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Spraying on the Energy Savings - JOMA Construction Blog

  • By Mackenzie Gallagher
  • 20 Oct, 2017

I really enjoyed making the spray foam insulation video. Watching the process was neat. Even more neat was how that old house changed. It felt different. It sounded different. It went from a dusty barn to a home in two afternoons. Comfort is a feature of all insulation types, but this seemed better than the fiberglass I’m used to. The real question is- is it?


Spray foam insulation is a modern alternative to fiberglass insulation(among others). Two liquid components are mixed and sprayed from special equipment and a chemical reaction occurs as the mixture adheres to the surface being sprayed on. Gasses expand within the mixture creating a rigid insulative structure. With all of the different shapes in home architecture, and exaggerated cracks and crevices in an older remodels, spray foam insulation has some great advantages over fiberglass batting.

spray foam insulation

Expanding

As the foam expands it fill gaps, cracks, and small spaces. It forms an air barrier that will seal the home and replaces other weatherizing duties like caulking and taping.


Adherence

Spray foam insulation sticks onto whatever you are spraying quite well. The insulation can be sprayed up into roof rafters, down, and straight onto interior wall cavities. The rigid foam strengthens walls and sets roofing nails and fasteners to fight off “nail fatigue.”


Versatility

Spray foam insulation allows you to insulate directly under roofs to vault ceilings and create more open space. You will also be able to insulate the area of your HVAC ducting, which normally sits on top of fiberglass in attics and below fiberglass in crawlspaces. Insulating your ducting adds to the energy savings and is highly recommended by HVAC companies for best performance. In geographical areas that require extensive insulating, such as our home in Athens, Georgia, spray foam does more in less space than fiberglass. You can properly insulate small wall cavities where fiberglass would not be as effective.


R-value

R-value is the rating of thermal resistance of insulation. The R-Value-per-inch for closed cell spray foam is greater than fiberglass products(1). When you properly install thick layers of fiberglass you can achieve an overall higher R-Value than a normal layer of foam insulation, but in most cases you won't have the cavity thickness to pull this off. Also, tight spaces, nails, splinters, and other factors can prevent Fiberglass from laying in the cavity properly with will create hidden gaps and flaws in the insulation hurting its ability to sustain its rated R-Value. Finally, the ability to seal gaps from air and moisture increase the overall insulating factor of the home.

I found a great PDF about energy consumption on the heating and cooling of your home and how to assess your home. you can check it out here: https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/10/f37/Energy_Saver_Guide-2017-en.pdf


Some of the things I like about spray foam.

Installation is a bit messy, but once set, foam insulation gives attics, rafters, and crawlspaces a clean look and feel.

IT DOES NOT ITCH LIKE FIBERGLASS.

Although spray foam insulation can contain chemicals known to cause irritation to the skin-  a quick jaunt into your attic to service a duct or grab a Christmas tree isn't going to require a Tyvek suit and a cold brillo-pad-shower like fiberglass.

Your attic will be insulated.

By spraying the foam directly to under the roof your attic is insulated with the rest of your home. It can get a little warmer up there as your ceiling provides yet another decent barrier for heat, but the days of 120 degree attics are over with foam insulation. If you use your attic for storage (not something I recommend) your items will see a less extreme environment and last longer.


attic insulation

There are two main categories of spray foam insulation. 

Open cell uses less material and is cheaper but it has a lower R-value per inch and does not create a vapor barrier which much be added for exterior wall and ceilings.

Closed cell foam insulation is more rigid, better performing, and does seal the home from air and moisture. It can be used below grade for that reason. However, it is more costly.

The job featured in this blog used both types depending on the application. 

If you do your own spray foam insulation research you will find that there are many types of spray foam insulation on the market; There are horror stories of improper installation and the repercussions; And the market for this product is ever changing.

JOMA uses trusted installers and has had great long term results with spray foam insulation.

spray foam
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Lot size. Interior square footage. The number of bedrooms. The number of bathrooms. Neighborhood.

  These are the most popular criteria for valuation of a home when you are putting one on the market. You let your realtor compare your home to other similar homes that have sold in the recent past to come up with your selling price. You consider the customer who is most likely to purchase the house and you may even make some changes to suit the taste of the current market. Making improvements to a home for the sole purpose of adding value to it has been historically a guessing game. Ask your friends what they would do, and you will probably get a speech about how updating the kitchen is the winner because its where people spend the most time and can see themselves living out their lives when they walk into an unfamiliar home. I wholeheartedly agree with the logic, but Kitchens are expensive. According to the Remodeling Magazine's 2018 Cost Vs. Value Report for Atlanta Georgia, a Major Kitchen Remodel came in at the cost of $127, 292 and only returned 66.2% of the investment while a new simple wooden deck comes in around $10,720 with an 87.7% ROI. The projects with the highest return tended to be exterior maintenance that new buyers don't want to deal with. Siding, garage doors, and gutter replacement all top the list and can be paired with your deck project to practically break even and increase the likelihood of finding your buyer. Not to mention the enjoyment you will get from your outdoor living space before you move. Curb appeal also accounts for high-value projects with manufactured stone veneer coming in at 109.8% ROI.  
  Joe points out in this video to be sure to pay attention when you are purchasing your home not to ignore barriers that could prevent you from making a great space outside. The topography of the yard can make a big difference on how you can layout your outdoor living and may prevent you from achieving your future goals within your budget.
  Lastly, the primary goal when making changes to your home should be to make yourself happy and comfortable. Buyers don't mind a little whimsy in their lives when it comes to the spaces you use most. JOMA will help you determine if your ideas to go way out of the realm of reasonable ROI and will help prevent you from pricing your home out of the neighborhood.

Enjoy watching! If you want to discuss improvements for your home that will be a great investment and enhance your space, call us at
706 372 1052 or email me at mackenzie@jomaconstruction.com


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