Injection Foam Walls - Springfield, VA

Monday, May 13th, 2019 by Justin Dobson

Challenge

This homeowner in Springfiled, VA discovered that their basement walls were constructed without insulation behind them. This was causing a very drafty, cold basement in the winter. They were hoping not to have to remove the walls to insulate them.

Solution

Comfenergy proposed injection foam as a means to insulate the walls without removing the drywall. Holes were drilled in empty stud cavities to access these areas. Stud finders and thermal imaging cameras were used to find the studs and see how the wall was built. A fiberglass rod was inserted into the holes to make sure the empty cavity is not blocked by more wood in all directions. Then, a vinyl tube was inserted into the walls and foam was injected. The foam spread and expanded throughout the entire cavity in all directions. The holes were plugged with the drywall that was removed and the homeowner was able to merely spackle over top of them, sand, and paint.

Project Summary

Evaluator: Anthony Sobalvarro

This split level home in Springfield had cold basements as there was no insulation in the walls.

The injection foam rig/trailer. We have to carefully mix the 2 part foam and get the flow correct before we start.

Close up of the rig. Notice the two big containers holding the 2 parts of the foam mixture.

Holes were drilled in each empty wall stud space.

More holes to inject the foam insulation into the walls.

Use of a fiberglass rod about 6 feet long helps us make sure the injection foam will spread behind the wall cavity.

Injection foam process takes 2-3 crew members. One to work the rig outside, one to insert the vinyl tube into the wall, and one to turn the foam flow on and off.