Do It Yourself Spray Foam Insulation Pro's and Con's

[hop up]

Well the new garage has no insulation in it and the cold is on its way. The guy that built the garage kinda took the cheap route, It's got 2x4 wall 24" on centers and same with the 2x6 rafter 24" on centers. So I plan on using some more 2x4 and 2x6 so I can store a few things in the attic.
I have been looking into the sprayfoam kits. Have you guys used them and how do you like them? I see that they are NOT cheap but is 600 bucks worth 600 feet of 1" foam. I was looking to do the walls and ceiling and rafters. Is there a company you would reccommend Thanks

 

[Possum]

Check with your local spray foam guys first. I just got a quote last week of a $1 a sq. foot for 1" of foam from a contractor.

 

[Jeremy W]

spray foam is awesome, I have about 2 inches sprayed on all my pole barn walls, about 1200 sq feet worth. it was a little over $1.50 a square foot but I have a friend who works for the place and he helped hook me up. I am putting cellulose in my ceiling myself.
I priced the kits but it would ahve cost more with me doing the work... call around and get estimates.

 

[jhelrey]

Call around, especially in this economy. People are doing work cheap to put food on their table.

 

[GSSFC]

There are no "pros" to diy kits. You won't get 600bdf out of them, and what do you do if/when you run out?

$1 a bdf is too high, you should be able to get closed cell for $0.80 a bdf without too much trouble.

Tim

 

[cowboyjosh]

Hire it out, it can be messy to install yourself your not going to save much in the long run by buying a DIY kit. In this economy since housing still ***** your likely to get some stellar quotes; I won't even give a ballpark as to what I think the cost is per square foot as prices vary in some cases greatly, by region.

 

[ixlr8]

I found that hiring a contractor is more cost effective than going the DIY route for large area's. I also found that there is a large difference in pricing for basically the same stuff, so shop around. Having said that, I am going to be doing some DIY foam as I only need smaller area's done as I work through the remodel and all the foam contractors here have a setup fee which makes them not cost effective when doing one room at a time. I think I am going to be using the Tiger Foam, http://www.tigerfoam.com/ , it is well regarded, does the job and I can get it cheaper locally than ordering anything else online. When it comes time to do the basement or the shop... then the contractor will be called as the job is large enough to 'hide' the setup fee's.

HTH

 

[sneezer41]

I did a bunch DIY, if I had known how much I would be doing I probably would have called someone, it is not a bargain buying the kits.

I found a place that had the best price and free shipping, but it is on my home computer. Mighta been on ebay originally


You need lots of spare tips.

 

[sneezer41]

http://www.betterenergystore.com/

they sell the hoses separate but if you are doing more than one, it is a good deal

also buy fan nozzles rather than cone nozzles.

 

[oldskoolgixxer]

spray foam is good stuff.... i brought mine cheap of ebay..left over from a large building contractor.. in 1litre cans......took some time.. and probably could be better... but for the price,,,it keeps warm in the winter....and keeps in cool in the summer....

 

[melisssaparker46]

@Possom $1 a sq. foot for 1"? wow that's very cheap deal.

 

[Mario]

You won't get 600bdf out of them, and what do you do if/when you run out?

Gotta agree! I got less then 600 with my 600 kit of TigerFoam.

But still, for a small projet it has a few advantages. Namely, less overspray than a pro installer

 

[hop up]

Well I ended up buying a kit and going to start on the garage this weekend. What kind of overspray were you getting? I did talk to the company that sells the Foam and question the 600sf. If the conditions are right and your consistent you can get 600 out of the kit. This is my first kit and don't expect to get all that. I'm more concerned about the efficiency of the product and the claims I read about. I'm excited to use the product and look forward to the results and staying warm in the garage. I'll post some pics and installs results. Now I have to get some heat

 

[hop up]

We called a few guys and found, boy I hate to say were out of biz. I call a bunch and the one that were still around were not cheap and minimums way up there. Plus I'm a hands on guy and like to read,listen ,learn and Do! I'm working on a old 1930-40s home when energy was cheap. So its a project (area room)at a time were a kit might be cheaper than a contractor. I'm getting no cheap quotes even in this economy.

Hire it out, it can be messy to install yourself your not going to save much in the long run by buying a DIY kit. In this economy since housing still ***** your likely to get some stellar quotes; I won't even give a ballpark as to what I think the cost is per square foot as prices vary in some cases greatly, by region.

 

[DzNuts]

What's the R value of 1" spray foam?

 

[CreekRat]

R-7 per inch according to the web site posted by hop up, Tiger Foam, http://www.tigerfoam.com/.

I know it's better than nothing but is R-7 worth the effort and cost?

