That Stubborn Odor
More-and-more of these conversations are with homeowners who are dealing with stubborn odor from the retrofit application of spray foam insulation in their attics.
For the homeowners who need an attic encapsulation with spray foam insulation, but don’t want to spin the roulette wheel with the stubborn odor issues, read on.
Is There Another Way?
Here is a popular alternative, that delivers similar results regarding comfort, without the risks of smelling the foam.
Remove the old attic insulation.
Airseal the attic floor.
Apply Sanitizing solution.
Install all-borate celluloseInsulation to R-50, (15”).
Using LOW-PRESSURE, UNHEATED closed cell spray foam insulation, we spray the air duct system located in this attic.
Think About It!
The great benefit of an attic encapsulation is that the attic has now become a sealed, semi-conditioned space. The HVAC system is protected from the extreme high/low temperatures that vented attics experience. Air leakage in the ducts is no longer lost to the atmosphere.
When we spray the ducts, we’ve provided a mini-encapsulation for each air duct. The conditioned air doesn’t realize if the entire attic is sealed and insulated, or simply the outer duct surface. Temperatures inside these air ducts are protected from the high/low extreme temperatures in the attic.
Indoor air quality is improved because these air ducts are now sealed… no more duct leakage! In lots of these projects, spraying the ducts allows us to improve duct design for more efficient airflow. As our foam hardens, it “holds” the duct in it’s new position!
Quicker Re-entry
One of the biggest benefits for our homeowners is convenience. The spray foam manufacturers request only 1 hour (compare to 24 hours) before re-entry after spraying low pressure, unheated, closed-cell foam.
For more than 10 years, we’ve been spraying low pressure, unheated closed cell foam in occupied homes throughout our region. During our participation in the weatherization programs in GA, we sprayed air-ducts daily. And to date, we’ve not had the first complaint. We’ve sprayed this foam inside literally hundreds & hundreds of attics, basements and crawlspaces of existing homes!
Fewer Questions to Wrestle With
Our alternative handles lots of questions for our clients. These questions no longer apply!
When considering an attic encapsulation, homeowners have questions, like:
Doesn’t spray foam shorten the life of my shingles?
If my roof develops a leak, won’t the foam insulation hide it?
How long do we have to be out of the house?
What happens if we continue to smell the foam?
Should I worry about my gas furnace having enough oxygen?
How Do The Costs Compare?
So far, our alternative has been less of an investment than a sealed attic encapsulation. I’m sure exceptions may apply, but we’ve not run into one of those yet.
If you’re a person who needs the benefits of an encapsulated attic, but is concerned about the “incidental consequences” that may stubbornly linger… consider our alternative!