Exposed Spray Foam Insulation In Attic

Earlier this year i got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic.

Exposed spray foam insulation in attic.

In a traditional vented attic insulation is used on the attic floor to insulate the ceiling from the seasonal heat and or cold. And has a higher r value per inch. Choose foam it green spray foam insulation kits and don t settle for less than you deserve. Spray foam attic insulation as we discussed above is a highly popular method used for insulation in homes but like anything else even other alternatives to spray foam insulation there are both pros and cons to the use of this home insulation material.

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. Unvented attics sometimes called sealed enclosed or encapsulated attics feature insulation on the underside of the roof decking rather than on the attic floor. The unvented attic space is considered the most effective and up to date building practice particularly by the spray foam industry. For indoor applications per building code requirements foam left exposed is required to be covered by a 15 minute thermal barrier in habitable spaces of a structure.

This alternative to traditional building insulation fiberglass can be applied into wall cavities holes concrete slabs and even onto roof tiles and. Spray foam attic insulation is used primarily to act as a barrier to limit air movement and. Many spray foam manufacturers test their spray foam systems with an intumescent coating in place of the ignition barrier. Most ceilings are made of 1 2 drywall.

Instead it is. Spray foam kits are quicker and easier to use plus you get a seamless air barrier and high r value in just 1 inch. In some cases explanation. Spray polyurethane foam is a chemical product that is created by two materials isocyanate and polyol resin that will react with each other when they are mixed and will expand up to 30 to 60 times its liquid volume as it is sprayed in place.

Affix rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the hatch or door. But the spray foam is still exposed to the attic and needs an ignition barrier. Nothing unusual about that. When the coating foam combination passes the screening test the combination is approved for use in the attics and crawl spaces but the coating is not recognized in the building codes as an ignition barrier.

The most common blown in material used but it can rot and grow moldy if exposed to moisture. If you ve got spray foam insulation in an attic for example it s probably already separated from the living space by a thermal barrier. Spray foam insulation in the attic floor vented attic spaces the method of use for spray foam in the attic is often dictated by the building science and design principles your architect and or builder subscribes to. Add weatherstripping around the perimeter and a sweep to the door of a walk up attic.