DIY foam

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SolarAndWood

Minister of Fire
Feb 3, 2008
6,788
Syracuse NY
When using something like Tigerfoam, is possible to spray an inch or two consistently in the stud bays? Or, should I plan on just filling the bays and cutting off the excess? I'd like to seal the cavities and then using something cheaper to fill.
 
I can't really answer your question, but I've watched the pros insulate dozens of house with spray foam. They can certainly spray an inch or two consistently, but they do it everyday. I'm a builder and there's a reason I use professional subcontractors for foam. It has the potential to be very messy, the mixture needs to be exact, the temps need to be exact, lots of variables. I've heard the small foam packs are tricky to use and not worth the money, but I've never used one.

They say the first inch of foam does 80% of the work and every successive inch has a diminished return per dollar spent. When you cut off the excess you lose the hard shell that the foam develops when it cures. My insulators say the foam loses a little effectiveness if the hard shell isn't intact so they try to be exact and only trim a little when necessary. It's also a waste of expensive foam when it splooges out of the wall cavity.
 
The application instructions for these spray foams typically advise to only spray and inch or so thickness with each pass. The curing of the foam generates a lot of heat, and if you spray it too deeply all at once, it won't cure correctly.

So while I haven't used these products (I've come close to it...), I've read all of the applications instructions and they certainly imply that you can lay down an inch thick layer without problems.
 
Cool, thanks. It doesn't need to be perfect. DIY cost seems to be about the same as pro if you assume your labor is free. The advantage of DIY is I can do it a section of the house at a time while we are living in it.
 
If you're doing a small area it can be worth it, but after costing it out myself for 500sqft+ I couldn't even buy the stuff for what they could install it. Most insulation is the same way, even blow-in for your attic. I'd use it to insulate a tub, or some retro work but not for walls or an attic. If you're flexible with your time you may get a guy who's finished early for the day to pull up in a truck, but for spray foam its a lot of work to drag the hoses out, suit up, ect. if he's already cleaned his equipment for the day.
 
I thought a lot about this yesterday and am thinking I could probably do it in three phases while we lived in it. The lower level walkabout is about 1200 sq ft with 2x8 walls. Then split the main level into two approximately 1200 sq ft halves. The only tricky part would be the 3rd phase with the kitchen, bath and bedrooms. But, if I waited long enough to get the rest of the house built out before I did it, that probably wouldn't be a big deal.
 
I used tiger foam. Heat your tanks up for maximum coverage. Just do a layer at a time you can always come back to where you started. I put 3 inches on the foundation 1 inch at a time.
 
Jay, did you put it out to bid before you did it yourself?
 
smokinjay said:
I used tiger foam. Heat your tanks up for maximum coverage. Just do a layer at a time you can always come back to where you started. I put 3 inches on the foundation 1 inch at a time.
+1 to this. The company that sprayed my attic used a heated hose that kept the mixture at exactly 130 degrees while spraying.
 
SolarAndWood said:
Jay, did you put it out to bid before you did it yourself?

No my craw space is very tight in areas, I knew it would be way out of my price range for the extra labor.
 
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