spray foam walls? large buildings

[flyingcow]

I'm thinking about spray foaming my garage walls. 35x75 16ft ceiling. 2x6 construction. Already F/G 12 yrs ago. Do alot of truck washing, F/G deteriorating it's R-value. Where would I look at buying a semi professional or residential application system. The walls are metal, not a big deal to remove metal and spray.

If this works out will consider doing my house one room to a time. Going to be doing some remolding anyways.

Also, if this all works out will do some part time work with equipment to offset the cost.

Do not know where to even start looking for equipment.

 

[greg13]

Ebay has had foam systems in the past, I would also get a quote to have it done. There may not be enough price difference to make it worth doing it yourself.

 

[Highbeam]

What is F/G and why is it losing its R-value. Foam is much too expensive when there is any other option.

 

[bmblank]

Fg-fiberglass i assume.

 

[greg13]

Fiberglass insulation looses it's R value after it gets soaked. I would try rigid foam first.

 

[flyingcow]

Fiberglass insulation looses it's R value after it gets soaked. I would try rigid foam first.

after I thought about it a bit that was what i came up with. And just can foam the edges that didn't fit tight.

IMO, F/G looses some R-value over time. If i was to get a do over when i built my house, i would foam the walls.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We put foam in our walls and it really made a terrific difference in heating or cooling. Another nice thing is more soundproof.

 

[Pallet Pete]

What is F/G and why is it losing its R-value. Foam is much too expensive when there is any other option.

I would strongly disagree it is all in the contractor and there cost. We saw prices from 20,000 to 4,000 on cellulose for the same r-value. The same thing for all insulation. I can say without a doubt I will never use anything but foam again ( at least till something better comes along ). I agree with Dennis on the qualities too.

Pete

 

[semipro]

An for site popped up today while I was browsing. Looks like the info on equipment suppliers may be here.
http://www.sprayfoam.com/

If you're talking about the small homeowner kits, (e.g., Tigerfoam) I've found them to be very expensive for the amount of foam you actually end up with.

 

[Swedishchef]

Personally when I build my next house, the entire thing will be insulated with closed cell foam. You simply can't beat it. It is air tight and water resistent/proof. I sprayfoamed my entire basement wall and rim joists with 1.5 inches of close cell (approximately R 9) and then added roxul on top of that for a total of R22ish. I had looked at the cost of installign 2 inches of ridig foam boards and it was $800 less than spray foaming (spray foam cost me $3400) but would have taken me about 3-4 days to do it. ANd I would not have had a great insulation job in my rim joists. After 2 hours of spraying the foam, the installers were gone!!

ALso, as Dennis mentioned, the qualities of foam are endless.

 

[peakbagger]

DIY foam installation will not be economical compared to hiring a contractor. The labor cost for a contractor install is mimimal as most contractor use low wage labor to apply with a skilled foreman. You are mostly paying for the chemicals and diesel fuel to keep everything warm. You are better off doing the prep work including the masking off of everything and then calling them in

 

[flyingcow]

An for site popped up today while I was browsing. Looks like the info on equipment suppliers may be here.
http://www.sprayfoam.com/

If you're talking about the small homeowner kits, (e.g., Tigerfoam) I've found them to be very expensive for the amount of foam you actually end up with.

Thanks for the link.

I've looked at the the homeowners kits and i agree, too expensive.

 

[flyingcow]

I would strongly disagree it is all in the contractor and there cost. We saw prices from 20,000 to 4,000 on cellulose for the same r-value. The same thing for all insulation. I can say without a doubt I will never use anything but foam again ( at least till something better comes along ). I agree with Dennis on the qualities too.

Pete

i agree.

 

[flyingcow]

I've got to spend some time and ask around, but we're there isn't any listings of spray foam contractors where we are.

I think I will do my existing house room by room at my pace. Rip off the sheetrock, pull out the F/G, and foam sheet the walls. Than spray (can) the cracks that don't fit tight. install new rock and have a finish carpenter/painter trim and finish walls.

My truck garage- if i find a spray contractor, i will take off the metal inside the building and have them do it. Easy and quick job once they show up.


appreciate the info and responses. Nothing like a cold snap to think about insulation.

 

[semipro]

You may want to look into."flash and batt" and "sprayable caulk" also.
Flash and batt is a nice compromise that uses both foam or sprayable caulk and batt insulation together.

 

[jdp1152]

Personally when I build my next house, the entire thing will be insulated with closed cell foam. You simply can't beat it. It is air tight and water resistent/proof. I sprayfoamed my entire basement wall and rim joists with 1.5 inches of close cell (approximately R 9) and then added roxul on top of that for a total of R22ish. I had looked at the cost of installign 2 inches of ridig foam boards and it was $800 less than spray foaming (spray foam cost me $3400) but would have taken me about 3-4 days to do it. ANd I would not have had a great insulation job in my rim joists. After 2 hours of spraying the foam, the installers were gone!!

ALso, as Dennis mentioned, the qualities of foam are endless.

Have always heard spray foam below grade is a big no no as it will mask minor problems until they're major problems. The sill with spray foam is probably one of the biggest energy savers one can do.

Spray foam home kits are mercurial beasts. They're marketed more towards folks looking to air seal with an inch and use batt to boost r value.

 

[Shane N]

Definitely don't DIY a spray foam job. You probably won't save much, if any money, and you can't do it as good as someone who does it for a living and is good at it.

 

[loadstarken]

I'm always keeping my eyes open for rebates thru my local utilities to have spray foam installed in my crawlspace and on some walls I have open at the moment.