|
Licensed, Bonded & InsuredWe serve Idaho homeowners and businesses safely and ethically
|
Spray Foam Insulation Boise
|
Welcome to Boise Spray Foam Insulation, where we make your energy savings dream come alive. We exist to provide people with healthier, more comfortable and more efficient living conditions through the magic of the most effective product on the market in Boise, spray foam insulation.
Our main goal is to put a smile behind every penny spent by the most hardworking families and individuals living in Boise, Idaho. We believe our neighbors deserve to get the best out of their homes and working environments through, but not limited, to high-quality spray foam insulation services for both commercial and residential buildings. Sometimes the best investments we can make in our lives is in our homes. People all over the world are making huge sacrifices every year to simply get the best out of their homes. Yet, with all the sacrifices it brings, it’s still worth it with the comfort it gives and more importantly it’s the place where our memories live. In 2018, over $320 billion was spent in the United States on home improvement alone. |
|
Home Improvement with Spray Foam Insulation
However, with all the investments people continue to make, consumers are still vulnerable to some of the minutest problems that can turn into the worst circumstances causing people to spend tens of thousands. In 2018, a report published by the Consumer Federation of America shows that home-improvement problems topped the charts for the worst reported cases with over 1.1 million complains in 21 states only.
These problems range from poor project communication, countless delays, a continuously growing budget, to shoddy workmanship. All of these are problems that people continue to suffer. This is mainly because bad contractors will never tell you if their work is faulty. Even if they don’t realize it, neither will you, leading to unhealthy and unsafe living conditions.
One of the worst cases recorded in 2015 caused a couple to abandon their home after cashing in on a $100,000 renovation project because of a bad spray foam insulation that hospitalized their young son. Cases like this are rampant because of ignorance of the homeowners on what’s good or bad which keeps them vulnerable.
This article is designed to educate you on what exactly you need to know to avoid a home renovation nightmare using foam insulation, polyurea coatings, insulation removal, including concrete lifting and others.
One of the worst cases recorded in 2015 caused a couple to abandon their home after cashing in on a $100,000 renovation project because of a bad spray foam insulation that hospitalized their young son. Cases like this are rampant because of ignorance of the homeowners on what’s good or bad which keeps them vulnerable.
This article is designed to educate you on what exactly you need to know to avoid a home renovation nightmare using foam insulation, polyurea coatings, insulation removal, including concrete lifting and others.
Avoiding Home Insulation & Renovation Nightmare
How do you exactly avoid a home insulation nightmare and how will you know if it happens? Consumers are meant to believe what the service provider tells them since they aren’t the experts on that particular service and that’s why they hired the spray foam insulation contractor in the first place. The obvious step might seem to hire the right contractor, but however, these days good work is not done on paper with many possible ways that you can be scammed.
As a result, people are encouraged to educate themselves more on their investments from the trickiest of tasks whether it’s spray foam insulation or anything alike to put themselves in a better position of defense. One of the biggest reasons is being that often times we become ignorant about what exactly is it that needs to be solved. This means allowing others that are the contractors to figure out our problems for us and give us solutions that may or may not work.
It’s like taking yourself to a doctor and we all know what bad harm a bad doctor can bring to us. To better prevent yourself from such bad consequences you need to know more about your problem you need to have a vision of what a good & bad spray foam insulation looks and feels like to be able to realize what is right and what is wrong. Part of the solution is knowing the problem.
Below we will discuss various spray foam insulation & other foam services and the things you need to know about each to avoid a home renovation nightmare.
It’s like taking yourself to a doctor and we all know what bad harm a bad doctor can bring to us. To better prevent yourself from such bad consequences you need to know more about your problem you need to have a vision of what a good & bad spray foam insulation looks and feels like to be able to realize what is right and what is wrong. Part of the solution is knowing the problem.
Below we will discuss various spray foam insulation & other foam services and the things you need to know about each to avoid a home renovation nightmare.
Attic Insulation
The attic is one of those distinct locations in the home that temperature could become something to worry about. The attic serves as a strategic location for the air within your home to escape and at the same time can absorb a tremendous amount of hot or cold air from the roofing. Thus, homeowners are challenged to install air leak barriers and later enjoy the comfort it brings.
What separates good and bad Attic Insulation?
The attic unlike any other place around the building is an unusual place where air ventilation and plumbing structures may be found. This is an area in the building where a lot of air movement occurs. You have three choices of insulation materials to use in your attic. Spray foam insulation, dry cellulose insulation and bath insulation.
