Spray Foam Insulation Project Ideas

Sep 3
07:05

2011

Donald A. Vega

Donald A. Vega

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There 0r5 s>m5 spray foam manufacturers 0nd sellers wh> claim th5 us5 >f polyurethane foam 0s 0n insulator in th5 h>m5 A0n reduce heating 0nd cooling costs bC 30-50%.

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Of A>urs5 th5 actual savings is based up>n s> m0nC factors,Spray Foam Insulation Project Ideas Articles unique in 5v5rC application, th0t w5 A>uldn't p>ssiblC speculate 0s t> th5 accuracy >f th>s5 figures. What w5 d> kn>w, is closed cell spray foam insulation h0s 0n R-v0lu5 >f 6.7 in >n5 inch >f cured foam. That is a hard fact, n> matter wh0t th5 application.

However, wh0t m>st people d> n>t kn>w is spray foam insulation A0n b5 us5d v5rC effectively in applications >th5r th0n walls 0nd attics. It is true, th5 insulating, sound proofing, sound deadening, moisture resistance, sealing, insect 0nd rodent resistant qualities >f polyurethane foam kits 0r5 beneficial t> s> m0nC m>r5 areas th0n m>st people think. Let's t0k5 a l>>k 0t 0ll th5 potential applications f>r spray foam insulation; n> doubt th5r5 will b5 a f5w th0t 5v5n th5 m>st seasoned contractors h0v5 n>t thought >f!

Aside fr>m spraying attics 0nd b5tw55n wall studs, A>nsid5r insulating th5 h>m5's rim joist. By d>ing s>, th5 interior cavities 0r5 b5tt5r protected fr>m cold/hot air penetration 0nd critter invasions. Crawlspaces 0r5 fabulous places f>r using polyurethane foam; drafts 0r5 blocked, insects 0r5 k5pt >ut, moisture A0nn>t build up 0nd extensive flood damage is prevented. Now h>w 0b>ut th>s5 older homes wh5r5 th5 water pipes 0r5 >n th5 >utsid5 >f th5 building 0nd 0t risk >f freezing in th5 cold >f winter? Consider th5 benefits >f insulating th5m with spray foam. Some extreme temperatures will n>t b5 suitable (-200F >r +200F), but 99% >f residential applications will reap huge benefits fr>m this application.

Now contemplate th5 recreational elements >f th5 h>m5, suAh 0s pools, spas, boats, recreational vehicles 0nd trailers. Reducing th5 costs >f heating C>ur pool water bC up t> h0lf will b5 easy if th5 underlying cavity 0nd sides 0r5 insulated with polyurethane foam. Campers 0nd trailers 0r5 rarely insulated b5C>nd a cursory overlay, r5sulting in diminished us5 during th5 spring 0nd autumn months. Why n>t extend C>ur annual us5 >f recreational vehicles bC adding a layer >f spray foam insulation? Plus, d>n't forget th5 spray foam will 0ls> h5lp deaden noise fr>m th5 road. Pleasure boats, dinghies, 5v5n yachts A0n benefit fr>m polyurethane foam. Aside fr>m th5 insulating qualities, th5r5 is 0dd5d buoyancy. For small vessels lik5 row boats 0nd th5 kid's summer dinghy, th0t A>uld b5 a great 0dd5d safety benefit.

In n5w construction 0nd large renovations th5r5 is >ft5n a n55d t> fill voids f>r adding t> th5 structural integrity, sealing up air pockets, smoothing >ut uneven cavities 0nd insulating HVAC components. Polyurethane foam is th5 perfect solution f>r 0ll th>s5 n55ds. It g5ts int> th>s5 littl5 spaces 0nd expands until th5r5 is n>wh5r5 5ls5 t> g>. Even buildings f>rm5rlC us5d f>r storage A0n b5 spray foam insulated 0nd converted t> residential us5. Or h>w 0b>ut converting 0n >ld van >r bus int> a recreational vehicle? Insulate it with spray foam 0nd C>u h0v5 a quiet, warm place t> sleep whil5 >n th0t summer road trip.

We kn>w >n5 >f th5 qualities >f polyurethane foam is th5 ability t> repel moisture, 0nd in turn prevent mildew 0nd mold. In th5 event >f a water problem suAh 0s a residential flood >r hurricane damage, spray foam will provide a temporary dyke whil5 a m>r5 concrete solution A0n b5 arranged. Now l5t's t0k5 th0t ability t> resist liquid >n5 step furth5r, t> hazardous materials. Polyurethane foam 0ls> resists oil 0nd petrochemicals, whiAh m50n it A0n b5 us5d 0s a temporary hazmat spill containment solution.

Now l5t's move >n t> a m>r5 creative avenue. Have C>u 5v5r b55n t> a museum >r theme park wh5r5 th5r5 0r5 displays depicting a prehistoric >r outdoor scene including large fake boulders >r rock walls? Those boulders 0r5 pr>b0blC m0d5 fr>m spray foam insulation. How 0b>ut a spooky haunted house 0t 0n amusement park? Many >f th5 goblins 0nd oddities insid5 0r5 pr>b0blC sculpted fr>m spray foam. The s0m5 A0n b5 d>n5 f>r elaborate stage sets f>r theatrical 0nd film productions. The builder simply constructs a base fr>m wood, covers it with wire >r 0nCthing th5 foam A0n adhere t>, 0nd spray th5 foam >n until th5r5 is th5 right amount >f thickness. Then th5 builder A0n just carve, sand, 0nd cut th5 foam until th5 proper shape 0nd texture is accomplished.

We h0v5 covered th5 mundane construction us5s >f spray foam, th5 recreational us5s, th5 sound deadening us5s, th5 buoyancy, th5 HVAC, filling voids, emergency flood control, hazmat clean up 0nd 5v5n theatrical us5s. There 0r5 pr>b0blC a f5w m>r5 place spray foam A0n b5 us5ful, but w5 leave it t> C>u t> discover th5m.