DIY Spray Foam Insulation

[sawduster98]

Well, I met yesterday with the insulation contractor and he presented a few scenarios I could go with. His price for the CC foam was cheaper than the DIY stuff and that was spraying 2" instead of 1". He also recommended blown in fiberglass or cellulose for the ceiling because of the room I had available with 10" trusses. Oh, his price for the walls was $1138 and the DIY kits were around $1300+ so I guess that makes it a no-brainer.

 

[rswyan]

It is also very messy so if you're planning on doing a complete garage, I would encourage you to get a few estimates first and look at other possible insulation alternatives. I have also sprayed wet cellulose and it was not as difficult as the spray foam.

That's the way we went on the walls for our polebarn - although I didn't do it myself - we hired it done.

As I recall, it was very cost effective - I think a good bit less than $2K to do the walls on a 42' x 72' barn to a height of probably 13' or 14' and depth of 7" - which yields a R-value of 27 for the walls. (One wall does have three 12' x 10' overhead doors tho' ...)

You can read a description of the process (with pictures) in my polebarn thread beginning with the following post:

Insulating the barn with spray-on cellulose insulation

The crew was in and out in less than 6 hours IIRC.

Personally I would not do it again myself (the spray foam). I'm planning on cellulose for my garage sprayed into the walls.

I'm glad we hired it done. I think spray-on "wet" cellulose is probably one of the most economical ways to go to :thumbsup:

 

[crbr]

Interesting thread. Thanks for the info.

 

[beppington]

I change my mind & remodel my structures too often to be able to get myself to commit to spray foam

What's wrong with the loose stuff?

Is spray foam's R-value really that much higher?

 

[dstig1]

Yep. R value is high and even more important, it seals everything up tight. Air leaks are the nemesis of insulation performance, and installation craftsmanship is critical to a good insulation job, especially with batts and loose fill. It is hard to find the proper attention to detail in people doing this work. Not to say foam is bulletproof, but you have some more margin of error to work with.

 

[sawduster98]

That's the way we went on the walls for our polebarn - although I didn't do it myself - we hired it done.

As I recall, it was very cost effective - I think a good bit less than $2K to do the walls on a 42' x 72' barn to a height of probably 13' or 14' and depth of 7" - which yields a R-value of 27 for the walls. (One wall does have three 12' x 10' overhead doors tho' ...)

You can read a description of the process (with pictures) in my polebarn thread beginning with the following post:

Insulating the barn with spray-on cellulose insulation

The crew was in and out in less than 6 hours IIRC.


I'm glad we hired it done. I think spray-on "wet" cellulose is probably one of the most economical ways to go to :thumbsup:

I was very interested in the wet cellulose too. The contractor no longer works with it. He said he didn't like the amount of moisture that was going into the walls. The mix was 32oz of water per 16" of insulation. I guess drying time is critical and depending on the location and situation you could be waiting quite a while.

 

[rswyan]

I was very interested in the wet cellulose too. The contractor no longer works with it. He said he didn't like the amount of moisture that was going into the walls. The mix was 32oz of water per 16" of insulation.

Interesting ..... did he ever actually have a real issue with that ?

Or he just didn't care for it ?

Was he a Nu-Wool installer - or some other system ?

I really have no idea about much water was used - the truck was self-contained and IIRC they didn't ask me for a water source for more water.

I do know that right after it was placed and trimmed, it did feel slightly "damp" or "moist" to the touch ... and I emphasize "slightly". The surface dried fairly quickly (couple of days), and of course I didn't go digging into it to check moisture retention.

There was never any evidence of water running out the bottom of the wall cavities or anything like that. Don't even recall any moisture discoloration on any of the exposed framing lumber. I believe that there may have been some binder or glue mixed in with the water as well, to get it to stick together.

And it has "stuck" pretty well ..... I've got a few places on the walls where we still haven't gotten the OSB covering put up on the inside walls - 5 years later :shocked: - and for the most part the insulation is still sitting there in the wall cavity. There are a couple of places where it has fallen out - I think mostly due to birds who find the insulation a great construction material for a nest .... I think a few of 'em actually tried to dig out a cavity and actually make a nest right in the insulation

Once I get the OSB up on those sections, I'll just feed the loose insulation that has fallen out, which have gathered up and bagged, down into the wall from the top (the wall tops are open) - probably have to do it a couple of times, due to settling.

I guess drying time is critical and depending on the location and situation you could be waiting quite a while.

I might not consider it .... if I lived up in the rainforest in the Pacific Northwest ...

 

[VegOil]

I used the 602 kits from Foam It Green.
Very simple, chemical mixes at the handle, if not green something is wrong.

Sprayed 40X50 barn 20 ft walls in 2.5 hours, with one helper, 6 ladders.

 

[wedge40]

I used the 602 kits from Foam It Green.
Very simple, chemical mixes at the handle, if not green something is wrong.

Sprayed 40X50 barn 20 ft walls in 2.5 hours, with one helper, 6 ladders.

Any chance we can see a photo or two?

Wedge

 

[VegOil]

First Wall

Corner South wall sprayed about 1.5 thick

Wall up and dog door cut out in bottom left

One side insulated and walled

Did not do ceiling yet.