Giving the tricky nature of the studs and the framing in your attic it becomes harder to make sure all air leaks are insulated. This is because of the nooks and crannies found in the attic. The job of the contractor is to make sure all of the nooks and crannies are properly dealt with by using the right insulation material in the right spot and condition. If you’ve well-structured studs and standard framing in your attic spray foam insulation might be used but more importantly this is the only scenario that you should opt-in for bath insulation in your attic.
This is considered as the worst type of insulation for cramped attics. If you should ever walk in and find fiberglass baths scattered on top of each other instead of well-cut to fit pieces aligned side to side, then you should demand an explanation. For attics with irregular framing and limited headroom, cellulose insulation can be a good option. The contractor is expected to use a blower in this case and avoid the use of hand to spread the cellulose.
The best job is done with the use of wet spray cellulose to dampen the material and control dust. In the end, spray foam insulation Boise is your best option when it comes to performance. It’s easily sprayed no matter how tight a place maybe and provides the ultimate air barrier. The two things that you should look out for is too much foam sprayed in the attic and botched spray foam insulation around rim joists and pipes within the attic. Check and make sure that the foam is in contact with the inner sides of the framing and that it’s thick enough.
Giving the tricky nature of the studs and the framing in your attic it becomes harder to make sure all air leaks are insulated. This is because of the nooks and crannies found in the attic. The job of the contractor is to make sure all of the nooks and crannies are properly dealt with by using the right insulation material in the right spot and condition. If you’ve well-structured studs and standard framing in your attic spray foam insulation might be used but more importantly this is the only scenario that you should opt-in for bath insulation in your attic.
This is considered as the worst type of insulation for cramped attics. If you should ever walk in and find fiberglass baths scattered on top of each other instead of well-cut to fit pieces aligned side to side, then you should demand an explanation. For attics with irregular framing and limited headroom, cellulose insulation can be a good option. The contractor is expected to use a blower in this case and avoid the use of hand to spread the cellulose.
The best job is done with the use of wet spray cellulose to dampen the material and control dust. In the end, spray foam insulation Boise is your best option when it comes to performance. It’s easily sprayed no matter how tight a place maybe and provides the ultimate air barrier. The two things that you should look out for is too much foam sprayed in the attic and botched spray foam insulation around rim joists and pipes within the attic. Check and make sure that the foam is in contact with the inner sides of the framing and that it’s thick enough.
Insulation Removal Boise
There are three reasons why you may need your home insulation removed. If the insulation gets old, because of a modification, or if it’s damaged. If the insulation in your home is affected by water, fire damage, or even if it gets heavily infested by rodents especially loose cellulose insulation then it needs to be removed. However, this is quite less likely to occur. The big question here is what could go wrong in a spray foam insulation removal?
For every circumstance such as the reasons listed above have a specific procedure of solving the problem. There are many factors to consider when removing insulation. There are cases where all is needed is a spot removal on the damaged area. In this case, the contractor is expected to re-insulate that area and failure to do so will affect the insulation. In cases where a complete removal should be done, you should expect an expert to use an insulation removal vacuum in the case of cellulose insulation.
However, the greater part of the problem can be shared with spray foam insulation. Spray Foam Insulation can produce hazardous dust during removal which can result in respiratory irritations. You should account for your contractor to have proper ventilation systems in place before removal and be aware of electrical and PVC structures beneath the sprayed foam. All spray foam insulation contractors are expected to abide by the guidance on spray foam insulation removal by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the ACC.
However, the greater part of the problem can be shared with spray foam insulation. Spray Foam Insulation can produce hazardous dust during removal which can result in respiratory irritations. You should account for your contractor to have proper ventilation systems in place before removal and be aware of electrical and PVC structures beneath the sprayed foam. All spray foam insulation contractors are expected to abide by the guidance on spray foam insulation removal by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the ACC.
Foam Roofing
This is yet another favorite area where homeowners like to take advantage of to reduce the cost of warming their homes by minimizing convection through the roof. Just like the normal spray foam insulation sprayed within the vicinity of your home the same is done in foam roofing only that this time around a modified version of foam may be used. However, just like any conventional roofing system available, there are some pros and cons to looks out for.
Elastomeric Coating
Giving hat SPF is made out of chemicals that react frequently it has a low ability to resist ultraviolet rays from the sun. Overtime the SPF layers tend to deplete meaning that you have to recoat your roof from time to time. This is where your contractor comes in. To protect the installed foam from deleting your contractor is expected to install elastomeric membranes such as Acrylics and Silicones to provide a protective UV membrane.
In addition, these extra layers are known to serve as waterproofing and failure to install these membranes can vastly shorten the lifecycle of your spray foam insulated roof.
