discuss energy saving, R-values, and the different types of spray foam and coatings that could meet your needs.
We offer free estimates for all spray foam work. Our estimator will visit your home or commercial building, discuss your needs and budget, and measure the areas that require insulation. They will look at the holes, cracks, and leaks that allow air to infiltrate your building and lose energy, taking into account any mold or mildew you might be experiencing. They will address any questions you may have regarding the preparation and installation. The estimator will also note any features of your surfaces that require special preparation. Of course, we will never recommend spray foam if it’s not the right solution for you.
We recommend the product and method best suited to your application and budget. Our estimator will craft a unique solution to meet your needs. We use premium materials in the correct quantities - never less than specified for your project.
During this process, we will evaluate what type of spray foam will work for your needs. The basic types of spray foam insulation are open-cell and closed-cell. Both are high-quality products that suit different applications. What we recommend is primarily driven by the type of surface to which the insulation will be applied.
We typically recommend open-cell foam if you need to insulate wall cavities, crawl spaces, perimeter rim joists, cathedral ceilings, and garage ceilings. Open-cell is not as dense as closed-cell; however, it’s often a more cost-effective solution. The R-value of open-cell foam is usually 3.7-4.0 per inch applied.
We recommend closed-cell foam for roofing, walls, metal buildings, typically large surfaces, and areas directly exposed to the outside. Closed-cell prevents water from seeping into the insulation, preventing nasty moisture build-up that causes bacterial and mold growth. In addition, closed-cell foam has a higher R-value (around 6.7 per inch) and a higher insulating capacity.
Contrary to what you might have heard, spray foam doesn’t take a long time to apply. Of course, it’s critical to use a skilled expert and experienced insulation contractor. It’s also essential to ensure your spray foam has the correct thickness and texture. Before we apply any foam to your building, we carefully prepare each surface, removing dust and debris, ensuring that we will apply the foam to clean dry surfaces to ensure no flaws in the process. Preparation is an important step that should not be overlooked.
Correct application is crucial. Despite its many advantages, spray foam installation isn’t foolproof. Some of our customers have told us about problems with prior sloppy foam insulation. For example, installers have sometimes sprayed before the chemical components reach the required temperature, adversely affecting component mixing and foam performance. If ingredients are mixed in the wrong ratio or at the wrong temperature, the cured foam has been known to shrink away from rafters or studs, leaving cracks. Some installers also rush spraying, leaving gaps.
Spray foam chemicals are approved compounds that are perfectly safe once the product has cured. You will never have physical contact with the product during application and immediately after that, and our applicators take all the mandatory safety precautions during application. For this reason, for all interior projects, we recommend that clients vacate the entire premises during application. Our project manager will tell you when it is safe to return - usually the next day.
After we apply the foam, the detailing work begins. Depending on the type of application, we may need to shave or trim before finishing our work. Interior residential jobs often require us to cut the foam to ensure the sheetrock fits over the insulation. In closed-cell applications such as roofs, it is part of our standard process to smooth areas around scuppers & drains to ensure proper drainage.
We also apply a protective coating to some closed-cell spray foam applications. These coatings range from Acrylic-based to high-solid Silicone coating. This coating protects the foam and enhances its life. Depending on the type of coating applied, we often use 2-3 layers to ensure the proper thickness. For example, we always coat the polyurethane spray foam to protect the foam from the elements in roofing applications.
Once the crew has finished the details and applied any necessary coating, it is time for the final walk-through. The walk-through is the final step in the process. At this time, we issue the applicable manufacturer’s warranty and answer any questions regarding the process, product, care, etc. We provide long-term warranties and leave you with premium insulation that will save you money and add long-term value to your home.
