I'm feeling a bit confused here. Recently, our AC technician mentioned that he had spray foam insulation installed in his attic about two years ago. He claimed it has significantly reduced his electric bill and made his home cooler. However, he did mention that his old insulation wasn't doing its job well. He spent around $6,000 to get his 12,000 sq. ft. attic roof sprayed. We're contemplating doing the same. I have a few questions: Has anyone else had spray foam insulation done? What are the benefits of applying it to the attic ceiling instead of the floor? Is spray foam a better option than traditional insulation? Our attic floor currently has insulation that's about 20 years old. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Honestly, spraying the ceiling can lead to trouble. It could mask leak problems, resulting in serious rot over time. Blown insulation is sufficient as long as you apply it thick enough to do its job!
From my experience, I recommend going with blown-in insulation instead of spray foam. That's what I did, and it was cost-effective since we borrowed a machine from Home Depot to do it ourselves.
I renovate homes and my insulation expert won't even use spray foam in his own attic. That speaks volumes. In the EU, there are insurance companies dropping clients who use it, and leaks can become serious issues because spray foam hides problems instead of revealing them early like regular insulation would. But hey, it does improve efficiency as your HVAC guy mentioned!
One significant concern is that spray foam could potentially void your roof warranty. Most roofing materials require a vented attic to maintain coverage, and switching to a hot roof could cause issues later on.
I think the EU situation stems from a misunderstanding of spray foam and building techniques. In new constructions, it can be great if done right, but retrofitting is tricky. You've got to ensure the roof is watertight and may need to make other modifications. It's a big project for sure.