Spray foam -vs- Normal Insulation

[luv2fish]

So I am upgrading to the fish house\camper I have always wanted. I sold my smaller Eliminator and I am purchasing a new Ice Castle Spirit. Since I had to order it the way I wanted, I was able to make some choices. The last choice I am stuck on is insulation. It comes standard with "normal" insulation and a vapor barrier. For $700 they will spray foam the walls\ceiling and for $400 the underside. So 2 questions... Is it worth it to upgrade the wall/ceiling? And how about the floor?

Does it simply boil down to less propane usage cause your furnace does not run as much? If so, it seems like you would have to fill up the propane many times to make up the $700 - $1000. I told myself i was not going to compromise on this house, but I just cannot figure this one out.

Thanks!

[Tom7227]

I don't have the answer for you but a few things come to mind. What's 'normal' insulation? My guess is that if they use extruded poly - the pink or blue stuff - it's not going to be all that much different than the sprayed. You may want to go sprayed on the bottom cause it would seem to me that it would assure that it was tight all the way around and limit the amount of moisture and thus corrosion that would take place on the bottom.

It also makes sense to me that a big issue in these things is excess moisture. The extruded won't have a problem with it but I would lean heavily towards whatever does the best job at keeping the moisture out of the walls and away from the metal.

It will be interesting to read the other responses. Hopefully you'll get something more than the Ford vs Chev sort of debate.

[CAMAN]

If it were my money I would go with spray foam all the way around. The stuff is awesome and I'm sure you would notice a huge difference if you had a side by side comparison on a cold windy night. Spray foam seals every nook and cranny and will stop all airflow. But $1100 seems a bit steep for the amount of material used and the 20 minutes it will take to install it.

[dfv87]

I would spray foam every day and twice on weekends due to a better seal and the rigidity (strength/support) but I also agree with caman that seems high on price... We had our whole house doen for less than $500 back when foamers were busy...

[Bothun]

Spray foam has the highest R-Value of any commercial insulation out there. It is the best insulation made hands down.

Thats a pretty steep price unless your building a giant house. Post the dimensions and depth of the frame and I can give you a good ballpark price to go off of for what you should expect for cost.

The type of foam that Ice Castle uses is a kit foam. They can't even buy the foam for what we can apply it at.

(P.S. I foam for a living)

[luv2fish]

Thanks for the tips guys. The problem is I am having Ice Castle build the house for me. So I am pretty much stuck with their prices. It sounds like spray foam is the way to go. Now how about the floor??? I guess I can get that done after the fact and not pay the high prices on everything.

I am getting a 8x16 with a v-nose

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

If you are looking to cut cost, I'd go with spray foam on the bottom, but be sure it is blue or pink foam in the walls, not fiberglass. $1100 is pretty steep, so try to negotiate that down a little. You should be able to find someone to do it for half.

[kevfish1]

I have built 3 houses in the past few years. One of which I had spray foamed. The house i now have I went with just rigid styrofoam. One problem I had with the spray foam was moisture transfer through the walls. Moisture on the walls where the studs are located. Whichever route you go I would ask that the walls be fured out horizontally which prevents the moisture from transfering through the wall. To me the added expense of the spry foam is not worth it. I can see advantages to spraying the floor but not the walls and ceiling. Spray foam is so tight that moisture cannot escape. the cold transfers through the studs and condenses. If I was in your shoes and had the extra money I would put it towards a house from another manufacturer instead of the spray foam. I am just not a fan of the ice kastles. Good luck

[tonkapat]

If your building a house with no fasteners in the siding then spray foam is a must. It definately helps to make it a more rigid structure if they are using a closed cell product. IMO for $1100 no way. For 500 or 600 yes.

[theicehooker]

The R value for the spray foam and the hard sheets of pink are the same per inch by the way. If you fit the pieces really tight and get a can of spray foam for any gaps and for around outlets your doing the same in terms of R value. As for rigidity, spray foam is great!!!

[bradyd]

I can add to the rigidity claim of the foam. I was just at an Energy Star sponsored seminar for builders where the speaker told a story about the 2x4 hurricane test they use down in Florida. Windows down there have to take the blow of an 8' 2x4 shot out of a cannon at 50 feet per second. Well he tested that on a normal wall (hardi siding, 1/2" plywood, batt insulation, 1/2" sheetrock) and the stud flew right through the wall. So he concluded the safest place to stand during a hurricane in Florida is in front of a window. But then he built a wall using the same materials except spray foaming for the insulation and the 2x4 bounced off the wall.

Not really on topic with that story but I thought it was a good one

[MuleShack]

For what its worth, you can save your self money by NOT spaying the floor. IMO it is not neccesary. I have an ultimate lodge and there is no insulation on the floor and I walk around in bare feet with no issues ice fishing. If you bank your house (which most do) you dont get the draft under the house and the air is warmed by the heat of the house.

Definatly do the spray foam on the upper part, it keeps things tight and you wont have any mystery drafts to worry about. See if you can get them to do the upper part for $500-$600.

[CAMAN]

Not really on topic with that story but I thought it was a good one

But it's always good to know you're safe if attacked by walleye stealing pirates wielding 2x4 cannons.

[lutzy]

But it's always good to know you're safe if attacked by walleye stealing pirates wielding 2x4 cannons.

[Bothun]

Polystyrene (blue/pink board) is R-5 per inch spray foam is 6.5 what i spray is 6.8. Its not the same. To the guy who said his uninsulated floor feels the same as an insulated floor, your cracked.

[MuleShack]

I'm not cracked at all...dont crack it until you try it.

As long as you bank the house, 4-5 hours later its like walking on my kitchen floor.

The air under the house is the insulation.

I never said it felt the same as an insulated floor because I dont know what an insulated floor feels like. However I DO know I can walk comfortably in bare feet with an uninsulated floor.

[JeffB]

I would go with the spray foam, especially on the floor. I think it helps the strength of your house so much, plus makes it so comfortable. I just had mine done last December and love it. I would get the pice from them unfinished and take it somewhere else if they wont budge on the price. I did an 8x17 plus the floor with 1.5-2" and the total cost was $600 plust the guy supplied me 5 gallons of paint for the foam at the same cost. All the wires and propane lines are foamed into place so they can't move around and wear out. Just painting the foam makes for a very light house. I cant believe how tough the spray foam is.

[luv2fish]

All thanks for the advice. I do know a guy who will spray foam the bottom after the fact for a good price, so I am set on that one. I will try to get him down on the price for the rest.

Muleshack - I do agree with you on the banking though. My Eliminator did not have the floor sprayed, and with the forced air furnace the floor would be dry and warm all the time. I am interested to see how much better it is though.

Thanks again for the opinions...