Icynene works, but do I need a Vapor Barrier?
There is a clear winter day.The sun is shining.There are icicles hanging from the roofs of houses.Some icicles are long and slender, gracefully edging a building; others are sturdy chunks, twinkling in the bright light.How old.How nice.How expensive!
There are cones of frozen water on the roof.The snow drips and refreezes to create icicles after precious heat energy escapes through the top of the house.The temperature in your house can drop or the heating system can use more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature if heat is leaking out.It's time to put on another sweater because your dad won't turn up the thermostat.
Ideally, in cold weather you want your home's insulation to keep warm air in, and in the summer you don't want the hot air out.To insulate the spaces around ceilings, walls and floors, homeowners and builders insulate them.It is thought of as a cold-weather product, but in hotter climates it can be used to reduce the movement of air.
Home insulation reduces heat transfer, but its effectiveness can vary.Maybe the insulation is not enough for the climate.It might be old and worn.If your roof is decorated with icicles, the barrier between the inside and outside may not be doing its job, and your heating bills may be the proof.
A Canadian company has been selling new insulation since 1986.Icynene is a green alternative to other insulations.It's more expensive than many things that are friendly to the environment.When there are many insulation options, why would customers choose Icynene?
The nature of Icynene, its multiple forms and uses, the pros and cons of the product, and comparisons to other insulations will be explored in this article.
Before we look at Icynene, we need to understand some background in insulation.It's supposed to reduce the movement of air between indoors and outdoors, but how do we know which insulations are the most efficient?The R-value is the industry standard for insulation effectiveness.R-value shows how successful a substance is at reducing heat transfer.The better the insulation is, the higher the R-value is.A substance's R-value is determined by its components.The interaction between the properties is important.If warm air can easily flow through the material, it won't matter how thick it is.
R-values can be compared by an inch, but keep in mind that several inches of insulation are usually installed.The fiberglass batting has an initial R-value of 3.14 to 4.3 per inch.It runs between 3.13 and 3.7 per inch.Why initial value?R-value can be reduced by outside influences.
What is the right R-value for your home?What type of insulation is required?You need to ask yourself a number of questions to determine these things.
Icynene is a foam insulation that is sprayed or poured into building cavities, attaching to the structure and reducing air movement between indoors and outdoors.It's produced by a company called Icynene Inc.Installers apply a thin layer of liquid that almost immediately has the appearance of whipped cream; this quickly cures and becomes a solid yet flexible spongy substance.The company compares the cured texture to angel food cake on its material safety sheets.Water interacts with the Icynene components and causes carbon dioxide gas to build up in the foam.
Icynene is an open-cell foam that has air trapped in it as bubbles break open.The air is still as the foam cures.The bubbles in open-cell foam are not as dense as those in traditional closed cell foams.
There are choices, choices.There are alternatives to Icynene if you're selecting insulation.The upfront costs of Icynene seem high compared to traditional insulation such as fiberglass, and a bit more expensive than other blown-in foams.It has advantages that make it a viable option for many contractors and homeowners.
It's not a do-it-yourself project to choose Icynene for your insulation needs.Only authorized dealers can install it.Prospective dealers need to attend training that covers products, equipment, installation processes and general building knowledge before they can sell Icynene.Because components of Icynene are mixed on site, it's an intricate procedure requiring specialized, expensive spray equipment.A full mask that provides clean air while blocking the inhalation of foam particulates must be worn by installers.
Wait!You need more protection.Icynene sticks to itself and most substances it contacts because of its cohesive and adhesive properties.Icynene can't break down over time and loosen its grip on whatever building material surrounds it.In order to provide protection for surrounding targets of overspraying, such as doors, windows, and water heaters, Installers must take care.
Depending on the purpose, professionals choose from the four Icynene products discussed in the preceding page.Icynene can be sprayed between walls, ceilings and floors in new construction.Within a second, Icynene expands a hundred fold.The original spray can be used by workers.Remember the R-values we were looking at on the previous page?The R-values of Icynene sprays are comparable to those of recycled paper.
The original Icynene can be poured into hollows within a house if you want to insulate an existing structure.There is no need to change the structure of the building.Within minutes, poured foam expands 60 times its starting volume.To make sure a complete fill, the Installers pour twice.The R-value is similar to fiberglass batting.
Do you need some small areas filled in?Maybe your doors and windows seem to be leaking, or maybe you've had some repair work done that leaves you vulnerable.A new kit will be designed for minor procedures.The system has the same expansion rate and R- value as sprayed Icynene.
Let's consider why you might want to install Icynene.What are the advantages of this product?
Icynene has some characteristics that contractors and homeowners may want to consider.
Wouldn't it be better to call a dealer and insulate right now?That's not how educated consumers function, they examine pros and cons.Nothing's perfect as we see on the next page.
For the next two years, homeowners in the United States can receive federal tax credits for many improvements designed to boost energy efficiency, such as new doors and windows, water heating, roofing and insulation, including Icynene.Taxpayers can deduct up to 30 percent of the cost.
Nothing is perfect.Not ice cream, not puppies.Icynene's areas of concern are listed here.
What is a consumer to do when there are pluses and minuses?Icynene could be compared to other insulation.On the following page, let's do that.
The cost of insulation can range from $.50 to $2.25 per square foot.The average cost to insulate a home is between $2,500 and $5,500.You won't be able to make an informed decision about home insulation without considering the variables you bring to the table, such as the type of structure, materials used, area to be insulated, personal budget, individual concerns and availability.You can personalize the choice once you understand your parameters.There are a lot of insulation options.
The recycled paper products and flame-retardants make up the majority of the Cellulose particles.As it fills in small and irregular spaces, this insulation is often added to an existing structure.It can lose as much as one-fifth of its initial R-value over time.
Closed-cell foam is sprayed to fill in spaces.When readying the foam, hydrofluorocarbons may be used.It creates a tight envelope and plugs spaces easily.Within the first few years of installation, the R-value may decrease slightly.
Cotton batting is considered a green form of insulation because it's a renewable resource, but petroleum products are still used to grow and transport cotton.
There are rolls of fiberglass batting that can be laid out by professionals or homeowners to fill empty spaces.It can be hard to place the batting around obstructions.Escaped fibers can cause short-term respiratory or skin irritation.Professionals blow-in fiberglass in loose-fill form.It has an R-value of 2.2 to 4.3 and is made of recycled glass.Over time, it can settle.
Mineral wool is a loose-fill insulation made from recycled industrial material.The R-value is between 3.1 and 4.0.
The R-value of rigid foam boards is between 5.6 and 7.0.They are used in new construction.
The nature of Icynene, its advantages and disadvantages, and some of the alternative insulations are now known.Think through the information and make a decision about the best insulation plan for your home.Maybe two.
Check out the links on the next page for more information on topics related to heat, insulation and energy efficiency.
Imagine the temperatures inside the U.S. military tents in Iraq and Afghanistan.Air conditioning costs have been high, and the military has turned to foam insulation as a solution after the Army approved it for tent use in 2007.The cost to spray the outside of the tents in Iraq was high.It's an estimated 95 million dollars.The insulation seems to be saving at least $105 million per year in energy expenditures, and this outlay is being quickly recouped.The added benefit of the insulation is that it blocks heat transfer, as well as wind and dust.The original insulation costs in Afghanistan were $29 million.