Painting Spray Foam Insulation

[stripedbass]

I just had the loft area of my barn workshop spray foamed with 3" of closed cell covered with open cell. To meet code I need to provide a fire retardant layer, this can be sheetrock or Fire Retardant paint. I was thinking of just painting it with thermal barrior paint like RDR DC315. Does anyone have any experience/ recommendations on application, can it be applied with a brush or roller. The spray foam is cut smooth to the rafters and studs.

Quotes to paint were through the roof, the paint is expensive ($375 for 5 gallons), but first quote was 3X what I could sheetrock it for (my own labor). I may go the drywall route, since the area is just for storage, if I can't apply this paint myself.

 

[dcg9381]

I have not done this. I have SEEN it done, spay on. I don't have a product recommendation - other than spray, foam has too much texture variation to be brush/roller unless it's pretty small in area.

 

[stripedbass]

dcg9381 thank you for the reply, I agree the foam would be difficult to paint. Some research also stated a sprayer is needed to get the correct thickness. I am going to just go the sheetrock route. Thanks.

 

[zak77]

They also make flame retardant plastic that you could apply if you wanted a quick, easy solution. Saw it used in a grow operation(legal) and was approved by Fire Dept and Building Inspector.

 

[stripedbass]

zak77, great information, I had no idea that existed and did not find it in my initial searches. I am going to print up a spec sheet and see if building inspector will approve. It will be 1/10 the cost I was quoted for painting. Thank you!

 

[jrsavoie]

zak77, great information, I had no idea that existed and did not find it in my initial searches. I am going to print up a spec sheet and see if building inspector will approve. It will be 1/10 the cost I was quoted for painting. Thank you!

Please post a link.

Did you check price with the sprayer of the foam?

They coated mine, right after spraying for a very reasonable price

 

[PugetDude]

Painting spray foam isn't that difficult.

 

[billconner]

FRP or Filing panels, correct? Material seems more expensive than drywall but major labor savings starting with loading for the trip home.

I wonder how it compares with metal liner panels.

 

[kj_mustang]

Flame retardant poly sheeting. I have some installed in my unfinished basement by the builder over a section of exterior stud wall that has fiberglass insulation batts.

 

[stripedbass]

Sorry for the slow reply, I was away from my computer for a couple of days. The area is about 1200 sqft of foam in the rafters and cupola that need paint. The quote for painting (from the company that did the insulation was $2350). I am going to speak with the BI and see if the Flame retardant poly sheeting will be approved. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[AdamMopar]

We failed final inspection on our house because we had two walls of exposed spray foam in our mechanical room. Rim joists exposed were fine, but not these two walls. Our solutions were drywall over it or paint it. We went the paint route primarily for time reasons. Our painter ended up spraying and it was at the top end of what his largest sprayer could handle so fortunately it was a small area.

 

[stripedbass]

Thanks, the DC315 was what was quoted for 2350 and I have been told not any sprayer can get the thickness correct. Hopefully the BI is ok with retardant poly sheeting, otherwise I will rock the area. Thanks.

 

[pcmeiners]

Rent a commercial airless sprayer with a high volume tip, they will spray anything... not something you can buy at Home Depot.

 

[stripedbass]

Thanks, I am going to look into renting a sprayer and applying DC-315. The poly sheeting approach is not going to meet code, it lacks a spec sheet with the necessary ratings and use, that can be submitted for approval. pcmeiners, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ignacio]

Did you ever complete this project? If so, pictures!

 

[pg.stripedbass@gmail.]

I ended up having the company that did the spray foam do the painting. I needed to get the occupancy and was running out of time. Here are a couple of pictures, I am only using the loft space for storage. I would have preferred a lighter color, but this is all they had.