 

[burleymike]

I was talking with one of the two local installers yesterday. I asked him about doing my basement when the time comes and he told me he thinks it is overkill and I would not like the price. He actually recommended I go with fiberglass. I will not put fiberglass in my basement I would rather have nothing.

The other guy quoted me roughly $600 for 800 sqft. Only problem his foam is pour in. He said he would put up a 6 mil plastic wrap over the studs then pour it in and that would fill the studs. Unfortunately his foam is open cell and my basement is a little damp so I really want closed cell to stop moisture movement.

Do they spray some sort of fire retardant or do you have to Sheetrock it?

 

[ixlr8]

Do they spray some sort of fire retardant or do you have to Sheetrock it?

Some DIY spray foams come standard with the fire retardant in them, for others it is an optional extra. The spray foam my local 'professional' was going to use, does not have the fire retardant and I would need to sheet rock over it to get the fire rating. I don't believe it was even an option with the local guy.

 

[hop up]

Not a fireproof but a retardant and not sure how much

 

[hop up]

Overall it was ok but I'm not sure if all kits will shoot 600sf. The temp of the kit as well as the out side is key. When I sprayed when it was warm I had better results then when colder. The temp was still in the 60-80 temp range but still the foam covered more when warmer.

I know it's better than nothing but is R-7 worth the effort and cost? [/QUOTE] R value is not everything sealing it air tight is a factor as well. I shot 2inches at a r value at 14.

I was talking with one of the two local installers yesterday. I asked him about doing my basement when the time comes and he told me he thinks it is overkill and I would not like the price. He actually recommended I go with fiberglass. I will not put fiberglass in my basement I would rather have nothing.

The other guy quoted me roughly $600 for 800 sqft. Only problem his foam is pour in. He said he would put up a 6 mil plastic wrap over the studs then pour it in and that would fill the studs. Unfortunately his foam is open cell and my basement is a little damp so I really want closed cell to stop moisture movement.

Do they spray some sort of fire retardant or do you have to Sheetrock it?

 

[danski0224]

Temperature is critical with this stuff.

Chemical temperature, not necessarily surface temperature.

If it isn't right, the kits don't work.

 

[hop up]

I have sprayed a number of kits and it's both temp of surface as well. It will not stick and lift . Also it will not rise at the rate it should so you will not get correct coverage.

Temperature is critical with this stuff.

Chemical temperature, not necessarily surface temperature.

If it isn't right, the kits don't work.

 

[haugy]

I just had TCIcon come in and do 1400 sq/ft at 1" for $1650. That's $1.17 a sq/ft.

Not bad in my opinion. I'm sure if you researched hard you might get a better deal. But I decided to go with a reputable company, and the rep was a very straight shooter. I'm very pleased with them.

 

[hop up]

You know I sprayed a few kits and they are ok for small jobs . I had a issue with one I paid 600 buck for. They kinda gave me the run around on what could had happened, first shake the tank,then heat it up try it now? Then sorry it happened buy another kit please.

 

[imavanner2]

I am going to start callong around and see what kind of prices i get I have a 36x56 building i would like to get done but can not aford to do it all at one time i also have a bath room in the building that i would like to seal and insulte the best i can as it will be heated with electric 24-7 and the rest of the building will not be heated at all just yet.

 

[D.J.]

From my research the answer to it "is it worth it for the r value?" is that it is not just the r value the closed cell stops all air flow acording to all the reps I've talked to, neither cellose of fiberglass stops airflow. So the actual r value is really higher than the r7 value it is rated for because wet or dry it stops all airflow. Has anyone confirmed or denied this fact with the closed cell foam?
________
GSV-R

 

[ixlr8]

DJ- Closed cell foam does seal things up and prevent air flow. Being closed cell, it also is a vapor barrier. So it is 3 'layers' in one, Insulation, Air infiltration barrier, and a vapor barrier. Being closed cell... it really does not get wet except at it's surface. Closed cell may go from it's initial rating of R7 to R6.5 as time passes, it holds it's R value well. One issue I have heard about, and I am still exploring the issue, that closed cell is so rigid, that if the building does move, like being blown in the wind.. the foam will crack and you loose some if it's air sealing ability. A building is much more rigid with the closed cell.. but if it does move.. then you might loose your air barrier to some extent. Open cell foam does a very good job at stopping air flow but not as good as closed cell and is not rated as a vapor barrier. But is is also more flexible and can withstand some building movement without cracking.

... Too many factors to weigh... I suspect I am going with 2in spayed in closed cell and the rest cellulose blown in.