In addition, these extra layers are known to serve as waterproofing and failure to install these membranes can vastly shorten the lifecycle of your spray foam insulated roof.
Trench Breaker Foam Installation
In large commercial structures sprayed foam insulation is used around pipelines to control erosion. Instead of the conventional sandbags used to control water from flowing downhill the use of SPF as a barrier has been interchanged. This time instead of insulation the sprayed foam serves as a water barrier to prevent water from flowing. With spray foam insulation Boise being a great alternative to traditional sandbags concerns have been raised by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers about the potential of SPF to create electrical shielding thus limiting cathodic protection current.
Tank Insulation and Coating
Tanks are some of the most important equipment used in commercial storage activities and thus contain valuable resources that need to be protected by keeping the tank safe. Tanks can suffer from a wide variety of problems but mainly corrosion, heat loss, and longevity issues which makes sense for the tanks to be insulated. With the need for tanks to be insulated, it’s sometimes challenging to find the right insulation method for a tank.
In the case of Cellulose and Bath insulation moisture can be trapped between the tank and the insulation material, causing corrosion afterward. Insulation is supposed to be the solution to corrosion but however poor conditions can cause moisture to be trapped in the insulation material leading to galvanic corrosion.
In the case of Cellulose and Bath insulation moisture can be trapped between the tank and the insulation material, causing corrosion afterward. Insulation is supposed to be the solution to corrosion but however poor conditions can cause moisture to be trapped in the insulation material leading to galvanic corrosion.
Preventing Corrosion in Tank insulation
Water, in this case, is the major culprit to be taken care of to avoid corrosion under-insulation (CUI). Five factors are to be considered by your contractor namely; insulating material selection, equipment design, protective coating, weather barriers, and maintenance operations. If the insulation material is absorbent such as in the case of cellulose foam weatherproofing should be installed. In cases where there are spills, leaks, or drippings that may occur extra flashing should be put in place.
Spray foam insulation and cellulose glass are considered to be your best options in insulating a tank. Ask your contractor whether he/she has installed a permeable jacket instead of a non-breathing metallic jacket to avoid water trapping and improve vaporization.
Spray foam insulation and cellulose glass are considered to be your best options in insulating a tank. Ask your contractor whether he/she has installed a permeable jacket instead of a non-breathing metallic jacket to avoid water trapping and improve vaporization.
Mineshaft Closures with Foam
Research published by the National Park Service shows there are over 2400 abandoned mine sites and 10,600+ individual mine openings. With this number of openings with no one to carter for them, it has become a challenge for the authorities to close them through using less effort and resources. Reviewing the responsibility in hand greater actions have further been taking which have led to identifying high-density foam as the perfect solution to this once labor-centered task.
However, each application of PUF (high-density foam) has its own factors that should be considered by the contractor. Factors such as site access, availability of products, and the size of the job should be considered. It’s important to note that in areas where sufficient earthen backfill is available it’s preferred to be used instead of PUF.
However, each application of PUF (high-density foam) has its own factors that should be considered by the contractor. Factors such as site access, availability of products, and the size of the job should be considered. It’s important to note that in areas where sufficient earthen backfill is available it’s preferred to be used instead of PUF.
Cold Storage Spray Foam Insulation Boise
When it comes to cold storage insulation the goal is to keep the heat out. Buildings such as grocery warehouses and wineries are a good candidate for foam insulation. There are three key factors that should be put into consideration when cold storage insulation is taking place. The first factor being thermal aggregate, then moisture content, and the compressive strength.
Thermal aggregate is mainly the temperature within the storage tank in relation to what’s being stored. The moisture content is the amount of water or vapor that’s present which could affect the shelf life of what’s being stored. Compressive strength is the ability of the insulating material to resist tension
There’s not a single golden temperature when it comes to storing food produce. Substances such as milk when compared to more complex mixtures such as ice cream have different recommended storing temperatures. After the insulation is done with you should expect a thermometer to be installed in the cold storage facility to tell you whether the spray foam insulation is effective. Look out for vapor barriers to be installed around the hot areas of the tank such as aluminum foils to prevent moisture transfer leading to condensation.
Thermal aggregate is mainly the temperature within the storage tank in relation to what’s being stored. The moisture content is the amount of water or vapor that’s present which could affect the shelf life of what’s being stored. Compressive strength is the ability of the insulating material to resist tension
There’s not a single golden temperature when it comes to storing food produce. Substances such as milk when compared to more complex mixtures such as ice cream have different recommended storing temperatures. After the insulation is done with you should expect a thermometer to be installed in the cold storage facility to tell you whether the spray foam insulation is effective. Look out for vapor barriers to be installed around the hot areas of the tank such as aluminum foils to prevent moisture transfer leading to condensation.
