How to Use Spray Foam Insulation for Your Home’s Mold Problems

Spray foam insulation is closed-cell polyurethane spray foam. It is resistant to mold, water, and insects and has a high R-value. When it expands, it gets into all the nooks and crannies that other insulation can miss.

There are different things that you should know about this. You need to know how to use spray foam insulation in Lawrenceburg, Indiana before you use it. It is expensive, so you do not want to use it in the wrong way.

This article will tell you how to use this product. It will help you to do so in the right way so that you do not waste it. You can also do research to find more information.

How to Use Spray Foam Insulation

1. Wear Protective Gear – Use a respirator and full protective gear to protect your lungs and your body. You also need to use protective gloves and goggles that wrap around. You want to attach the gloves to your arms with tape and wear shoes that you do not mind ruining. Acetone can remove the spray foam, but once it cures, it must be scraped off physically.

2.Only Use on a Dry Surface – The substance will not stick if the moisture level is above twenty percent. It should be okay to spray the surface if it has not been exposed to water in a few weeks. If it has recently been raining or the surface has had water damage, the substance will not stick. Read more about that here. The same thing goes for new lumber that may still be wet.

3.Plan Before You Begin – The first thing you need to do before you even put on the spray tip is to point the gun into an empty box or bag and pull the trigger until the chemicals are spraying evenly. You will need a new tip every time you stop spraying for more than 30 seconds. More tips are usually added to the kit.

You will first need to clear the room of anything that you do not want to be ruined. Then, you need to see what areas you need to spray first. Do not forget to put some ladders in place before you begin.

4.Use Plastic to Cover the Windows – Use plastic to cover windows and doors by stapling it to the framing. You do not need to cover the gap between the framing and the window because you will use the canned low-expanding foam that is specifically meant for the window. You will also want to cover all outlets and outlet covers.

5. After Every Tip Change, Lube the Gun – You will use petroleum jelly to lube the gun each time that you change the tip: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dos-donts-spray-foam-gun-craig-cutcher. The kit usually comes with some to use for this. There will be manufacturer’s instructions that you should follow. They usually recommend lubing the gun after use and before you store it.

6. Do a Picture Frame First – You will want to spray a ½ inch bead around the perimeter of the area before you fill in the center. Lifts are what you call these layers, and this will ensure that the substance will get into any voids that are where the sheathing and studs meet. It will also help to ensure that there are no bulges in the sheathing.

7. Do a Two-Inch Lift and Then Wait – You want to go slow and do two-inch lifts – you never want to spray more than a two-inch lift. The substance will need to be cured before you add another lift. If you do not let it cure, you will get a lower R-value. The biggest mistake people often make is not letting the foam cure between lifts and spraying the lifts too thick.

8. Spray Rim and Bottom Plate – There should be a foam sill seal that is between the bottom plate and the foundation. If you have voids in these areas, bugs and air can get in. When you are doing the rim board, you should also do the bottom plate and top off the concrete. You do not have to picture-frame this area, but make sure that you do not go over two inches thick.

9. Use a Curry Comb to Scrape the Overspray – Use a straight edge to go along the outside of the studs. Use a curry comb to scrape off any high spots. A curry comb is a tool to groom horses that you can get at any farm supply store for under ten dollars.

10. Combine with Fiberglass Insulation – You can use fiberglass insulation along with your spray foam. You would just spray a picture frame with foam and then fill the area with fiberglass insulation. This can save you some money and even some time.

Conclusion

Spray foam insulation is a great way to insulate your home. It ensures that you will cover any gaps that can allow bugs and air to get in. You can also use it in conjunction with fiberglass insulation to save some time and money.