Sprayed in foam in rim joists.

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Has anyone had experience pulling fiberglass insulation out of the rim joist on the top of the basement foundation wall and having foam insulation sprayed in? Supposed to provide superior insulation, stop air infiltration, and keep the insects out.

Price is about $1,500 for our 1,800sf ranch. Has anyone gone through the heat loss calcs to determine payback on something like this? Is it cost effective? Anyone do preapplication and post application temp testing?

Thanks! ****

 

[atotalnincompoop]

there is no doubt its better than batts but at $1500 i doubt you'd ever see that kind of savings.

 

[rlme36]

you could do it yourself with the handi foam spray kits or kit of your choice from a variety of mfgs. Its what I am looking at to do the same area in my house.

rob

 

[bouldermsm]

I am about to embark on a similar project, although I am taking an intermediate step: I will pull the existing batts, cut my own rigid insulation plugs- gapping all four sides by about 5/8", tack it in place with a nail, and then spray foam all four edges with some minimally expanding foam. Yes, there will be a few cavities with pipes, etc. that will be more difficult but I should get results much closer to a full spray compared to the existing batts, but without the mess or expense.

I even researched the DIY bulk spray kits that individuals can purchase. A professional level magazine I read tested many of them and concluded basically the kits were OK but not quite there yet and only made sense for a narrow group of users.

my basement is easily accessed, 48'x28', relatively open and I have a full day of labor and about $175 in material budgeted.

in addition to your thought of the professionally sprayed foam as a product, which I think this is a great application for and is technically speaking the best, like so many trades- finding someone who can install this correctly for you is also a consideration to keep in mind beyond the premium price.

as far as savings go, this is only one piece to a overall insulating system in any house. there is zero doubt it will be an improvement and i look at as an easy, and accessible one to make.

Dave

 

[NUTTSGT]

$1500 just to do around the rim joist seems like a chunk of change, that is unless they have a minimum charge. If that's the case, try to find out where the break point is and what else you could get done for the same amount or a slight upcharge.

 

[volpster31]

im not sure the cost effectiveness of it,but im thinking about doing it myself
heres a decent video on it
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...qZH2Bg&usg=AFQjCNEbMLCTYTtGblMjW5I8VdlktDM8Mg

 

[Jack T.]

Doing a basement remodel right now, and I bought a few small kits from Foam it Green to insulate that area. Was easy to use, and did a good job. I backed it up with mineral wool insulation. Rule of thumb - always buy more than you think you'll need.

 

[Boomer343]

Big difference between the DIY kits and the professional foam. When I've used the DIY kits it can be tough to get it in place and to stick to the various substrates especially if you are trying to fill a deep cavity or it's a tough reach.

Can be mould issues doing the rigid foam and caulk/foam around the perimeter.

Payback isn't always in the pocket book. Since doing this to my house I no longer have bug traps in the basement, perimeter floor and floor in bay window is much warmer. Those funny drafts are greatly deminished.

I would spend the $1500 for a pro job without a second thought. The coverage will be better and no gaps to cause problems. The foam may also need to be covered with a fire retardent, the DIY foam certainly needs to be.

 

[DustynF]

I had this done in the fall along with my 900 sq foot garage. My house is 1300 sq ft. They sprayed the rim joist and down the wall. Underneath the foam I have a good 12 mil vapor barrier that encapsulated the whole crawl space with. They sprayed a little over an inch of closed cell in the crawlspace and then sprayed the garage with 4 inchs of open cell. Total cost was 1400. I couldn't find anyone that could come close to that deal. I know there are a lot of variables when calulating heat loss and such but I was averaging saving around 60 dollars a month plus my floor stay warm now.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I was averaging saving around 60 dollars a month plus my floor stay warm now.

That is a significant savings, even if only for 4 or 5 months. Indiana is further south than Milwaukee.

We have two different friends who have ranches that are less than 3 years old. Both have the professional spray in form in the rim joist. They have nothing to compare cost too, but their floors, especially near the wall are MUCH warmer than our house. I didn't know whether to attribute it to 17 year difference in construction, or the foam. I think its the foam. But I'm still a little skeptical.

Thank for the responses.

 

[walrus]

That is a significant savings, even if only for 4 or 5 months. Indiana is further south than Milwaukee.

We have two different friends who have ranches that are less than 3 years old. Both have the professional spray in form in the rim joist. They have nothing to compare cost too, but their floors, especially near the wall are MUCH warmer than our house. I didn't know whether to attribute it to 17 year difference in construction, or the foam. I think its the foam. But I'm still a little skeptical.

Thank for the responses.

I've lived in houses that were sieves, I lived in houses that were insulated with fiberglass, now I have a home and shop thats insulated with foam. Not sprayed in but 2" of sheet foam. Foam stops all air moverment and allow fiberglass to work correctly, ie no air movement. I cut and fit all my foam and then canned foam the cracks, saved money but lots of labor. Its warmer and quieter. So whether it pays or not, depends on what you heat with, 2 oil I'll bet it would, Nat Gas maybe not but comfort mean alot to me.

 

[toolmiser]

I completed doing mine recently using ridgid foam and spray. I could feel drafts and seen some dust on fiber glass from air penetration in areas. I have a lot of stuff in the basement, and it took a while, but I would do it again. Hot tip, if you tape a "bendy straw to the tube on the spray foam, it allows you to get into areas that aren't easily accessable. There is an article in this months Fine Homebuilding about doing it (not a great article), and they mention "the chimney effect" how air infiltrates that basement, and then goes up thru the whole house and out the top.