Basements are usually cold and damp because of its location. If there is a lot of moisture in your basement, there is the danger of the presence of mold and allergens. Once it has been ruled out that there is no mold present, we can safely go ahead with spray foam insulation.
Insulating a basement in Richmond Virginia with spray foam insulation is quite a simple task. The three main parts of a basement that need to be insulated are the basement wall, ceiling and rim joist. In an unfinished basement, the studded walls can be sprayed with spray foam insulation but in a finished basement, we will need to drill holes in the drywall and insert spray foam in between the studs.
In unfinished basements most rim joists are easily accessible. Same goes for finished basements with drop ceilings. In case it is not accessible, the drywall needs to be removed so that we can spray the insulation into the cavity.
For the ceiling, if there is any old insulation, we will first remove that. In case of a drop ceiling, the tiles are removed and the space is then sprayed with spray foam. If there is a drywall present, holes are drilled into the ceiling and injection foam is used.
It is true that spray foam insulation in Richmond, VA has left some metal buildings and pole barns with rust; however it is not true that all metal buildings will rust because of spray foam insulation. What it really depends on is the condition under which spray foam insulation is sprayed.
There are some low quality products of spray foam insulation which can be found in the market and it is these products that have an acidic reaction with the metal. It is very important to know which product your spray foam insulation contractor is going to use.
A good spray foam insulation contractor in Richmond VA will not use the material that will cause any damage to your building.
It is also important to note that closed cell spray foam insulation can react with metal. One of these typical reactions is condensation. Since closed cell spray foam insulation react and is sprayed at the very high temperatures, if the weather is cold outside, condensation can take place on the metal. This is simply because the metal is cool on one side and hot on the other side.
If another layer of spray foam is sprayed over this, the condensation will get trapped in the metal and this can lead to other issues. That’s why on cold days an experienced spray foam insulation contractor in Richmond VA will warm the area before using spray foam insulation on metal. A good spray foam insulation contractor in Richmond VA will know exactly how to deal with condensation while using spray foam insulation on metal buildings.
A good technique that some spay foam insulation contractors in Richmond VA use is called “flashing”. What they do is a thin pass of spray form on the substrate. Thus instead of spraying on the cold metal itself, they will be spraying onto this thin layer. Another way to avoid condensation is simply by monitoring the substrate and wiping down the area before installing the spay foam insulation.
Non-experienced spray foam contractors could use closed cell spray foam insulation in too thick passes and this does not allow time for it to cure. Some spray foam insulation contractors may also use a plastic liner on the substrate before covering the area with spray foam insulation.
This is done in case the metal needs to be replaced in the future. Removing the spray foam will not cause a problem because it’s on the plastic sheet, but this creates an air space between the metal and the foam.
A good spray foam insulation contractor in Richmond VA will offer to remove your old cellulose or fiberglass insulation but if you are one of those people who would like to remove it by yourself or if your contractor has asked you to remove it, this has to be done before any of the spray foam installation can begin. Hiring someone else to remove this for you will also cost you more but if you don’t mind paying them it could save you the trouble of doing it by yourself. Whether you choose to hire someone or remove it by yourself, removing the old insulation is something that is an absolute must.
While upgrading your insulation and switching to spray foam insulation in Richmond VA it is obvious that insulating three walls rather than four is a good way to save money. But does this mean that you don’t have to insulate the wall between your living space and the garage?
Most homeowners don’t count the wall between the house and the garage as an exterior wall. This is because the garage is a separate room and has other walls protecting it from the outside.
In order to insulate the common garage wall, holes need to be drilled between stud cavities in order to inject form. It is true that the installation crew will clean up the mess after they finish with spray foam insulation, but you as the homeowner need to provide the final finishing and repainting of the wall if necessary. This can be an added expense and you may think of just leaving out that wall and not insulating it.
If the wall between your house and the garage is not insulated well, the envelope around your house will not be completely sealed. The rooms that are adjacent to your garage will lose air and there will be constant drafts which is why you would want to re-insulate your walls.
Once all the exterior walls including the common wall between the garage and your house are insulated, you will be sealing the envelope completely thus creating an air barrier between the outside and inside of your home. Some of the additional benefits of insulating the common garage wall are:
Even though the garage door is shut, chances are that there are some sort of allergens and emissions in the garage. Once you insulate the common wall with spray foam insulation in Richmond VA, you need not feel worried about any allergens or emissions that could otherwise be passed through the fiberglass or cellulose into your home.
If you do repair work in your garage and if it gets noisy because of using a saw or a compressor, the spray foam insulation will keep this noise out. Spray foam insulation will not completely soundproof but it will dampen any unwanted sounds.
In most cases the garage is always hotter or cooler than your home and this leads to the development of moisture in the walls because of the meeting of cold and hot air. Once you use spray foam insulation in the wall between your living space and garage, you will not need to worry about moisture and mold.
In order to save money on your energy bills, it is important to ensure that the full building envelope is sealed completely.
Our company has a team of spray foam insulation contractors in Richmond VA and we can insulate any part of your home or commercial building. Spray foam insulation should always be handled by professionals who know what they are doing and is best if you do not try to attempt it by yourself. We are always available to be contacted by phone or email on working days during business hours.
