Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

Hello,

I want to insulate 65 ft^2 of 2x4 wall with spray foam insulation, so
I need 200 board-feet (ft^2-in) of insulation. I can have icynene
sprayed professionally for about $0.65/board foot, but the minimum
charge is $2500! So I'm looking for a DIY option.

I've found basically two options:

1) Handifoam kits (or equivalent), available online from fomofoam.com,
tigerfoam.com, foampower.com, and betterfoam.com. This is a two part
foam with an R-value/inch of 6.2-7.4 and a density of 1.75 lbs/ft^3.
It is available in 22, 105, 205, and 605 board foot sizes.

2) Todol Purfill foam, available online from energyfederation.org.
This is a onepart foam rated at an R-value/inch of 6.0 and a density
of 1.2 lbs/ft^3. It is marketed for gap filling and comes in 20
board-foot canisters.

So, can anyone suggest any additional options?

The Todol Purfill foam is about 30%-50% less expensive than the
Handifoam kits, and the R-value is comparable even though the density
is 30% less. Would it be feasible to use the Todol gun for filling
wall cavities, or will it just be too slow? How do one-part foams
compare in general to two-part foams?

Thanks, Wayne

Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

"Wayne Whitney" wrote in message
2) Todol Purfill foam, available online from energyfederation.org.
This is a onepart foam rated at an R-value/inch of 6.0 and a density
of 1.2 lbs/ft^3. It is marketed for gap filling and comes in 20
board-foot canisters.

The Todol Purfill foam is about 30%-50% less expensive than the
Handifoam kits, and the R-value is comparable even though the density
is 30% less.

No experience with this particular products so I can't comment on
particulars. There is an optimal density for any foamed insulating
material. By going to a lower density you save lots of money and lose very
little insulating value if you look at the curves. Past the optimum, higher
density offers less insulating value and cost much more.

Would it be feasible to use the Todol gun for filling
wall cavities, or will it just be too slow?

You need moisture to react with the foam. I don' tknow how easily it is
done for a large area. Have you visited their tech page:
12. Can I make a thick section of foam?
Yes. If a very thick block of foam is needed, we recommend that you lay in a
1 inch bead of foam and then mist water on top of the uncured foam; Do not
put water on the top layer of foam, use this layering technique until the
cavity is about half filled, the expansion of the foam will complete the
filling.

How do one-part foams
compare in general to two-part foams?

Very well. One part foams will probably replace most of the two part foams
over time. Less chemicals, easier disposal.

Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

"Wayne Whitney" wrote in message
. ..
Hello,

I want to insulate 65 ft^2 of 2x4 wall with spray foam insulation, so
I need 200 board-feet (ft^2-in) of insulation. I can have icynene
sprayed professionally for about $0.65/board foot, but the minimum
charge is $2500! So I'm looking for a DIY option.


I've found basically two options:

1) Handifoam kits (or equivalent), available online from fomofoam.com,
tigerfoam.com, foampower.com, and betterfoam.com. This is a two part
foam with an R-value/inch of 6.2-7.4 and a density of 1.75 lbs/ft^3.
It is available in 22, 105, 205, and 605 board foot sizes.

2) Todol Purfill foam, available online from energyfederation.org.
This is a onepart foam rated at an R-value/inch of 6.0 and a density
of 1.2 lbs/ft^3. It is marketed for gap filling and comes in 20
board-foot canisters.

So, can anyone suggest any additional options?

The Todol Purfill foam is about 30%-50% less expensive than the
Handifoam kits, and the R-value is comparable even though the density
is 30% less. Would it be feasible to use the Todol gun for filling
wall cavities, or will it just be too slow? How do one-part foams
compare in general to two-part foams?

Thanks, Wayne

I found this on the web awhile back. NO clue if they are reputable.

http://www.fomofoam.com/fire_systems.htm#Pricing

Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

On 2005-11-05, SQLit wrote:

I found this on the web awhile back. NO clue if they are reputable.
http://www.fomofoam.com/fire_systems.htm#Pricing

Yes, they are one of the sources of two-part handifoam kits that I
mentioned in my original post.

Any thoughts on one-part (moisture cure) foam versus two-part foam?

Thanks, Wayne

Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

On 2005-11-05, Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

No experience with this particular products so I can't comment on
particulars. There is an optimal density for any foamed insulating
material. By going to a lower density you save lots of money and
lose very little insulating value if you look at the curves. Past
the optimum, higher density offers less insulating value and cost
much more.

Well, in two part polyurethane foams, I'm familiar with two classes of
products:

1) Open-cell, semi-rigid products with a density of 0.5 lbs/ft^3,
R-values from 3.6-4.0/inch, and perm ratings around 16 perms @ 3"
thick.

2) Closed-cell, rigid products with a density of 1.75 lbs/ft^3 and
R-values from 6.2-7.0/inch, and perm ratings around 1.26 perms @ 3"
thick.

While the material cost of the closed-cell foams must be significantly
higher, it seems like the installed cost/R-value is comparable to the
open-cell foams. Is there any disadvantage to the closed-cell
products?

Cheers, Wayne

Sources for DIY Spray Foam Insulation
 

"Wayne Whitney" wrote in message

While the material cost of the closed-cell foams must be significantly
higher, it seems like the installed cost/R-value is comparable to the
open-cell foams. Is there any disadvantage to the closed-cell
products?

Cheers, Wayne

No disadvantages of closed, but with open, it may over time absorb moisture.