Has any one used DIY spray foam kits for insulaion? I am going to start finishing my basement and figured that foam would be better for the poured concrete walls and could create a vapor barrier for it too.
DIY Spray Foam Insulation?
- Thread starter mwalls54
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I have used the DIY foam kits for roof, not sure if its the same foam. It comes in like 2lb x2 containers. It works very well but not designed to be reused once opened. It does not go very far and I thought it was pricey for what you got. If its the same stuff you are planning to use on insulating a basement it is going to costly.
We have a foam company come in and foam all the walls in the new houses we build. Its a great system and its completed in a day with a crew.
x2.. in a down construction market it would probably be cheaper to pay someone to do the job. The price difference is the contractor can usually get the foam cheaper than you.
- Thread starter
- #5
It would be cheaper in the long run but I am only finishing one room at a time due to my spare time. Another reason I want to start with one room is I have to reseal the exterior walls that are underground. Tie wire holes on the one end of the basement that's underground leak when we get 2"+ of rain. That's only happened 2 times in 2 years and its only a small amount of water that comes in. But to make the wife happy I am putting in a nice laundry room on the side that is above ground.
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- #7
What company did you go with?
This is what I've found. It was explained to me that once you tap a container, you have to use it all. I'm not sure about the truth of that, but that is what I've been told. If you're going to do a whole house, shop, or sizable area of a structure the pros are going to have the equipment and the wholesale costs to do it much cheaper. If you're doing smaller areas, room-by-room, or such then you can DIY cheaper than the pros but still more expensive than if you did it all at once.
The more foam you buy at one time, the cheaper it is. The OP and mine are not about doing a whole house.
As far as using it all at once, you only have less than a minute if you stop spraying that you have to replace the plastic nozzle. Open container do have a short shelf life but that is not a problem. Any extra will go towards the basement ridge beam. I don't have a sill seal so this will take its place. Even if I only get a partial done, it all helps. If I do another project, any extra will be used to finish the sill and there is always some place that could use some insulation.
And the empty tanks make good portable air tanks for my compressor.
As far as using it all at once, you only have less than a minute if you stop spraying that you have to replace the plastic nozzle. Open container do have a short shelf life but that is not a problem. Any extra will go towards the basement ridge beam. I don't have a sill seal so this will take its place. Even if I only get a partial done, it all helps. If I do another project, any extra will be used to finish the sill and there is always some place that could use some insulation.
And the empty tanks make good portable air tanks for my compressor.
Most are flammable and require a fire-rated covering over them - spray fire-proofing, drywall, etc.
I have been watching AirKrete lately. It is cementitious based, which makes it fire-proof as well as having a number of other benefits. Not a DIY product, though.
I would just put spammers in my walls...nothing insulates like dead salesmen in your walls.
how long does it take for them to stop smelling?
Cruiser Jimmy
Moderator
I got my crawl space done from a fellow wheel (Jeep guy) for slightly over 1000 ($1060'ish). 1600 square foot house with 3 cinder block height. Paying someone to do that job was well worth it IMHO. I could noticeable tell a difference after the job was done.
Hey Matt, probably late on this but I think I'd just stick to fibreglass. They're using the spray foam on the project I'm on now and they ended up having to spray after hours due to the fumes. I really don't know that much about it but they're using a high density foam. There are also 4'x8' sheets of foam insulation that you can use also. My basement has been finished for about 23yr. and the fibreglass has worked great, the walls are also poured concrete.
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- #17
figured I would post up after I used a diy kit. I will say it was very easy to use. I started out spraying the seal in the basement then did a wall where I have a few holes that has hvac running thru. It was very easy. I ran out of foam before I finished the seal boards but I can tell a huge difference with what I already did. When the wind would blow before I could hear it and see old cob webs move. After foam there isn't any leaks and the webs stay still and its a bit warmer. Now I can clean the webs lol. I will probably get another kit to finish the seal boards when I move onto the rest of the basement. Since I only did the seal I put in R19 fiberglass on outside walls.
What kit did you go with?
- Thread starter
- #19
I went with this. Has a fire retardant mixed in. Its a little high but I think its worth it.
Quick Cure E-84 Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation Kit, P10726
Quick Cure E-84 Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation Kit, P10726