DIY Spray Foam Insulation

[sawduster98]

Does anyone have any experience with the DIY spray foam kits? I want to insulate my shop with closed cell foam and I found a bunch of online vendors that supposedly provide everything. Just curious if this is something that lives up to the vendor hype or just another project waiting to turn into a disaster. Thanks!

 

[goldenwings]

I tried to do my quonset hut 2 years ago myself. Turned out it didnt really work out so well. The product I had tried was called soy-thane, sprayed on via a 2 part cartridge with an air compressor. After I went through a case of the stuff and was completely covered, which btw does not come off anything very nicely, I had enough and sent the rest back. I ended up calling a company called MIG insulation and building. They were actually cheaper than i could do it myself. Should have just called them from the begining, but thought DIY would be cheaper... not the case. Also they were in and out sprayed 3-4 inches on ~3k square feet in about 4 hours. I had spent that long and sprayed about 100 sq. ft.

So if you want my advice, since youre in NY give them a call, and save your sanity, and money.

By the way I also looked into all of the other brands like tigerfoam etc etc. In the end these guys ended up spraying something like 4-55 gallon drums of 2 part product, but there were three guys spraying at a time, with heated guns.

Make sure and do this before it gets cold, b/c when its below 50 degrees F they wont spray, b/c the properties of the foam are severly limited.

 

[forgeblast]

I just bought a kit from foam it green. Its the 604 kit. I will be doing all my still plates to seal it for this winter. what ever is left over will be sprayed in the attic, or barn. I am not sure yet.
Other posts have said to make sure you mask, and plastic everything due to splatter.

 

[scgargoyle]

I just bought a kit from foam it green. Its the 604 kit. I will be doing all my still plates to seal it for this winter. what ever is left over will be sprayed in the attic, or barn. I am not sure yet.
Other posts have said to make sure you mask, and plastic everything due to splatter.

Including yourself. You need a disposable body suit that covers you completely.

 

[MMagis]

I did a little research on the DIY kits. Not a lot, but it didn’t take lone to figure out it wasn’t worth my time or money. From what I remember, most of the kits did a poor job. To get a kit that would do a half way decent job I would spend just as much money as I would to hire it done. That made it an easy decision.

 

[jonyyuma]

Do not let it get on your bare skin, you might have to wear if off, plus some of it is an excellant adhesive.

 

[sawduster98]

Sounds like I should get some quotes from the pro's so I can make a better decision. How is this stuff priced...square foot? Any idea what the going rate is?

 

[Cat_Driver]

Do not let it get on your bare skin, you might have to wear if off, plus some of it is an excellant adhesive.

I just used some on my RV and ended up picking up a huge glob that fell off and shoved it back in before it hardened. Almost glued my fingers together. Anyway, Acetone worked wonders and cleaned me up as good as new.

 

[Ductape]

Sounds like I should get some quotes from the pro's so I can make a better decision. How is this stuff priced...square foot? Any idea what the going rate is?

I just gutted our 12 x 24 kitchen for a remodel. Got an estimate from a local spray foam co .......... 3 walls (opted to not to do the inside wall that abuts my diningroom) plus the underside of the roof. Three inches in the walls and five under the roof was $3,800.00 :confused2:. I almost crapped my pants. They price it by the board-foot.... so the thicker, the more money. I've been looking at the DIY kits also.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Current issue of Fine Homebuilding has an article on DIY spray foam.