I got a quote for a certain manufacturer's foam, and the manufacturer said it would cause an indoor VOC concentration of 0.5-5.0 mg/m^3 for the cured foam long term. Scientists are saying irritation systems increase after around 0.5-0.7 mg/m^3. I asked the manufacturer to rectify that, and they sent me some boiilerplate but never responded. I found another contractor using a product with a UL GreenGuard Gold certification to be under 0.5 mg/m^3 and my install didn't smell after a couple days. I have a VOC meter and everything looks good. This install was a year ago and I'm very happy. This is half-pound open cell foam in North Carolina. Now what I DID get a lot of VOCs into my home from was the oil-based finish on my hardwood floor!

Smells.. I have thought about it only a little, but closed cell foam can't help but reduce air changout just a bit. I bought a computer desk many years ago made of partcle board, and the outgassing of that went on for about a year. The more a building gets tightened, the more we notice all sorts of things. Beyond that, love the consumer tips this channel brings - not many folks give a nuts & bolts level perspective on products/applications this well.

Dry drains, I.e. sewer gas may be a problem. Have the homeowner fill a floor drains with mineral oil. It does not evaporate and keeps sewer gas from coming into the house.

Great Video Mike! Very thorough.

Thank you for another Great Video.

Just had my attic sealed with closed cell, foam doesn't smell but the intumescent paint over it is pretty brutal. Full week of cross ventilation and it still smells like very strong latex paint. The half story portion will have drywall so no paint and that part is fine. It'll go away but just be aware that it's not a normal paint and takes a longer cure and dry time.

Great Video! As an HVAC contractor in Texas, we notice that evaporator coils begin to leak refrigerant MUCH sooner than traditionally insulated homes.

@SprayJones

Ай бұрын

So what is the cause?

@SuperKingcobra33

Ай бұрын

I don’t have a “scientific” cause, but my suspicion is the out gassing of the foam chemistry.

@SprayJones

Ай бұрын

@@SuperKingcobra33 Well the SPF is tested for all sorts of VOC and the results are negative with 24 hrs. So there must be something else behind it. I have a geo thermal unit and nothing has quit on it aside from normal wear and tear in 12 years inside a 100% spf home.

All spray foam off-gases for a while regardless of open or closed cell.

I’m currently building a shed with 2x4 walls 12 feet tall and I’ve decided to insulate the building…I was gonna use 2” ridged foam board but I have decided to go with 2” of closed cell spray foam in the walls and perhaps 2” in the ceiling directly to the roof deck…I called one of my local insulation contractors and they were suggesting 3.5” in the ceiling but I’m not planning on heating and cooling it all the time…2” is R12 and 3.5 is R20 from what they are telling me so maybe I’ll just get 3” in the ceiling at R18…I feel that should be enough…even at that it will be much more insulated than the house I grew up in!..lol!!

@SprayJones

22 күн бұрын

Watch the video I did "how much foam do I need?"

My open cell i could smell for about two weeks. Was light. My wife couldnt smell it though, except the first day. In my case i hired someone that talked the talk but when it came to spray quality.. they fell short. 5 times they had to return, everything from.. we ran out to fixing missed holes. The texture of the foam tells me they were spraying it incorrect. Sent in hvac to install a new system and found massive holes. They cheated and crated walls so it would apear as if areas were done. . These holes left interior drywall with massive hot spots and exposure to outside moisture. Tried calling the foamers back.. talked nicely for about 2 weeks, and then they no longer answer phone calls. Part of me is glad. The excuse ineeded to call in another company to finish the rest of the project. Fingers crossed! I do love the spray foam though. Massively better than a vented roof. Even with the flaws ( soon to be fixed).

So if you had a bad spray foam install will it ever be rid of the smell?

@SprayJones

Ай бұрын

Some never do. Some can fade away.... it depends on what went wrong and how much of it there is.

Everything stinks and off gasses. The carpet stinks for a month. The drywall mud smells to high heaven. The paint. I even bought a purple mattress and had to leave it uncovered with the fan running for over a week before I could sleep in the same room, because it gave me such a headache.

It's vert possible to get all sorts of info BEFORE they do the job. It's all but impossible to actually verify what they install. Asking to inspect the drums of liquid they are using deep in their box truck is going to put me at odds with the provider...I can just see it coming. The laborer often has no idea what they are spraying exactly...whether it's something new or not.

@spiderfoaminsulation9763

Ай бұрын

As a spray foam company owner I disagree. You can inspect the drums anytime if you have a question don't be afraid to ask. You are the customer remember?!!

@rogerwhiting9310

Ай бұрын

@@spiderfoaminsulation9763 I hope.

Does this mean I shouldn't buy barrels on ebay.....?

@robertthehair658

Ай бұрын

.....I'm only half joking

I have a horrible stench from the unmixed foam Retro Foam left in my home, 8 months later and it still reeks. Avoid Retro Foam Franchisee's they're amateurs.