SPRAY JONES SPRAY FOAM FAQ's
SPRAY JONES HAS ANSWERS TO YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SPRAY FOAM FOR YOUR HOME
What does spray foam cost?
We spray apply different types of foams that have various costs associated with them. As well, commercial builds, new homes, old homes, basements, crawl spaces, etc. all have variables that need to be accounted for.
We are happy to take your call and properly understand your individual needs. This will allow us to price your project accurately and recommend the right product and application.
WATCH NOWI'm Building a new home, how do I get spray foam?
Spray Jones Inc. has many new home builders that are well versed in our services and if you are building with them they can forward your plans to us for pricing.
If you are building the home yourself or with a builder, we have not yet worked with we will need a full set of plans to look at. We then meet with you and discuss your needs and plans for development and compile an accurate project cost.
WATCH NOWI just want to spray my basement walls, can I leave the spray foam open?
Spray foams of any kind need to be covered with a 15 mil thermal barrier. In most cases, drywall is used. Covering will be required to be in compliance with the fire codes.
Some insurance underwriters will not insure agricultural buildings if the foam is left exposed.
WATCH NOWDoes spray foam make the home too tight?
As jet airliners demonstrate, living spaces cannot be made too leakproof. Today’s HVAC systems have been properly loaded to account for this. Most plumbing and heating companies now use software that loads the home and recommends the proper equipment.
WATCH NOWHow long does it take to spray foam a house?
The job can take anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks, depending on the size. Distance from our office can also be a factor.
Average homes take us less than 6 days of spraying. After looking at your plans and discussing your needs, Spray Jones will answer this question accurately for your home.
WATCH NOWCan spray foam be pumped into existing walls?
There are some companies that have tried to claim success with this but experience tells us that it needs to be installed into open wall cavities. For good reasons:
CCMC certified foams like Walltite are spray formulations, and not pour. They rise and set in seconds not minutes. In an enclosed wall the foam can mean bowing the walls out instead of rising up. Fire blocking in older homes also makes a uniform application very difficult.
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GENERAL SPRAY FOAM FAQ'S
Do I need to worry about electrical wire in the wall?
This is one reason why professional installation and thoroughly tested products are important. Walltite spray foam has been extensively tested by Underwriters Laboratory of Canada (ULC) to confirm the effects on non-metallic covered cables. When installed to the ULC standard tested, no harm will be done to CSA certified wiring and electrical components.
WATCH NOWWhat will spray foam insulation stick to?
Medium-density and low-density foams will stick to nearly any clean dry surface. Ice, grease, dust, and wet surfaces will not allow adhesion, so cleaning is necessary. Some very smooth plastics will require the application of a primer.
Adhesion pull tests are done on the first and second passes of foam (for medium-density) at random intervals during application to ensure a consistent adhesion.
WATCH NOWDoes spray foam applied to a roof deck cause shingles to curl?
No, the biggest factors in shingle life are colour, direction of face, and style of manufacture are the biggest.
Attics with Walltite applied to the roof deck stay within 2-4 degrees of the thermostat setting. If the attic is cool that means that all is left to heat the shingle is the sunlight. This can help prolong shingle life.
WATCH NOWWhat do I do if I have to cut a piece of the spray foam insulation away?
Small areas can be fixed up with commercially available can foam. Larger areas may require that of a do-it-yourself froth pack. This is a twin-component system with a short hose and a plastic gun.
Rigid board insulation can also be cut to fit the area and then sealed into place.
WATCH NOWWill someone tell me if I have to remove the foam-like UFFI?
As long as CCMC certified foam is applied correctly by a qualified, licensed installer, there is no reason it will ever have to be removed.
When the issues with UFFI arose it only took the industry three years to discover the problem and then ban its use. Walltite has been around in formulation format since 1969 and sold under the name Walltite since 1995. The building code fully recognizes it under the ULC S705.1 standard.