Ditch Foam
This is yet another lucrative use of polyurethane that pipeline companies continue to benefit from. Just like in the case of trench breaker insulation spray foam insulation is used to prevent erosion but this time, more importantly, to keep pipelines in place. In this case, cured SPF is used to provide structural support for pipelines installed in ditches. However, this is one of the newest innovations of polyurethane and only time will tell the effects of SPF on cathodic protection current as mentioned above.
Polyurea Ditch Sealing
Polyurea is one of the newest technologies when it comes to foam coating specialty operations. As the wonders that this product delivers continue to increase it’s being used in more and more activities and one of those operations happens to be sealing a ditch using polyurea which is an elastomer at best. In recent years natural resources’ preservation has been one of the biggest topics that have impacted many industries across the globe.
As the world continues to take action water has become one of the most important components to control. Although there’s a high priority in making sure natural resource waste is mitigated through sustainable practices, yet unlined irrigation ditches have become a major source of loss of water amounting to 25% - 50% of water loss in unlined ditches. This comes as a result of the exposure of water to the natural ground containing sand of different porosity levels.
As the world continues to take action water has become one of the most important components to control. Although there’s a high priority in making sure natural resource waste is mitigated through sustainable practices, yet unlined irrigation ditches have become a major source of loss of water amounting to 25% - 50% of water loss in unlined ditches. This comes as a result of the exposure of water to the natural ground containing sand of different porosity levels.
Underground Tank Abatement
For more than 90 years underground tanks have been in existence and still striving in today’s world. However, underground oil tanks pose great danger and health risks due to their high potential for leakages. In the states alone it’s estimated than close to 200,000 sites have been affected by underground oil tank contamination. With the high potential of oil leaks, residents are liable for contaminating their drinking water and bringing about indoor air pollution. To avoid this dangerous faith what could you do to prevent such cases from happening
Know When Your Tank is Leaking
It’s very important to realize this from the earliest stages before the danger starts to spread. It’s unlikely that sometimes homeowners will never have an idea that there is a UST buried beneath their building. One of the easiest ways to tell is to notice the smell of heating oil inside your building. If you've got an open water body nearby and you start to notice a strange color and taste to your drinking water. Another prominent sign will be the presence of very dark soil only in specific locations.
Who to Hire to Remove your UST?
You should take the process of removing a UST a very serious one. This procedure should only be handled by a professional contractor that you trust. There are operating requirements for both the installation and the closure of USTs as directed by the EPA. Ensure that any insulation contractor coming on to take the task has been certified and cleared to practice by the right authorities. Sometimes is not best to remove it but to foam it. Foaming it is much cheaper and less invasive.
Concrete Lifting
Concrete lifting is yet another lucrative operation that benefits mainly from the expansion of Polyurethane foam. From time to time all concretes are liable to undergo some certain deterioration but as soon as the situation extends to sinking concrete action has to be taken. You might come to realize that your driveway made out of concrete has sunken beneath the level3 of the garage floor and you will definitely want to have it raised. Unlike in the case of spray foam insulation Boise, this time instead of foam expanding in pumped through a small whole to exert pressure beneath as it expands causing the concrete to raise.
What you should expect
Immediately after the polyurethane foam has settled and expanded the concrete structure above is supposed to rise. This should happen right before the contractor leaves within 25 – 30 minutes. However, this is not the only material that can be used for leveling your concrete a combination of Portland cement with sand can also be used to raise your concrete. Although cement is an alternative, spray foam insulation for concrete lifting has a slight advantage of being lightweight and sometimes more durable.
Contact UsThis brings us to the end of this guide. At the end of the day, it’s not just about understanding what you should expect and the things that can go wrong in all of the above-listed services. After getting recommendations and whatever immediate guidance you could get try as much as possible to do your homework by checking your state's Department of Consumer Affairs to see if the contractor is licensed.
If your contractor is a general contractor, you should expect to find him listed in the Department of Buildings database. By doing this you’ll know whether your contractor has been filed against in the past or not. Check out the CFA Affairs Code of Ethics and Standards to better educate yourself and put yourself in a better position to be served well. Consumers who dig deep and get their hands dirty will always get the reward for their investments and the peace of mind they thoroughly deserve. If you need spray foam insulation, roof coating, cold storage insulation, insulation removal, or your tank happens to be leaking and you need to foam it be sure to give us a call today at Boise Spray Foam Insulation to be taken care off. |