Spray foam

[CC1221]

Hey all - I'm getting my 30x54x12 pole barn spray foamed this Thursday and Friday and just curious if there are any issues I should watch out for!? The last month has been hectic, but got the concrete down, raidiant heat in and operational, now the foam this week. Hopefully by the end of next weekend, I can be done with the foam, power wash and seal the floor and FINALLY start bringing all of my "stuff" back in where it belongs

 

[norcaljr]

How much are they charging you ? What R value are you getting ? Closed cell foam ?

 

[Highbeam]

Protect the floor from drips. Foam in a can is miserable to clean up.

 

[soapii]

My garage is 30x44x12 and it cost me $3200 for closed cell spray foam for all the outside walls. I love it though, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You will be happy you did it.

--Joe

 

[CC1221]

norcaljr -- let's just say it's not cheap!! For the ENTIRE building, it's right around $9k!! It ends up being R-14 but I'm just as concerned with filling the gaps. I probably could have done it cheaper, but in the end and from what I've learned here I think it's worth it. BTW - yes, closed cell.

Highbeam -- I had a surplus of poly that was used as vapor barrier under the floor, so I've put it to good use and the floor will be completely covered!

soapii -- glad to hear you're happy with yours. I'm also doing the roof which also makes me a little aprehensive -- as long as it says in place over the long haul, I'll be happy!!

 

[joe_padavano]

I did the spray foam myself using kits. Cost me about $2400 (four kits) to coat the complete interior (walls and ceiling). (Edit: the building is 28x32x10) Be sure to get the flame-resistant foam. As for cleanup on the slab, I didn't bother covering the slab (I had enough trouble simply getting the ladder/scaffolding moved before the foam hardened in the gun without messing with plastic too). I simply got a floor scraper and scraped up all the hardened foam drops and blobs on the concrete after I was done. The foam pops right off the concrete.

 

[bd8134]

I had the walls of my garage spray foamed, worked out great.
Make sure you have you cables, wiring, plumbing, chase pipes etc
all installed before foaming. Not easy afterwards.
I had the same guys back to spray foam the inside of my roof.
That seemed to make the biggest difference.
Cool attic with no heat soak into garage below.
Cuts down a lot on heating and cooling requirements.

 

[lakebilly]

Just had a 40 x 60 x 10 garage foamed with a 1/2" of closed cell urethane. Cost was $1040.00. I'll be starting to batt the walls and ceiling soon.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I did the spray foam myself using kits.
...
I simply got a floor scraper and scraped up all the hardened foam drops and blobs on the concrete after I was done. The foam pops right off the concrete.

This is a case where dirt/dust on the floor worked in your favor.


To the OP, if this not new construction, I would seriously consider washing the walls and ceiling down with a pressure washer to make sure there is not dirt build up.

You'll probably have to wait at least a day for it to dry. I would also use a leaf blower to blow out crevices that might hold water.

 

[CC1221]

Thanks for all the insights guys - I THINK I've got all the bases covered, but I'm sure I'll find out differently tomorrow!!

 

[Joe G.]

Just had a 40 x 60 x 10 garage foamed with a 1/2" of closed cell urethane. Cost was $1040.00. I'll be starting to batt the walls and ceiling soon.

Good deal.

What part of the country are you in?

 

[Tazzie]

Make sure that they fill the gap between the posts and the siding. The corners are most important due to the outside trim is not airtite. How many inches of foam are they spraying?

 

[stage20]

Also make sure any trusses or wall beams are scrapped. ive seen quite a few just blow it over whatever is there and its a pain to clean up if you install osb drywall or shelving.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Im curious as to why they need two days to do it ?

Make sure they fill the whole stud cavity flush. Otherwise, just keep an eye on them.

You never stated closed or open cell ? and what part of the country are you in ?

It actually functions more as an air loss stopper than an insulator (Im exaggerating a little depending on what your exterior sheathing is and how well sealed it is).

 

[DoSumpthin]

Good luck and take lots of pictures today. I would be interested to see before/after/etc.

 

[wedge40]

I had my done. 40x56x12. Closed cell foam. They came in and spent more time doing prep-work then actually spraying foam. They taped the floors and around window. Covered the windows as well. I believe I payed about $3800 for 1-1/2" -2" on the walls.
I just want to place sealed. I'm going to finish the walls with fiber glass batts.

Wedge

 

[soapii]

Good luck and take lots of pictures today. I would be interested to see before/after/etc.

Not trying to hijack the OP's thread, just adding some pics for reference. Attached are a couple pics shortly before we drywalled.

