Problems With Spray Foam Insulation In Attics

The problems with spray foam insulation in attics comes down to the initial installation.

Problems with spray foam insulation in attics.

The use of spray foam attic can present many potential problems especially when it comes to the improper installation of this material within this area of your home. If the spray foam is installed correctly then you can look forward to a home that stays substantially warmer costs less to heat. Nothing unusual about that. Spray foam insulation has been the material of choice for many builders and homeowners for nearly 30 years.

The unvented attic space is considered the most effective and up to date building practice particularly by the spray foam industry. By doing so you bring the attic inside the building enclosure. Insulating with spray foam insulation at the roof line will cause moisture problems with the roof sheathing. But what happens to that attic space when you move it inside.

One of those problems is moving the building enclosure from the drywall ceiling of a home to the roofline. In fact spray foam insulation can help avoid problems like these. Unvented attics sometimes called sealed enclosed or encapsulated attics feature insulation on the underside of the roof decking rather than on the attic floor. In an unvented attic scenario to limit air leakage as well as any associated condensation at the roof line a continuous air barrier is required.

What goes right and what goes wrong. If the spray foam is installed incorrectly then a large number of problems can arise. Just like with any other product as something becomes more popular there will be an increase in misuse. A lot of builders and homeowners are going with spray foam insulation because of the airtightness benefits but then the questioner mentioned that the spray foam contractor had intentionally left big holes to the outside by not sealing the gable vents.

There are several majors spray foam installation problems that have been associated with the use and application of spray foam in a home some of these problems will vary based on how much of the spray foam is used where it is placed who applies the spray foam and the conditions in this environment. Using icynene spray foam as your attic insulation will turn your attic into a conditioned space. Additionally spray foam can create issues not only in the environment but also for those. Spray foam insulation can solve problems that other insulation materials can t.

Joe lstiburek has been saying for a while now that we can t just ignore the. Earlier this year i got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic. It will also help keep any duct leaks within the conditioned space of your attic. Problems with spray foam insulation in attics.

Spray foam installers may miss some of the air leakage sites in the attic which can lead to problems in the insulation of the attic.