Spray foam insulation is a great way to keep your home warm and energy efficient. However, there are some areas where you should not use aerosol foam insulation. These areas include leaks in the basement, near electrical installations and around lighting. In addition, it is important to avoid placing open-cell insulation to avoid insulation problems on roofs with sprayed foam, such as the formation of mold.
One of the places where problems with sprayed foam insulation occur the most is on the ceiling. Your roof is built with beams or frames that are covered by a layer of plywood, commonly called a roof deck. The plywood serves as the basis for the waterproofing membrane and, in most cases, as a coating for asphalt shingles. When spray foam is applied to the attic side of the wooden structure and deck, it can prevent moisture from the roof surface from entering the attic space in the case of a closed cell, or it can delay the transfer of moisture to the attic space and accumulate in porous wood and insulation materials, or condense in the colder areas of the house in the case of an open cell. When installing the roof cover, it is important to maintain it dry. The key way to avoid this problem in the first place is to ensure that you hire a reliable, professional, and recognized installer who knows how to properly install spray foam insulation.
You can avoid this by opting for open-cell sprayed foam insulation, but since this type of insulation is not water resistant, any leak from the roof could turn it into mush. In the search for a draft-free home, it's natural to add some insulation around electrical outlets, but expandable foam may not be the best type of insulation in this case. The terms expandable foam, spray foam, and foam sealant are used interchangeably in the construction industry, but they don't always mean the same thing. Packed in a pressurized can with a straw to spray them into gaps and crevices, aerosol foam insulation is usually made of polyurethane and is known to be one of the most airtight types of insulation that exist if installed perfectly in a continuous, monolithic layer. Aerosol foam insulation presents a rather regrettable problem: bad odors or more specifically a fishy smell that seems to remain for months after installation. Another way to avoid problems with sprayed foam insulation in attics and wall cavities is to use cellulose insulation.
When spray foam isn't installed properly, it can hide window sills and beams which can prevent home inspectors from catching termites in these areas. Some residents have even had to evacuate for months after installation due to the smell of aerosol foam insulation mixed with a poor ratio. Cotton denim insulation can help you avoid moisture problems in insulation with aerosol foam as it is much more breathable. Other options include contacting the manufacturer of aerosol foam where you should normally be able to submit a test sample of the insulation. Made of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate, spray foam can seal small voids and tight areas of a home's structure but it's not the safest insulation material. The ability of foam insulation to control air currents and reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling your home far exceeds that of traditional insulation.
The expandable foam insulating sealant quickly reduces sound transfer stabilizes wobbly shower heads or even secures fragile items for shipment. When considering using spray foam insulation for your home, there are certain areas where you should not use it due to potential risks. These include leaks in basements, near electrical installations and around lighting fixtures. Open-cell spray foam should also be avoided on roofs as it can cause mold formation. Additionally, aerosol foam may emit an unpleasant fishy smell that could last for months after installation.
To avoid these issues altogether, consider using cellulose or cotton denim insulation instead.
