Need some professional advice on spray foam machines.

[Dwhite]

I have a 30x50 pole barn that I remodel that is waiting on spray foam insulation. I will also be remodeling a 2500 square foot house with a 30x30 garage that will be built on to the property.

Here’s my problem. I can not find anyone that can do it within the next year to a year and a half. (One guy told me he was to busy to talk to me) Also the cheapest bid I got was for $18,000 to do everything.

My question is. What is to stop me from just taking that money and buying a used spray foam unit myself and just doing it on my own time?

Any info, criticism, tips or tricks would be great.

Thanks in advance,
Nathan

 

[oldno3fan]

great idea i thought the same thing..

 

[sneezer41]

You can get spray foam kits 600 board feet less than 600 bucks, probably a better deal. Found that the foam material costs nearly the installed cost

 

[cj7365]

I have a 30x50 pole barn that I remodel that is waiting on spray foam insulation. I will also be remodeling a 2500 square foot house with a 30x30 garage that will be built on to the property.

Here’s my problem. I can not find anyone that can do it within the next year to a year and a half. (One guy told me he was to busy to talk to me) Also the cheapest bid I got was for $18,000 to do everything.

My question is. What is to stop me from just taking that money and buying a used spray foam unit myself and just doing it on my own time?

Any info, criticism, tips or tricks would be great.

Thanks in advance,
Nathan

Nathan, I watched the process to spray this foam, I only have a 1500 sq ft home it took 4 experienced guys one full day to complete, you have to get the mixture right or it will set up too fast or not expand, not saying you can't do it but.......plus it is real messy

Im by El paso Tx, not sure what part of texas your in, I hired Rob from New Era Foam here, to do my house, 1500 sq ft closed cell roof and walls, $6000, maybe you could shoot him an email, he might be willing to travel if the price is right.

Here is a couple of pics of my house with the closed cell foam wall and roof, Oh and by the way, it is totally worth the price, my A/C never kicked on high last summer, I am a believer of the spray foam

tell Rob Tollen that Robert from Chaparral told you to call

Rob Tollen

New Era Spray Foam Insulation

BPI Certified Building Analysist

915-203-1533

Spray Foam Video: www.impactmovie.com/sprayfoa



[email protected]

 

[Dwhite]

Nathan, I watched the process to spray this foam, I only have a 1500 sq ft home it took 4 experienced guys one full day to complete, you have to get the mixture right or it will set up too fast or not expand, not saying you can't do it but.......plus it is real messy

Im by El paso Tx, not sure what part of texas your in, I hired Rob from New Era Foam here, to do my house, 1500 sq ft closed cell roof and walls, $6000, maybe you could shoot him an email, he might be willing to travel if the price is right.

Here is a couple of pics of my house with the closed cell foam wall and roof, Oh and by the way, it is totally worth the price, my A/C never kicked on high last summer, I am a believer of the spray foam

tell Rob Tollen that Robert from Chaparral told you to call

Rob Tollen

New Era Spray Foam Insulation

BPI Certified Building Analysist

915-203-1533

Spray Foam Video: www.impactmovie.com/sprayfoa



[email protected]

Robert, thanks for the info on the company but I am doing this building up in North Dakota. I don’t think he wants to travel that far. With everyone being so busy I thought of becoming professionally trained to kind of turn it into a side job since I only work 2 weeks out of the month the way it is.

I still have alot of checking to do on this but right now I am thinking nothing ventured nothing gained.

Nathan

 

[930dreamer]

I know a co-worker that had a business in Ft. Smith, AR he sold it when he moved to Amarillo, TX. I'll send him an email.

 

[danski0224]

Last I heard, a spray foam rig was ~$100k. not sure what kind of rig you can get for $18k, plus the foam chemicals.

Hoses and guns are common maintenance items.

The retail DIY kits do not work unless application conditions are met exactly. Chemical temperature, ambient temperature and surface application temperature.

 

[Full Throttle]

Last I heard, a spray foam rig was ~$100k. not sure what kind of rig you can get for $18k, plus the foam chemicals.

Hoses and guns are common maintenance items.

The retail DIY kits do not work unless application conditions are met exactly. Chemical temperature, ambient temperature and surface application temperature.

X2, I have used some of the home kits, had no issues, but to buy a professional rig is spendy

 

[Dwhite]

Last I heard, a spray foam rig was ~$100k. not sure what kind of rig you can get for $18k, plus the foam chemicals.