The one comment about making sure all your plumbing/wiring is all set is key. In my case I have 2x4 walls and almost the whole cavity is filled (about 3" of the 3.5"), so there is very little room to go back and add utilities after the fact.

--Joe

 

[CC1221]

Update - about 1/2 way done today and will finish tomorrow. The reason for the 2 day job is because the ins co is a good distance from me (St. Louis area) and they had another job to finish this morning before starting here. Crew got to the site around 9am (just as their scheduler had estimated) and promptly got to work prepping and by roughly 9:45ish the spraying had commenced. I had to get to work, so I couldn't keep and eye on progress all day but I was able to stick around long enough to see how they would deal with the gaps between the post/girts and the corrugated. They spent a good deal of time sealing up the first corner around the post and then proceeded to spray into the corrugated "gaps" at the top and bottom of the wall before moving on to the more open wall areas. This is 2" closed cell, so with the post frame construction, the entire cavity will not be filled, which is ok as I plan to sheet everything over with osb and all utilities will be flush on the osb exterior (provided my wallet can handle it after all of this!).

 

[elefunkd]

Make sure they cover ANYTHING that is not supposed to get sprayed as cleanup is a chore.

Had mine done with closed cell. 3" on walls, 5" ceiling, 20'x40'x14'. $4700 canadian IIRC.
Very happy with results. Place stays warm with a 80kbtu modine hot dawg and two 60" ceiling fans.

 

[DoSumpthin]

So, how did things go? Are you happy with the results?

 

[Rickcnc]

Make sure they cover ANYTHING that is not supposed to get sprayed as cleanup is a chore.

Had mine done with closed cell. 3" on walls, 5" ceiling, 20'x40'x14'. $4700 canadian IIRC.
Very happy with results. Place stays warm with a 80kbtu modine hot dawg and two 60" ceiling fans.

I have close to the same building.. Any Idea on your yearly heating cost

 

[CC1221]

DoSumpthin - EXTREMELY happy!! We've had a bit of a little cold snap here the last couple days and I had the floor heat turned off over the weekend while I started framing and hanging OSB. When I started, the outside temp was about 40, inside right at 55. After turning off the heat, the temp ranged from 55-65 while having doors and windows open and closed throughout the day. The outside temp didn't climb more than a couple degrees and I really think that the heat off my 8 - 6 lamp T5HO fixtures drove the temp up inside. I have a long way to go though sealing up around my 15'x12' sliding door. It's the "weak link" in all of this!!

I know that it's too early to say for sure, but if it continues to perform this well over the long haul (I'm now wondering how well it will do during the heat of July and August) I'd recommend it to everyone who is considering it. Expensive - yes and it may take a lifetime to see an actual ROI, but so far I'm sold.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Sliding door ? The kind you can through a cat through around the edges ? You might start shopping for an overhead door. All that insulation is almost worthless if the building is "breathing". Yes, I loath sliding doors, it probably shows. Ive never met one I didnt like.

 

[D.J.]

Really nice banners, especially the hostess cup cakes!

 

[toyotadriver]

Sliding door ? The kind you can through a cat through around the edges ? You might start shopping for an overhead door. All that insulation is almost worthless if the building is "breathing". Yes, I loath sliding doors, it probably shows. Ive never met one I didnt like.

So you liked them all??

 

[Chris705]

I am late to have any impact on the original posters question and it sounds like all went very well for hiim.....what I found looking for information on pros/cons of spray foam (i am in favor if installed corectly) but think a reputable installer with good referecnces is a must on this type of product/project. The link below is to a Journal of Light Construction article that I think the OP may have benefited from, I am aware of a house that is currently unihabitable (brand new) due to incorrectly installed/mixed spray.

http://www.jlconline.com/insulation/troubleshooting-spray-foam.aspx

 

[Dr_Goodwrench66]

I had my barn sprayed with open cell about 6" thick in walls and 8" on cieling for $10k. Barn is 40x64x16. It definately makes it air tight and sound proofed!!

 

[kj_mustang]

Dr_Goodwrench66,

Was that open cell foam?


I have three quotes so far for my 32 x 52 x 16 pole barn. One option is 2" closed cell over walls, gable ends in attic, and the roof. Then another 6" of open cell foam over the roof. Quote was $9,200

 

[lessersivad]

kj, read his 1st sentence;

"I had my barn sprayed with open cell about 6" thick in walls and 8" on cieling for $10k."

 

[kj_mustang]

Sorry, read right over that. It must have been too much Thanksgiving cheer (bourbon).

 

[lessersivad]

yep, that can happen....lol