 

[swingline]

There are foam insulations that work very extremely well but Foam It Green is NOT one of them especially for a DIYer, and I would not recommend their product. After purchasing several canisters and having a 3rd arrive at a cost of close to $1000.00 for all 3, we had a faulty canister with no pressure that would not spray as promised while on a job site. I spoke with their office while in the middle of an application and they INSISTED we stop the job, close the site so that I could take photos to "prove" the product wasn't working. As everyone knows, you cannot stop workers, run home, grab a camera, take pictures, drive BACK home, download photos, upload them to Foam it Green and then wait for their little judges to decide if it was their fault or mine. They have refused to work with me on this or even SPLIT the difference in the cost of the product. Instead their answer is to force me to buy ANOTHER canister and they'll give me 30% off the price. I said thanks, but no thanks. I'm not a *****. If they don't stand behind their product and instead insist on treating customers with suspicion or criminals wanting to take from them - NO ONE should buy their product. It lacks reliability, their company lacks professional integrity I’ve received from others I do business with, and when a faulty canister arrives, you're stuck with it along with a high price tag!

 

[padronanniversary]

swingline, its info like that that we need. Good to know about how company responds

 

[z28toz06]

I had a company come saturday and give me a price for doing my ceiling and 1 wall of my garage. while he was here he quoted me 3000 for the ceiling and 1000 for the wall 24x32 building, 10 foot walls, no windows. ceiling is an 8 pitch.

today i got the actual bid and it is 6945 dollars! WTF Happened! 3000 more than he quoted me when he was here.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I had a company come saturday and give me a price for doing my ceiling and 1 wall of my garage. while he was here he quoted me 3000 for the ceiling and 1000 for the wall 24x32 building, 10 foot walls, no windows. ceiling is an 8 pitch.

today i got the actual bid and it is 6945 dollars! WTF Happened! 3000 more than he quoted me when he was here.

Missed it by that much. As Maxwell Smart would say.

 

[hop up]

That's a shame what could be a great thing for a remodeler gets kill by bad customer service.

There are foam insulations that work very extremely well but Foam It Green is NOT one of them especially for a DIYer, and I would not recommend their product. After purchasing several canisters and having a 3rd arrive at a cost of close to $1000.00 for all 3, we had a faulty canister with no pressure that would not spray as promised while on a job site. I spoke with their office while in the middle of an application and they INSISTED we stop the job, close the site so that I could take photos to "prove" the product wasn't working. As everyone knows, you cannot stop workers, run home, grab a camera, take pictures, drive BACK home, download photos, upload them to Foam it Green and then wait for their little judges to decide if it was their fault or mine. They have refused to work with me on this or even SPLIT the difference in the cost of the product. Instead their answer is to force me to buy ANOTHER canister and they'll give me 30% off the price. I said thanks, but no thanks. I'm not a *****. If they don't stand behind their product and instead insist on treating customers with suspicion or criminals wanting to take from them - NO ONE should buy their product. It lacks reliability, their company lacks professional integrity I’ve received from others I do business with, and when a faulty canister arrives, you're stuck with it along with a high price tag!

 

[SprayFoamDirect]

There are foam insulations that work very extremely well but Foam It Green is NOT one of them especially for a DIYer, and I would not recommend their product. After purchasing several canisters and having a 3rd arrive at a cost of close to $1000.00 for all 3, we had a faulty canister with no pressure that would not spray as promised while on a job site. I spoke with their office while in the middle of an application and they INSISTED we stop the job, close the site so that I could take photos to "prove" the product wasn't working. As everyone knows, you cannot stop workers, run home, grab a camera, take pictures, drive BACK home, download photos, upload them to Foam it Green and then wait for their little judges to decide if it was their fault or mine. They have refused to work with me on this or even SPLIT the difference in the cost of the product. Instead their answer is to force me to buy ANOTHER canister and they'll give me 30% off the price. I said thanks, but no thanks. I'm not a *****. If they don't stand behind their product and instead insist on treating customers with suspicion or criminals wanting to take from them - NO ONE should buy their product. It lacks reliability, their company lacks professional integrity I’ve received from others I do business with, and when a faulty canister arrives, you're stuck with it along with a high price tag!

Re Swingline:

Hi Donna, it's Mark here at Foam it Green. We still consider this an open warranty issue. We've offered multiple solutions to satisfy you despite having no pictures, no kit to test, and the the fact that answers you've provided so far indicate it's not a defective kit. We're still always open to finding out either more about the situation or working out a win - win.
Thanks, Mark

 

[RM209]

Missed it by that much. As Maxwell Smart would say.

Dragster: Great line! The contractor only increased the quote by 75%...
You've got me laughing!

