Spray Foam Inside Attic Insulation Problems

Using spray foam insulation in an unvented attic application.

Spray foam inside attic insulation problems.

This is not just a diyers issue. Below we are going to list the most common problems with using spray foam insulation in your home s attic or in any area inside of your home. Insulating with spray foam insulation at the roof line will cause moisture problems with the roof sheathing. It has been said that insulating with spray foam insulation at the roof line will lead to moisture problems with the roof sheathing.

The evaluation service report esr for spray foam insulation products provides a valuable resource based on a third. Placement errors during installation attics are the main spots in a home that are filled with unusual shapes gaps and spaces where air bubbles have the potential to form when you spray foam insulation. 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. Moisture is also another huge issue when it comes to spray foam insulation in an attic.

In fact spray foam insulation can help avoid problems like these. Just like with any other product as something becomes more popular there will be an increase in misuse. By doing so you bring the attic inside the building enclosure. Whereas too little spray foam insulation can leave for thermal bypass because of the complete lack of insulation in the attic.

Oh and when you put it in your attic spray foam. Owner received an energy audit and implemented some of the recommendations. 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. Spray polyurethane foam insulation of any kind uses isocyanates in 50 of the formulation even those claimed to be made with soy or other natural oils.

Removed all batt insulation in the attic removed both hvac systems and all duct work performed air sealing in the crawl space and the attic at the floor and ceiling and installed 5 of demilec open cell spray foam on the roof deck. Spray foam insulation can solve problems that other insulation materials can t. Both low density open cell and medium density closed cell spray foam can be used in an unvented attic to provide the needed thermal resistance and airtightness. Earlier this year i got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic.

Joe lstiburek has been saying for a while now that we can t just ignore the. One of those problems is moving the building enclosure from the drywall ceiling of a home to the roofline. Nothing unusual about that. Many homeowners love spray foam insulation and it s easy to understand why.

Compared to traditional insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose spray foam has the potential to provide better performance via its air sealing properties high r values per inch of thickness and in the case of closed cell spray foam ability to repel moisture. But what happens to that attic space when you move it inside.