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quarter MOA visionary |
Maybe a benefit for Massachusetts climate but that is not entirely true in Texas(The Bernoulli Effect). | |||
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Certified All Positions |
How to use foam, and insulation properties, don't change "because Texas." If you're having work done on your home, you need someone who understands the conditions at hand, and while some things do change due to climate, how materials insulate, doesn't. Consider that wherever you are, we as humans typically want it warm inside when it's cool outside, and cool inside when it's warm outside. What system should be used to achieve this, depends entirely on what you're willing to spend, whether you're building new or renovating, and then site specific conditions of the home. One thing needs to be true for all this to be successful, which is effectively separating interior temperatures from exterior temperatures. This is achieved through both insulation and air sealing. Insulation and air sealing need to work together, and are achievable in a variety of ways. None of which boil down to "no foam in Texas." I would say that "No foam applied by people who do not engineer it" would be an appropriate statement. You can certainly find people who will spray foam, if they don't do any analysis, I wouldn't trust them. Extreme heat and extreme cold, are of course not the same thing. Both of these situations call for actual Building Science to be truly effective. The goal is isolating the interior and exterior, and either preventing condensation or providing a path for it. Regardless of whether an installer is spraying foam or applying reflective barrier or just fiberglass, all of these things can be applied correctly, or in a manor that will damage the home over time. It is important to find a company that will do what is right and necessary, and not just one that puts insulation in because you asked them to put insulation in. Arc. ______________________________ "Like a bitter weed, I'm a bad seed"- Johnny Cash "I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel." - Pee Wee Herman Rode hard, put away wet. RIP JHM "You're a junkyard dog." - Lupe Flores. RIP | |||
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| Member |
Gustofer, Where did the foil go? on the outside of the framing or inside? We're having a pole barn built and plan to insulate in the future, but something like this might be a good stop gap until then if it can then be insulated over later. Thanks | |||
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| A teetotaling beer aficionado  |
In our North Texas climate, radiant barrier is almost a necessity and in the heat of mid summer and is more important than insulation during the heat. Nearly all new construction except the lowest price point houses are now built with some sort of radiant barrier. Spray is better than nothing but not very good. Foil on the roof decking or on the attic floor what is recommended. I guess you're finding this out though. Attic fan, I'd pass as long as your ridge vent soffet vent set up is sufficient (Plenty of soffet vents and a good long ridge vent) to move air through the attic. Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves. -D.H. Lawrence | |||
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| quarter MOA visionary |
You are right you need someone who understands what is right for your climate.  Here (I have spoken to engineers about this) you do not "seal" to deal with heat. You do "insulate" directly to the living space. Above the attic you do not insulate at the source aka roof. Here you reflect with a radiant barrier and dissipate via moving air out in an orderly manner (generally through venting). Foam is most effective for cold but is not the preferred method for hot scenarios. YMMV | |||
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| Stupid Allergy  |
Thanks again for the input folks, y’all have been a big help deciding on what to do. "Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen... | |||
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| Stupid Allergy |
So dude #2 came out today, he wants to totally encapsulate the attic in foam?? Now I’m confused, I thought the attic needed to breathe. I guess this is the technique Arc is referring to, maybe? "Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen... | |||
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| Certified All Positions |
Yes, if you spray from the top plate of the exterior wall, and close the entire attic with foam, then this will be effective in controlling heat and moisture. Foam is very effective at air sealing, combined with high R value per inch. Basically, when you have a good air seal and enough of an insulation plane, the interior temp doesn't come in contact with the exterior temp, and create condensation. This condensation is why conventional attic venting exists. It's not because the attic would get "too hot" or the roof be "kept cool," but because the interior air will condense on the underside of the roof deck, or inside insulation like fiberglass. Leading to all kinds of problems. If you put either fiberglass bats or say cellulose on the ceiling plane, and make sure your soffit and ridge vents are clear, that will also work but you lose useful attic space. What was the cost of the foam? Arc. ______________________________ "Like a bitter weed, I'm a bad seed"- Johnny Cash "I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel." - Pee Wee Herman Rode hard, put away wet. RIP JHM "You're a junkyard dog." - Lupe Flores. RIP | |||
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| Stupid Allergy |
Thanks for the info again, Arc. I’m waiting on the estimate for the foam guy that came this AM. It’s suppose to be emailed today, I’ll post back when I get it. "Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen... | |||
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| Member |
Check out vent skinning. Instead of soffit vents, use vents on outside walls, such as brick vents. Mount vents about 6in above foundation. Air flows into vents up through space between outside surface (brick, stone siding etc. ) and inside walls into attic and on out through ridge vents. Has effect of carrying heat, that would normally radiate from outside wall into house, up ito attic and out through ridge vents. You must be careful to ensure that gap into attic at top of wall is open. Blown in attic insulation may cover the gap. I used in a house here in Texas. If you use this method do not install soffit vents as it will cut flow. Very effective. I believe info came from Florida Energy Center at Univ Florida. | |||
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| quarter MOA visionary |
It does and spraying a complete attic in foam would be a huge mistake. Not only is it more costly it is not as effective. You only need to insulate what comes directly above living spaces R35. Vent with ridge vents and draw air with eave vents through a natural process. Use radiant barrier at attic roof to reflect the heat if necessary (like in Texas). It is why we use house wrap on the exterior under the siding and not a sealed plastic sheet. A common problem here is sealed homes here very poor air quality and trapped condensation issues. There are sprayed in radiant barriers but for their reflective properties not the insulation properties. | |||
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