Frequently Asked Questions

Do any of your products contain Urea Formaldehyde?

No! Modern day spray foams do not contain any urea formaldehyde in their production. They are safe for you and your family.

Is spray foam environmentally friendly?
Yes our products are environmentally safe. There are zero ozone depleting chemicals in their manufacture. There are no solvents released into the atmosphere during its application.

What about the flammability of spray foam ?

Spray foam will not sustain flame upon removal of the flame source. 

Are there any electrical wiring overheating problems associated with the application of spray foam?
NO! spray foam has been tested and is not a concern to electrical authorities.

Do insects and vermin eat spray foam insulation?
Spray foam offers no food value but it would not present a sufficient barrier to their entry if they decided to chew through it.

Does spray foam support bacteria or fungal growth?
No! spray foam does not retain water and is inert; therefore it does not support bacteria or fungal growth

Will spray foam absorb water?
No! Our closed cell foam resists water. If a small piece were to be placed in a bucket of water it would float, and not absorb, or wick water. If it were submerged in a bucket of water, it would become saturated, and upon removal it would dry rapidly and loose none of it's insulating properties. It doesn't hold water, the open cells allow the water to pass through it.

Will spray foam change physically over time?
No! Spray foam is inert. Once the foam reaction is complete, you are left with an inert, cellular plastic. It will never sag, shrink, or settle. 

What are the acoustic properties of spray foam?
If you are looking for sound deadening, open cell foam is both better and more cost effective. As an effective air seal, FreedomSeal 500 eliminates the air gaps through which sound travels and is superior in controlling mid-range frequencies which include the most common sounds; the human voice, stereo music and plumbing noise. A lot of the sound waves are absorbed as they find their way through the foam.

Will open cell foam entrap moisture?
No! Our open cell is a breathing foam.  Any moisture in the building's concrete or lumber can escape through the insulation as the building dries out, thus eliminating any risk of mold or mildew.

Is the foam insulation corrosive to metals?
Spray foams are non-corrosive. They are neutral, neither acidic or alkaline, and therefore ideal for metal construction.

Will spray foam in my attic curl my shingles?

By applying spray foam directly to the underside of the roof deck, it now insulates the attic space from the extreme heat that once radiated thorough the hot shingles sheathing and roof.  The severe temperatures no longer exist in the attic. In short, the attic now becomes a "conditioned" space of the house that is just as comfortable as any other room in the home.
Most builders and designers will tell you that this system is no good because wood needs to breathe and that the shingles on your roof will now overheat, get too hot and curl off. 

We have done a great deal of research on the “breathing wood” issue and have found that most furniture manufactures actually kiln dry wood before use.  They claim that if any wood is permitted to "breathe" this adds to deterioration over time.  Kiln dry wood, used in all furniture, contains a small amount of moisture. If that moisture continues to dry out you will start to see cracks and splits.  They take extra precautions to make sure that wood is sealed completely. Wood must be totally sealed. Properly finished and maintained furniture will not have this problem. Perhaps this is why we paint our house, and our fences, and everything else.  I put up a fence a few years ago, left it to breathe, and now it is falling down because it is rotten.  So much for breathing wood…

At a recent meeting with an ELK Premium Building Products rep at a trade show last year,  they claimed their shingles have no problems whatsoever being used over an un-vented roof deck.  So much for curling shingles…

A roof system insulated with spray foam reduces energy several ways. Energy loss from ducts located in the attic is essentially eliminated. The top of the building is much tighter resulting in less infiltration and exfiltration, so excess moisture isn't pulled into the attic. Infiltration through the ceiling is also reduced. In addition, the attic temperature is lower, which further reduces energy loads.

In a standard insulation system, ceiling insulation reduces the transfer of heat from the attic to the living space (in the summer). Attic temperatures can often approach 140F during the day. Most of this heat enters the attic space through a multi-step process. First, solar energy warms the shingles and sheathing. The hot sheathing then transfers heat to the rest of the attic through conduction, convection and radiant heat transfer. The 140F temperature of the underside roof surface drives the heat transfer process.

By insulating the roof surface with spray foam, the surface temperature exposed to the attic (the temperature driving the heat transfer) is reduced by as much as 40F. Both conduction and convection heat transfer are proportional to a temperature difference, so that heat transfer will be reduced proportional to a drop in surface temperature.

The benefits of including the attic in the insulated space are:

•Duct leakage and heat loss/gain from ducts is much less of an issue.
•Air sealing is easier in the roof that in the ceiling.
•Dust and loose insulation are less likely to migrate down to the living space.
•Tests show energy costs are lower when the attic is sealed.
Further information is available from ASHRAE (8700-527-4723) in a publication titled "Vented and Sealed Attics in Hot Climates"

1. Walls.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that up to 40 percent of the cost of heating and cooling a home is lost to uncontrolled air leakage. When air leaves the house, it takes moisture and pollutants along for the ride, contributing to premature deterioration, ice damming, mold and mildew and poor indoor air quality. When unconditioned air enters the home, it increases thermal discomfort and makes the indoor environment hard to control. Continuous air barrier systems improve energy efficiency by keeping conditioned air inside the house where it belongs. By controlling air movement with planned ventilation, you'll get a reduction in moisture, condensation, mold and mildew. Homes built to the American Lung Association® Health House® guidelines are constructed airtight to improve energy efficiency and prevent unplanned moisture movement.

