Anyone have any experience with spray foam?

[GWN7]

not paint can size. I'm looking for feedback on the larger kits like the FROTH-PAK™ 620 from Dow?

I want to redo my basement insulation.

FROTH-PAKā„¢ Foam Sealant Kit

[rusnak]

I'm thinking about putting interior panels on the cabana. I was just wondering about foam that you spray on the outer wall and then cut (trim) with a sawsall before installing the interior drywall. I've seen it on home improvement shows, but usually it's being applied buy a guy in a suit with a special get up.

[RWebb]

for DIY, why not cut pink (or white foam) to fit in between studs, plates, rafters, etc. and then foam around the edges of the "bay" with a can before putting the foam board in

[Hugh R]

Many of those foams expand a whole lot, to the extent that they can bulge drywall, use it really sparingly to test first.

[GWN7]

From what I've read if you cut foam to fit and spray the edges it still leaves gaps. The solid foam spray seals off all cracks. You could spray and then stick foam onto it to increase the R value. The spray becomes the vapor barrier.

I have a stone and mortar foundation,house built in 1907. The neibour's had their basement sprayed last year and it sealed their basement very well. Much warmer and no draughts any more.
I framed my basement walls and insulated with fiberglass 20+ years ago. Put up a 6mm vapor barrier. But I've read that the fiberglass absorbs moisture over time and looses it's R value. I want to remove the fiberglass and spray foam in the framing to seal it better.

[MConn]

I have installed it back in the 80's - Installing it is easy, you just spray it in the stud cavities, and come back after it sets, but is still moist, and strike off the excess with something like a paint edging tool.

When I had my house done (I couldn't find a Froth type system in 2001), I paid extra for the water based product, because the formaldehyde based stuff can out-gas for a long time. They may have fixed that in the last 10 years.

i would definitely have full body protection when working with the foam.

Mike

[DanielDudley]

You should price having a pro come in to do the job, and then figure out the cost per square foot of doing it yourself. You might be surprised.

Get more than one estimate. Also, generally, one to two inches of closed cell foam is applied directly to the outer wall. They would not foam in the entire stud bay. Open cell foam is a no no for basements.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by RWebb

for DIY, why not cut pink (or white foam) to fit in between studs, plates, rafters, etc. and then foam around the edges of the "bay" with a can before putting the foam board in

This is a very effective method. The seal is created with the small cans of foam.

[whiskyb]

Two types, open and closed cell. Closed cell is the best. Almost R7 per inch. Closed cell is also a vapor barrier whereas open cell will absorb moisture. Closed cell is more money. I am renovating a beach house now and am quoted 8k for walls, ceiling and under floor. 3" and around 1000sq ft of floor

[oldE]

Originally Posted by GWN7

I have a stone and mortar foundation,house built in 1907. The neibour's had their basement sprayed last year and it sealed their basement very well. Much warmer and no draughts any more.

If you do this, the only caution I would make would be to insulate the outside of the wall as well, to below the frost line and make sure you have good drainage away.

When I was doing home energy audits, I saw basements with stone, block or concrete, walls which had frost heaved. When they were built, the heat bleeding out through the foundation kept frost out of the ground around the building (usually from a big old wood furnace or more recently an oil furnace.) The the homeowner insulated the inside, without either taking care of drainage outside or regards to the structure itself. After two or three winters, rocks, blocks or even concrete slabs can displace an alarming amount.

I have seen the spray foam at work. I suspect you're talking about the two tank system with the hoses. The cost is high for the DIY kits, I would suggest you look into having a contractor do the application.
Regarding outside insulation for a stone foundation, foam boards to about a foot down (protected by cement board), then if you don't need to go lower, an "apron" of rigid foam extending a couple of feet away from the foundation from the bottom of the sheets against the wall.

Best
Les

[gshase]

I am and have been in the spray foam business for 14 years. ENVIRO TECH SPRAY FOAM INSULATION. The froth pack and tiger foam cost about $1.15 a board foot. In most applications that is about what I charge. The froth packs out put is about 2 lbs a min. My machine is rated @ 40 Lbs a min. I have referred people to froth/ tiger foam for small jobs where it does not get near my minimum charge of $800. I have also finished jobs where the home owner started with a DIY product and gave up. I could knock out a 20x20 room in 15 min. where as a DIY kit will take 5 hours.
My spray gun cost $2700, the kit gun cost $5 The kit pressure is low like 40 psi, My gun runs 1400-2200 psi. I do have some pink foam boards in my garage attic that were given to me so I see all sides of this.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

You should price having a pro come in to do the job, and then figure out the cost per square foot of doing it yourself. You might be surprised.

+1. I had two garages done at my house. I priced it out before hand and I could not have done it cheaper myself.

[T77911S]

i pulled all the paneling off and had a guy come in and spray in the foam. what a differnece.
before i took the rest of the room apart i just about did not need any heat or AC in there.

expensive though.

[VincentVega]

I have seen the spray foam at work. I suspect you're talking about the two tank system with the hoses. The cost is high for the DIY kits, I would suggest you look into having a contractor do the application.

x2

I've been close to buying kits from Foam it Green DIY Spray Foam Insulation Kits a few times but each time found a more cost effective option. A contractor installed closed cell foam in 1 case, I used Roxul, spray foam and fiberglass in another and the last I used foam board and spray foam (from a can).

The kits sound great but are $$. I was very impressed with the simplicity of Roxul.

[GWN7]

The problem with hiring a professional to do this would require they make two trips to do the job. The disadvantage of living in the same house for a long time is you acquire a lot of crap and where do you store that crap? In the unfinished basement. Just about every wall down there has shelves on it with very valuable crap on them. I have to move everything to one side of the basement first and then remove the fiberglass insulation before doing the work. Then move everything to the other side to do those walls. This will give me the time to go thru all the valuable crap and decide what stays, what goes and what gets sold.

The neibour paid $2700 to have his basement done. Actually he didn't pay that. Under a government retrofit program because of his income he gets some of it payed for from the government and the rest is 0 interest loan payed back on his electrical bill over 10 years. I don't qualify.

I can get the 620 kit for $400 in North Dakota. The same kit is $800 from the Canadian distributor. Guess where I'm going to spend my money?

I've already got all the equipment, tyvek suit, gloves (in Black, blue, green or clear), full face shield with built in respirator (a rubber band and Saran Wrap makes a nice disposable shield over the mask) and Duck Tape.

[GWN7]

VincentVega that is expensive. They do give you the tyvek suit and gloves for free.

[T77911S]

i moved most of it to the center of the room, including a drum set. he came in and did it in one day. when he sprayed the foam, he would do a small section, then with his hands he would press the foam back in to make it fill the edges and sides. then he would do another section.
this way. shaving after was very minimal and he did it in on e day. this also cut back on cost because he charged my how much he used.

i looked into the do it yourself kits too. glad i let him do it

[VincentVega]

I agree on price, even with a free $10 suit.

I used a similar local program to pay for half of some of the spray foam, wouldnt have done it otherwise.

Where did you find the ~600 sqft kit for $400? If I read that right.

[GWN7]

Last time I bought tyvek suits they were on sale for $1.00 (I bought a bunch)

Menards is where I found the Froth 620. It's $399.00 actually and you have to buy the gun kit separate for $51.00 but I found a video showing how to reuse the hose/gun kit.

FROTH-PAK 620 B-POLYOL Foam Sealant at Menards

[VincentVega]

Thanks, good info. Maybe I missread but the Menards deal I found is just the A or B tank, not both.