spray foam insulation

[shellbug]

Anyone have this in their house? We are thinking of getting our attic sprayed. I was just wondering if it really makes a big difference? On friday we are getting new windows- low E with argon- hope those make a difference too. Our house faces East West and it is crazy hot on the back of the house in the afternoon.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by shellbug

Anyone have this in their house? We are thinking of getting our attic sprayed. I was just wondering if it really makes a big difference? On friday we are getting new windows- low E with argon- hope those make a difference too. Our house faces East West and it is crazy hot on the back of the house in the afternoon.

Spray "foam"? Are you sure it's not "blown-in" cellulose-based (Green Fiber is the common brand)? If so, yes I have that--did it myself w/ a rented machine in my walls and attic--it works quite well, w/ 12" in the attic, new windows and doors my winter heating bills dropped 40% or so.

[squeebug]

Yeah they have this stuff they just spray in between the studs and it expands to take up the space. I've never used it and don't have it but I would imagine it works pretty good.

[Smileybug]

Think your house is hot? I lived in a house with NO insulation for 2 years. Ugh that was miserable...and expensive. Moving to our new townhouse was a whole new world...cold stays inside and heat stays out?!

Any insulation is good. I've heard good things about the spray-in insulation.

[gforce1108]

I have the under side of my house done with it... it's an 1850's one room schoolhouse that basically sits on a rock wall. Very little insulation was added when it was 'updated' (I use that term very loosely).

It made a big difference in the winter... the floor was always freezing unless there was enough snow to keep the air out.

The big advantage was the ease of installation - there's very little space under half the house and nothing is built to standard dimensions.

[shellbug]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Spray "foam"? Are you sure it's not "blown-in" cellulose-based (Green Fiber is the common brand)? If so, yes I have that--did it myself w/ a rented machine in my walls and attic--it works quite well, w/ 12" in the attic, new windows and doors my winter heating bills dropped 40% or so.

No the stuff I am talking about is spray foam, it expands when they spray it up on the top of the attic on the underside of the roof and on the walls.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by shellbug

No the stuff I am talking about is spray foam, it expands when they spray it up on the top of the attic on the underside of the roof and on the walls.

Not sure in your milder climate, but here in Ohio "they" say it is better to make sure your attic is adequately ventilated and that you insulate the attic floor/(living space ceiling). Heat kills the roofing material, especially if you have asphalt shingles--you'd be blocking heat transfer out of the roofing mat'l into the attic space. I would not insulate my house that way. My attic has some soffit venting, gable end vents and ridge vents--I wish I could get even more in there. It would probably make your house cooler, but I'd also fear possible moisture/condensation issues and the reduction in the life of the roofing mat'ls.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Im curious as to what this stuff is made from??
The insulation they always use here in the hot desert are just the fiberglass strips or whatever they are, the pink itchy stuff that looks like cotton candy. All the homes have the style of a crawl space/attic, but no one uses them and they just layer that stuff up there... and I'd love to upgrade the insulation if it will help the electric...