2. Air Sealing.
Stop costly uncontrolled air leakage by sealing gaps, cracks and holes in the building envelope. Improve energy efficiency and durability. Reduce tenant complaints by providing a safer, healthier, more comfortable indoor environment. “Sealing those air leaks will help you maintain your home at a comfortable temperature all year long and help lower energy bills. The biggest holes are most often found in the attic and the basement.” - Excerpt from ENERGY STAR®, Frequently Asked Questions About Air Sealing. Insulate 'hard-to-build' areas Two-component polyurethane insulating air sealants and one-component polyurethane foam sealants are installed from within the building structure to seal and insulate 'hard-to-build' areas, such as windows, doors, penetrations, parapets and soffits to create insulating air barrier system continuity from the foundation up through the walls and across the roof. Click here to request further information New construction or retrofit, insulating air sealants contribute to: Improved energy efficiency Reduced moisture transmission Reduced chance of mold and mildew growth Reduced ice damming.

3. Foundations.
According to the United States Department of Energy, 20% of energy loss in residential structures can be attributed to insulated foundations. The use of closed-cell, spray-applied polyurethane foam under slab and on the exterior of foundation walls adds thermal protection and moisture management to the structure without reducing the useable space within the basement. Eliminate cracking, shrinkage and moisture problems Below slab: Addresses soil gas migration Provides a stable substrate for concrete Creates slope-to-drain aspect to the substrate Reduces need for excessive thickness of concrete to provide drainage Fast and design friendly Direct to the cured block, or poured concrete foundation walls: Provides a fully-adhered, monolithic layer of insulation on the outside of the foundation Engineered to withstand hydrostatic head pressures of typical backfill and water tables Creates an effective, insulated moisture management system.

4. Ceiling.
It’s the basic physics lesson: hot air rises. In hot climates, this phenomenon can make summer living on upper floors almost unbearable. When HVAC equipment is located in the attic, it can also mean inflated energy bills. In cold climates, warm, moist air from the living space of the house travels upwards through gaps, cracks and holes into the unconditioned attic space. There, it meets cold air and even colder surfaces where it condenses, causing premature building deterioration, mold and rot. Those giant icicles? They’re not pretty. They can be dangerous. And they indicate a serious problem with ceiling and attic air seal and insulation. How? Warm attics also melt the bottom layer of snow on the roof and the water runs down to the gutter where it refreezes. Shingles get lifted. Icicles break and eaves fall off posing a risk to occupants and guests. Energy is wasted. Stop uncontrolled air leakage Click here to request further information Closed-cell, spray-applied polyurethane foam insulation in the attic or on the ceiling stops uncontrolled air leakage to give you control over indoor temperatures, eliminate ice damming and keep energy costs under control. Self-adhering, closed-cell polyurethane foam conforms to any shape, will not shrink or sag over time, and creates a seamless, air- and water-impermeable barrier that separates conditioned living space from unconditioned attic. In cathedral ceiling applications, polyurethane foam does not promote deterioration of the existing roof sheathing, because it does not allow condensation at the foam/deck interface. Some traditional insulation systems have high water absorption, and hold moisture against the underside of the sheathing. Closed-cell foam insulation can be applied without roof ventilation, because it is fully adhered and air impermeable. Moisture does not condense between the insulation and the sheathing.

5. Insulations.
Insulation. Air leakage control. Structural strength. Flood resistance. This isn’t your grandfather’s insulation. Combining a superior insulation R-value with near-zero air permeability, closed-cell, spray-applied polyurethane foam increases energy efficiency and occupant comfort and improves indoor air quality. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) reports that up to 40% of the cost of heating and cooling a home is lost to uncontrolled air leakage. Closed-cell polyurethane foam insulation has been tested and is certified to be an air barrier at an application of 1-inch thickness. It is fully-adhered and does not allow air to flow around, behind or through the insulation system. The DOE has also shown that 15% of traditional insulation materials’ effectiveness is lost due to convection loops through and behind board and batt systems. Polyurethane technology eliminates this by forming a fully adhered, seamless insulation and air barrier system. Increased structural integrity, reduced mold Spray-applied closed-cell polyurethane foam is the only insulation material proven to add structural integrity throughout the wall system, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. Tests conducted there show spray foam insulation between wood- and steel-stud wall panels increased rack and shear strength two to three times compared with standard stick-built components with glass fiber insulation. In addition to rack and shear, closed-cell polyurethane foam is classified as an acceptable flood-resistant material by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mold requires three things to grow: moisture, warm temperatures and a food source. Polyurethane foam insulation eliminates condensing surfaces, reduces the potential to accumulate moisture, has no nutritional value and is not considered a food source for mold.