Foam vs sheet insulation?

[Hawg]

I'm not an R value expert but have always wondered if pink or blue sheets and Great Stuff are as tight as foam. It seems they would have to be the same right, because they are both a tight seal? Even white has to be close if you can put up with the mess of cutting it. Anybody know for sure? Is'nt sealing the cracks with decent insulation in such a small space almost as important as R value?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I think you are on the right track. One of the best things about foam is that it fills every gap. You can have an R32 wall, but if there is an 1/8" gap the wind can blow through, it will be of little help.

[sunniewally]

not only does the spray in foam seal all the cracks it offer more structural integrity. tightens everything up!

[Hawg]

If you do the floor, walls, and ceiling doesn't getting it foamed run pretty close to $1000 for a 7 x 12 size house? I would never dispute how nice it is and it definatly adds a ton od integrety to the structure. I was more curious of actual insulating value.

[forcedtowork]

I just ahd mine done last week (6.5' x 14ft' with v) for $590. Get lot's of quotes and compare apples to apples on how much foam they are putting in the ceiling, walls, and floor, weather or not you have to clean up the studs, etc. I cleaned the studs myself, it was a lot easier and went a lot faster than I thought. I did buy one of those multifunction oscilating tools and put the scraper end on and that was the ticket. I had it done in just over 3 hrs.

[BartmanMN]

Could you put painters Tape on all the studs and then just peel it off afterwards?

I suppose the foam is connected to the other sides so that would not work. You'd need to pull it when wet and then it would likely grow over the studs anyways. Guess that wouldn't work

[Hawg]

I think the installers do it with a saw/knife that has a handle on each end and just go down the studs don't they? I know a filet knife cleans up small area easily.

[forcedtowork]

The tape idea may work, with the tool I bought it was not bad at all and the mess wasn't bad to clean up either. It came off in bigger chunks doing it this way. Some hearing and eye protection, a dust mask, and go to work and it goes quick. The areas that were taped off, it was still just easier to scrape away the foam than tug and pull on tape.

[Professional Edge]

Anybody ever use the double bubble white insulation for their fish house?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

If you do the floor, walls, and ceiling doesn't getting it foamed run pretty close to $1000 for a 7 x 12 size house? I would never dispute how nice it is and it definatly adds a ton od integrety to the structure. I was more curious of actual insulating value.

I'm having my 8x20 + V done today for $1,000. You're probably looking at around $600-700 for a house that size.

I had about 4-5 bids at ~$1,000, and one way up at $1468. Check around.

[Chaws]

Some friends went the pink foam route the fall before last on an 8x12 wheel house. The cost for that was around the $500 mark with the vapor barrier which you don't need with sparyed in foam. So the added cost is worth it I'd say due to the sealing that it provides and strengthening of the walls so you can use less ridged wall studs if you want to keep weight down. The pink stuff is around R4 per sheet I think and the white junky foam that gets all over everything is only about an R1 value if that.

[Bothun]

run duct tape up the studs. it peels right off. there will be a little touch up but much easier then scraping.

Thats what I do when I spray houses. Foam is just shy of R-7 per inch and will add up to 300% structural integrity

[Hawg]

Bothun, can a person buy the gun and box foam and get by much cheaper? I have to imagine a pro does it much better with less waste but are the guns and box easy or difficault? Or- is it a waste of money that I would regret trying?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I looked at the DIY spray foam kits on the auction site, and it would be at least 2x's more money to do it that way vs having a professional do it.

My house is 8x20 + V. Here's the math:

(2) Walls 7' T x 20' L = 280 sq ft

Roof & Floor 8' x 20'= 320 sq ft

Back Wall 7' x 8'= 56 sq ft

(2) V Front 5' x 7'= 70 sq ft

Misc V Front = 50 sq ft

Total= 776 sq ft.

Since I want a total of 2" everywhere, it totals 1,552 bd. ft. The kits are 600 bd ft, so I would need at least 3 of them to account for waste and over spray, and the foam that is remaining in the tanks (can't get it all out). At $700 each, I would have been looking at $2,100 for foam. I paid $1,000 for the pro. It's a no-brainer.

[BartmanMN]

You'd also need a suit with hood, mask, and gloves. I've gotten the Great Stuff on my hands before and it took almost 2 weeks to pick off and that included skin. You wouldn't want that stuff on your skin and especially not in your lungs.

[Hawg]

Thanks guys, it was just a hought. I see they make Great Stuff remover now, I agree it's a pain to get it off yourself.

[Bothun]

Also, you will never get the board feet out of those diy kits that they say. Theres way to many variables to lose yield. Most contractors wont step foot for anything under $500 dollars, and thats even questionable. Equipment costs are extremely high along with all the other hidden costs.