Thanks,

RM209

 

[hop up]

Mark,
When I had a problem you asked for pictures , so I sent them. I was told most likely no warranty with only 25% in one container 0% in the other. Please explain how you can get 600 sf with 25% left in one tank? I was driving up to deliver the tanks when I was told slim chance of warranty with your pics and looks like it sprayed fine but you can try? We'll send it in for you, thanks the facts that answers you've provided so far indicate it's not a defective kit??
[/COLOR]

Re Swingline:

Hi Donna, it's Mark here at Foam it Green. We still consider this an open warranty issue. We've offered multiple solutions to satisfy you despite having no pictures, no kit to test, and the the fact that answers you've provided so far indicate it's not a defective kit. We're still always open to finding out either more about the situation or working out a win - win.
Thanks, Mark

 

[SprayFoamDirect]

Mark,
When I had a problem you asked for pictures , so I sent them. I was told most likely no warranty with only 25% in one container 0% in the other. Please explain how you can get 600 sf with 25% left in one tank? I was driving up to deliver the tanks when I was told slim chance of warranty with your pics and looks like it sprayed fine but you can try? We'll send it in for you, thanks the facts that answers you've provided so far indicate it's not a defective kit??
[/COLOR]

Hi hop up,

Thank you for writing.

Thankfully the kits are very simple - it's literally a chemical reaction with all the predictability that involves. Likewise a defective kit manifests itself in very specific ways and very early on.

The other nice thing is the kits can't be overfilled, and they can't be under-filled (they're weighed at least 3 times including by the carriers before they get to you).

At the end of the day, these are Do it yourself kits. The warranty protects you from manufacturer defects as stated right on our warranty page. Likewise we go beyond that and step up when a carrier damages a shipment because we believe you deserve working spray foam kits.

The challenge is we're not there to spray the kit. Short of being there to make sure the kits are on ratio when sprayed, we've done everything possible to make it easy.

That's why we have 24/7 technical support, very thorough instructions, and helpful videos that take you through how to set it up and most of the project steps.

It's also why we have the yellow + blue chemicals that make green when combining right. It's to help remove the guesswork that you're getting great foam that's on ratio.

When you go to spray, the kit needs to be on ratio, spraying at the right temps on the right surface temps, etc. That's all detailed in the instructions and the videos.

Please note that the Foam it 602 is in board feet and not square feet. Surface temps, chemical temps, spraying overhead with fan spray tips, how thick it's sprayed, etc. will all affect how much you get.

You can see more on how to get great coverage at:
http://www.sprayfoamdirect.com/blog/2010/11/getting-the-maximum-out-of-your-foam-kit/

or in the Cold Weather Foaming video.

How much of your project do you have left to do?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Teken]

This is interesting feed-back . . . Please keep us all updated as to the final results with your claim etc.

 

[hop up]

There is no question each kit varies some. I do and have seen the results first hand with the many kits I have sprayed. My issue was I didn't see the correct coverage and excess chemicals in the one tank. You do have a great product when it works correct. Its just when your willing to step up for a better product you except it to perform .. When it doesn't perform to past results,your pissed and spent good money too.
Am I done spraying "no way" and do I need more insulation "yes". Are we going to do it ourself? Not sure we'll have to look at our many options . I did have a local contractor come in and finish the spray foam in the area I was working on with your product. As I have a schedule to meet and were you product is handy. I had call your customer service and got very disappointing results and called a insulation contractor. As I told your customer service agent, I have 2 jobs going at this time and not done with either.

Please note that the Foam it 602 is in board feet and not square feet. Surface temps, chemical temps, spraying overhead with fan spray tips, how thick it's sprayed, etc. will all affect how much you get.

You can see more on how to get great coverage at:
http://www.sprayfoamdirect.com/blog/2010/11/getting-the-maximum-out-of-your-foam-kit/

or in the Cold Weather Foaming video.

How much of your project do you have left to do?

Thanks,
Mark[/QUOTE]

 

[SprayFoamDirect]

Hi hop up,

It's 100% natural that you want to get the best value for your money. Let's be straightforward. We want you to get extraordinary results. When you do, you want more, you refer people, you give us testimonials, and you share ideas freely on how we can offer even more value.

Please note that the coverage / yield of your Foam it Green kit will vary depending on factors outside of the kit, including but not limited to surface temperature, chemical temperature, spray techniques, thickness of application, testing and troubleshooting. As such, the warranty ensures you get a working kit but not a definitive coverage.

To make sure you get the best out of your kit, please follow the instructions, stop if you think it's not going as planned and ask us any questions. We're 100% committed to helping you get outstanding results and the very most for your money.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. In your case, wasn't there already a kit that was sprayed on a really cold surface that we helped out on replacing?

Thanks,
Mark