Hoses and guns are common maintenance items.

The retail DIY kits do not work unless application conditions are met exactly. Chemical temperature, ambient temperature and surface application temperature.

The rig I had in mind was purchased but not used due to health problems. He is asking $50,000 for it. I know it is a lot of money but just by talking to people in my local area I already have 8 jobs lined up.

Thank you guys for all of the comments and criticism. It is helping me look at this from all angles.

 

[raddksn]

A guy by me in n.e. Wisconsin did just that thinking he would sell the equipment when done, he's how in the spray foam buisnes

 

[Dwhite]

A guy by me in n.e. Wisconsin did just that thinking he would sell the equipment when done, he's how in the spray foam buisnes

Because he can not sell the equipment or because he decided to make a profession?

 

[danski0224]

The rig I had in mind was purchased but not used due to health problems. He is asking $50,000 for it. I know it is a lot of money but just by talking to people in my local area I already have 8 jobs lined up.

Thank you guys for all of the comments and criticism. It is helping me look at this from all angles.

Yeah, and I had several jobs lined up late last year for the current time frame that have vaporized.

If you do not have 8 contracts and deposits, you got nothin'. If you have 8 contracts and deposits, and you have way underpriced the jobs because you think the other guys are way out of line, you could have 8 epic money losers.

Unless $50k is walking around money and not an issue. Everything is relative.

 

[Friartuck]

There was an article in Fine Homebuilding two or so years ago about spray foam applications and the conclusion was that you don't have to completely fill the wall's cavities with foam. A thinner layer sprayed first into the cavities to make it air tight followed by regular fiberglass batts was just as effective and reduced the total insulation cost. Given the $$ being tossed here and this note, use the DIY version. If you wanted to completely fill the bays or have a roof situation, perhaps have a pro do it. Can't believe a pro isn't available for a full year. Keep looking even outside your area.

 

[brian thomas]

Hmmm, I pay $1,100 per year to heat and cool a 2,800 square foot house and a 1,000 square foot garage in the Midwest. I'm not sure $10 k in foam could ever pay for itself. Would it save half of the current energy costs?

 

[purplezr2]

Where in ND, have you tried getting someone from MN to do, there are lots of people out of work in the building trades in MN

 

[langsbr]

That price sounds really good - depending on the thickness. Also - is that for encapsulation - i.e. all exterior walls and roof? Is that closed cell or open cell?

If closed cell - make sure it is 2lb. There are some newer 1.5lb closed cell with less R value for cost savings.

I just had my house done - 3in on ext walls, 3.5 on roof -(closed cell) house is 35x54 (1.5 story, so it's a nice rectangle) and it was 17K. There's a 3 car garage included in that size, so the ceiling of it (floor of room over) and wall between kitchen and garage are insulated as well.

I'd say it's not just the temp. etc you have to worry about - when talking with the sprayer, you have to ensure you dont spray the second shot too soon or too late or it won't cure properly.

There's been a LOT of guys just buying a rig and thinking they are spray foam pros - there's more to it than that. It's also HARD work...They were here 3 days, with 1 rig, thats one guy sraying - the roof can be a pain with rafters in the way, luckily mine was open.

If you do have someone do it - make sure to measure behind them for thickness, especially away from studs. Lots of guys will try and save on material by spraying the "picture frame" outside, next to the studs first at a good thickness, then go slim in the middle.

It may have been in the post - where are you located? If you are in a cold climate, I'd suggest 4in - I'm in SC and I think 3in was fine. If you have it framed on 2x4 studs, you can't go above 3.5, so I guess that's all you can do.

I'd also stay FAR FAR away from what someone mentioned about a thin foam then regular - it's called flash and batt. If it's not done EXACTLY right, you can still have condensation, and it will be inside the wall where you cant see it until its too late. Yes it's cheaper, but you are effectively only using the foam for its vapor barrier properties and less so for insulating factor. If you are going to cheap out that way - just use Batt and use a true vapor barrier.

Let us know what you do!

 

[Dwhite]

I decided not to buy the spray foam machine. My company has picked up 3 more rigs and I could not find anybody to run it while I was at work. Anyway I was able to find a guy to come out and spray 3” closed cell foam for $1.51 foot.

Thanks for all of the input guys I appreciate it.