| 1. | What is the R-value (insulation value) of the product we use?
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| 2. | How does spray-foam compare with fiberglass batts and blow-in cellulose?
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| 3. | Does the insulation contain formaldehyde?
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| 4. | How does Spray Foam Insulation increase the structural integrity of my home and make it more resistant to movement?
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| 5. | How does Spray Foam Insulation control indoor air quality and comfort?
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| 6. | How does Spray Foam Insulation control moisture movement and condensation?
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| 7. | How is the insulation installed?
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| 8. | Does Spray Foam Insulation support bacteria of fungal growth?
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| 9. | Does spray foam make my house too tight? Shouldn't my house breathe?
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| 10. | How long will Spray Foam Insulation last?
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| 1. | What is the R-value (insulation value) of the product we use? |
| | Green Planet Spray Foam uses a water blown closed cell product with an R-value of 6.0 per inch. Our foam also maintains an R-value of 6.0 per inch as it ages. Other foams have initial R-values close to 7.0 per inch but will loose some of that value over time as the gasses within the cell structures escapes and is replaced by "air". Our foam uses water as the blowing agent and therefore the air within our cell structures is closer to the air we breathe, thus maintaining a constant R-value. Spray foam is also the only insulation product that offers a true R-value because it is the only product that creates air seals, and R-value means nothing without a true air seal. |
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| 2. | How does spray-foam compare with fiberglass batts and blow-in cellulose? |
| | Fiberglass batts will not stop air leakage (they might filter out some dirt and dust). Blown-in cellulose will slow down air leakage. Spray-foam will stop air leakage. Spray-foam is also mold and moisture resistant unlike fiberglass and cellulose. Fiberglass batts have an R-value of about 3.5 (1-inch thickness) but this is not a true R-value since there is no air seal. Blown-in cellulose has an R-value of about 3 to 4 (1-inch thickness) but also no air seal. Our spray-foam has a true R-value of 6.0 depending on the density foam we use (1-inch thickness). Fiberglass batts can sag over time; blown-in cellulose can settle over time: both situations leave sections uninsulated and you?ll feel warmer or colder because of it. Spray-foam completely adheres to wood and sheathing; the result is a permanent barrier to heat loss and air entry. Spray-foam will add strength and rigidity to your house. Fiberglass batts and blown-in cellulose will not. |
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| 3. | Does the insulation contain formaldehyde? |
| | No |
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| 4. | How does Spray Foam Insulation increase the structural integrity of my home and make it more resistant to movement? |
| | The foam that is sprayed into your wall cavities is dense and rigid, which substancially resists racking of your home during high winds and sever weather. When we spray the top side of the drywall in a ceiling, we are often able to stand on the foam (in the attic) after 3" is applied. Obviously you would never try to stand on your ceiling if it was insulated with fiberglass batts or cellulose, but if 3" can support a 200lb man, imagine the strength it is adding to your home. |
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| 5. | How does Spray Foam Insulation control indoor air quality and comfort? |
| | Spray Foam Insulation fills all holes and cavities, providing a sealed thermal envelope. This prevents air from infiltrating through dusty walls, through moist fiberglass batts, or loose cellulose that has become a home to small rodents. Unconditioned air leaking into your home is not the air we wish to breathe. Once your home has been sealed with spray foam, you are then able to control and condition the air you breathe within your home through mechanical ventilation (which is not very expensive). People often associate colds with winter, but a large contributor to winter illnesses has to do with the air within your home. In winter your doors and window are closed, therefore more of the air you breathe is coming in from those dirty, moldy places (likely from the lowest points in your home). Bad air can equal bad health. Many of our customers choose spray foam becasue they have children with asthma. |
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| 6. | How does Spray Foam Insulation control moisture movement and condensation? |
| | Moisture issues within a home are usually the result of warm air (which holds more moisture) coming into contact with cold air or a cold service (which can't hold as much moisture), resulting in condensation. Spray foam seals against this air movement through your wall cavity, and because closed cell foam has a perm rating of less than one, it is also providing your home with a vapor barrier. Restricting this air and vapor movement with spray foam is the only way to control moisture in your home. |
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| 7. | How is the insulation installed? |
| | Spray Foam insulation is sprayed into place onto a studded wall by a Green Planet Spray Foam professional, who has been trained by the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance. The foam insulation is typically sprayed after electrical and plumbing services are in place. All windows and floor areas are covered with plastic to guard against overspray. Once the foam has been applied, expanded and adheres to the substrate, we clean all overspray off your studs so your drywall or plaster contractor will have no issues with their installation. We then like to do a walk around with the home owner or contractor, clean the work site, and take our "trash" with us when we leave. |
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| 8. | Does Spray Foam Insulation support bacteria of fungal growth? |
| | Our water blown spray foam offers no food value. Therefore it does not support bacteria or fungal growth whatsoever. |
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| 9. | Does spray foam make my house too tight? Shouldn't my house breathe? |
| | Your house needs ventilation. The ASHRAE standard states that mechanical ventilation be used in any home with less than .35 air exchanges per hour. However, most home engineers and building scientists advise that you seal the structure as tight as possible and provide necessary ventilation through your air conditioning and heating system. This puts the air within your home under your control, and not only will make your home a healthy place, but also will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. |
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| 10. | How long will Spray Foam Insulation last? |
| | Spray foam is an inert, long lasting polymer, and will last indefinitely in your home. |
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