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KEEP SCROLLING TO LEARNMORE SPRAY FOAM FAQ's
SPRAY FOAM SAFETY & FACTS
How long has spray foam insulation been around?
Polyurethane foam was first invented in the 1940s during WWII by the Bayer Corp. to strengthen aircraft wings. Buildings began to have foam sprayed into them as early as 1969.
In Canada, the National Building Code of Canada first recognized sprayed polyurethane foam as an insulation material in 1985. It has grown in popularity ever since.
Polyurethane foam has been in consumer products for decades. Seat cushions, doors, mattresses, fridges, coolers, and more all use it.
WATCH NOWDoes spray foam burn?
Spray foam will burn, but will not support a flame. This means that the foam has no fuel value in a fire. It needs something else burning in order for it to be consumed. When burned in the lab, foams self extinguish. Once the source of the flame is removed, the fire goes out.
In Canada, foam plastics need to pass the Can/ULC S102 corner wall test. This is a pass or fail test measuring flame spread index and smoke development. Walltite is CCMC certified, having passed this test.
WATCH NOWWill spray foam pull away from the studs as the wood moves and dries out?
There are always risks when foam is improperly installed, which is why we’re here to help. However, when properly installed on a clean and dry substrate there is no reason for the foam to pull away.
The movement of structurally sound building materials cannot exceed the elongation and tensile strength of the foam. This has been thoroughly tested, and BASF backs this up with a warranty for Walltite.
Remember foam is used as an integral part of structural panels like garage doors and has been extensively used in ready to move homes (RTM). These homes see the most severe flexing of the walls and ceilings with foam installed in them. Sprayed polyurethane foam is, after all, urethane. Urethane is one of the best construction adhesives known.
WATCH NOWThere seems to be many spray foam application companies to choose from, are they all qualified?
Protect yourself by never confusing qualifications with certifications. Someone may tell you they are qualified due to years of experience but do not use a CCMC certified foam. Or, they may use a CCMC certified foam but have limited experience.
Check references and reputations before making a choice, and remember that experience cannot be bought. If someone cannot answer your questions or seems inexperienced, move on quickly. Many inexperienced operators try to cash in on spray foam’s popularity.
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SPRAY FOAM WARRANTY & SPECS
What is the R-Value of the spray foam?
There are two types of foams being installed into homes in Canada, each with different R values.
First, consider medium density foam like Walltite. This product uses inert gases rather than air to insulate with. The gas is trapped in the cell and held there for a lifetime. This being said, the foam is always rated in aged terms known as “Long Term Thermal Resistant Values” or LTTR for short.
Walltite has the following LTTR ratings for thicknesses:
1″ = R6.32″ = R13.13″ = R20.44″ = R29.2
Low-density foams are water blown and use steam to make the cells rise and traps carbon dioxide in the cells. These foams do not have LTTR ratings and they range from R 3.1 – 3.8 per inch, much less than Walltite.
WATCH NOWIf I'm getting spray foam, how thick should it be?
That depends on the type of foam being used. Low-density foams need to be thicker while medium-density foams will be thinner. It also depends on the area and materials that are being sprayed. Spray Jones Inc. staff will always discuss your needs with you and write a proper specification based on budget, building codes, and the end results desired.
WATCH NOWDoes spray foam insulation give off toxic spoke when it burns?
All smoke is toxic. In Canada, there is no test devised to test building materials or consumer products for smoke toxicity. The smoke from red oak flooring can also be toxic, as can the smoke from one light switch cover plate.
WATCH NOWDo I still need a vapour barrier with Walltite?
No, as long as the correct thickness is sprayed on the substrate. Open celled foams do require a vapour barrier, as do medium density foams that do not have CCMC air barrier material certification.
A complete air infiltration caulking package is required to ensure a seal where wood meets wood before the drywall is installed.
WATCH NOWIs there warranty on spray foam insulation?
Yes, BASF offers for new homes or commercial buildings a standard 2-year warranty on the material and mandates us to follow up with one year on the installation.
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