A versatile energy-saver. 2-part spray foam expands after it's applied, creating an effective thermal and moisture barrier. Thanks to its unique properties, it can be used to solve comfort & energy problems in many parts of the house.
The insulation "team" that's supposed to make our homes comfortable and energy efficient is truly a motley crew. In the old days, sawdust was sometimes dumped inside walls to slow heat loss. Then came vermiculite - porous lightweight pebbles with the look and feel of kitty litter.
Today we still rely on an old-timer, fiberglass batt insulation that's made from spun glass fibers. But if you're looking for a star player on the insulation team, a standout with qualities that other types of insulation can't touch, it's got to be spray foam. More specifically, we're talking about closed-cell polyurethane spray foam.
Increase your comfort and decrease your energy bills with spray foam insulation in Sterling, Ashburn, Reston, and nearby cities and towns such as Great Falls, Herndon, Vienna, Middleburg, Purcellville, Fredericksburg, Arlington, and Woodbridge. We are your trusted spray insulation contractor in Virginia.
Homeowner called us with concerns on dense packing and Spray Foam insulation with their air ducts. Our certified home performance sales pro, Eric, visited the home for a free estimate where he created a plan that would provide the homeowners with the perfect solution. Here is the before and after.
This Cross Junction, VA homeowner was looking for the most comfortable, most efficient way to insulate their basement when remodeling. Comfenergy suggested the perfect solution with closed cell spray foam insulation. This completely air seals and insulates at the same time for the best results you can get!
This Linden, VA homeowner had mold growing on the drywall in the garage ceiling that was causd by the HVAC duct work above the drywall sweating in the summer time. This duct sweating is caused by hot/humid air hitting the cold metal ducting. This makes the air hit dew point and sweat. Then, it dripped on their drywall and over time caused mold to grow.
Comfenergy removed and disposed of the dryall where the mold was growing. Then, we completely encased the metal ducting with closed cell spray foam to air seal it and protect it from the hot/humid air entering the cavity the duct runs through.
Spray Foam Insulation was able to help this hot home in Linden VA. The walls which were from a closet on the other side were covered to prevent attic temperatures from impacting the room on the other side of the wall. spray foam also helped to create and air seal and eliminate uncontrolled air flow. The rest of the attic was filled with Tru Soft Cellulose insulation.
Spray foam and Tru Soft cellulose insulation are a great combination of products to help improve the performance of an HVAC system in a home and can help to reduce energy costs. Protecting the air travelling through an HVAC duct by eliminating the influence of attic temperatures can help keep the conditioned air travelling through at the temperature it is intended to be at to help heat or cool the rooms it is being sent to. We removed the existing insulation in this attic before air sealing the space with Zyp Foam and then encapsulating the HVAC duct in Spray Foam. Afterwards we blew in Tru Soft Cellulose insulation to add the extra layer of protection and insulation.
1-part foam: You've seen and probably used this type of spray foam, which comes in pressurized cans that are sold at home centers and hardware stores under brand names like GREAT STUFF™. This single-component foam is super-sticky, and expands at different rates (depending on the type you buy) immediately after application. Since it seals gaps as well as insulates, this product is often referred to as an "insulating foam sealant."
2-part foam: To insulate an entire basement or attic with spray foam, contractors use 2-part polyurethane foam that comes in a pair of pressurized metal containers. When both components (resin and a catalyst) are mixed together at the nozzle, a foaming chemical reaction takes place that causes the material to expand.
R value. Poly spray foam has a higher R-value per inch than any other commonly used insulation -R-6.2 or higher, depending on the formulation.
Air barrier: Spray foam air-seals and insulates in one step. Its ability to expand and fill gaps and cracks make it an ideal air-sealing material, and it stays in place because of its super-adhesive qualities. Spray foam is often spot-applied as an air-sealing treatment prior to filling an attic with blow-in insulation. But when applied in more generous amounts, it can eliminate the need for other types of insulation.
Waterproof: Moisture will soak its way through fiberglass and cellulose insulation, but polyurethane spray foam stops it cold. Its closed cell structure means that water can't migrate from one tiny cell or bubble to a neighboring one.
Foolproof: Did you know that a void (missing insulation) of just 5% of an insulated area can diminish overall insulation performance by as much as 50%? It's very difficult to install fiberglass insulation perfectly, so voids are not uncommon. But spray foam's expanding, super-sticky characteristics just about eliminate the possibility of voids. And once the foam cures, it's not going to settle or shift like fiberglass or cellulose can.
Tricky: It takes experience to get the feel of applying spray foam, especially two-part foams. With their different expansion rates and other qualities, they prove difficult for someone without experience to get the most of this material. For example, a high-expanding foam will damage a door or window jamb, but our training and experience can prevent this from happening.
Oftentimes, spray foam can also be wasted and get messy -- but our fully trained specialists know how to get the job done well the first time!
Temperature sensitive: Cold temperatures affect the chemistry that causes the foaming action. It's critical to keep spray foam cans or two-part foam canisters within a specific temperature range for successful application.
Be sure to check out our comparison between spray foam and rigid foam insulation. We also provide assistance in choosing the best spray foam insulation.
Contact us today for a Free Estimate -- we are your trusted spray foam insulation contractor in Reston, Sterling, Ashburn, Herndon, Great Falls, Middleburg, Purcellville, Fredericksburg, Vienna, Fairfax, and more, including Stafford.
We also offer a comprehensive home energy audit to diagnose the major contributors to your home's energy issues.