Owning your home is a big step, and like most things in life there are advantages and challenges. You are responsible for the repairs and renovations that may be necessary on your property. Home repair shows like Flip That House have become very popular in the past few years; there is an increased media spotlight on regular people taking on relatively large home building projects and basking in the success (never mind financial savings!) of their hard work. But is the do-it-yourself route the way to go for your particular household repair?

While the DIY route is much cheaper overall, the answer is not a simple yes or no. There are a number of things to take into account when considering how to tackle your next household project. It’s easy to get financial blinders and see nothing but the savings and expenses involved, but that can lead you astray and end up costing even more in the long run. Small projects, like building bookshelves or repainting the living room, are fairly manageable; with lots of preparation you can easily accomplish those tasks.

When it comes to larger projects, the first important thing to do is to set aside all notions of costs and realistically assess the scope of your home repair. What skills and tools are involved? Are they all brand new to you, or is it a familiar situation? Most importantly, how dangerous could this repair be in the worst case scenario?

There are some things that simply should be done by professionals, no matter the cost. Electrical work, for instance, is highly dangerous and should never be attempted by amateurs; there is the potential for serious harm or even death. Major plumbing work may not pose as much of an outward risk, but one wrong pull could end up flooding your home.

There is a middle zone between the extremes for instance, adding insulation to your attic to reduce drafts. These are repairs that have some risks, but can be accomplished without a contractor; often there are kits that you can buy which will include everything you’ll need to get the job done. In that case, knowledge is power the more you know about spray foam before you start the nozzle, the easier the job will be.

Luckily, the internet is full of home repair sites, and some even have videos that will teach you what to do, step by step. The important part of DIY is being well informed, reading all instructions, and not skimping on the required materials. At the end of the day, the priority is the safety and security of your home and family, not the dollars you might save.

It took President Nixon’s 1973 Presidential Reorganisation Plan No. 1 six years to bring all disaster and recovery programs together under one umbrella, as the beginnings of today’s FEMA. Over the almost-forty years since the amalgamation, FEMA has evolved to encompass disaster preparedness and relief plans for just about any event. From floods and hurricanes, to nuclear incidents, terrorist attacks and perhaps even an alien invasion! It is the job of every member of FEMA to foresee potential catastrophe, formulate a plan of action and search for rock solid preventative measures.

The agency employs experts in just about every field imaginable. Geologists predict and track seismic activity. Storm specialists and meteorologists watch for hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, ice storms and so on. Medical professionals provide critical advice on the impact various catastrophes would have on the population. Engineers and building science specialists assess populated areas for preparedness in flood, earthquake, volcanic and many other situations. This brings us to spray foam insulation.

In 2010 FEMA released 37 fact sheets providing technical information for constructing residential buildings in coastal regions. The fact sheets were meant to guide home builders in the specific requirements for building a home that would likely have to survive extreme wind forces and severe flooding in coast environments. Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation is singled out on more than one fact sheet as the best material in building coastal homes. In section 1.7, “Coastal Building Materials” a list of accepted flood-resistant materials include “sprayed polyurethane foam”, but further on the document explains cavity wall systems are inappropriate in flood-prone regions as they fill with water and cause major damage. Using closed-cell spray insulation not only provides structural support to the walls, but also remains moisture resistant.

In fact sheet 1.8 “Non-Traditional Building Materials and Systems”, FEMA incorporates an entire section on sprayed closed-cell foam insulation and the inherent advantages of its use in coastal building practices. Major points include the speed of installation versus batt insulation; foam expands to fit wall cavities and becomes a rigid barrier for keeping moisture out, and “offers acceptable flood resistance” (citing a National Flood Insurance Program technical bulletin). The fact sheet goes on to explain a complete system of flood-resistance would also include corrosion-resistant metal or pressure-treated wood framing for maximum effectiveness in a severe flood situation.

The Internet provides information on every topic under the sun, yet sometimes it is hard to know what is accurate and what is not. For researches and writers, the litmus test of Internet truthiness is in the source. If the source is academic (from a major university) or governmental (from an official government document) then the information is considered genuine. FEMA’s 37 page fact sheet package on coastal construction for home builders definitely bears truthiness, lending indisputable legitimacy to the wonders of closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Not long ago the decision makers at Fieldale decided it was high time they took decisive measures to reduce their $1.5 million annual energy bill at the Murrayville processing plant. In addition to the costs, there were two other issues with the plant that needed addressing at the same time: a leaky roof and improper air pressure balance. Now Murrayville is a tiny little unincorporated town of less than a thousand human residents (the chickens number in the tens of thousands). So finding a solution to high energy costs at a 120,000 square foot facility was not something that was going to occur within the community. Fieldale put out requests for proposals, but soon found their unique set of circumstances was going to severely limit their choices.

To begin with, all operations must continue seamlessly. Even one day of interruption would result in a complete disruption of the chain of processing, causing a domino effect along the entire line of production. Also, since the facility was in the business of producing food items, risk of contamination was a major concern. The chickens must remain in a hygienic environment, as well as all processing areas. Officials from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be present throughout the project, and conduct daily inspections to ensure that even a single speck of dust did not contaminate the products. Another constraint of the project was accommodating the three different temperature zones of the facility. They must all maintain their individual temperatures without interruption, and be insulated in a way that protects the health of the building.

Then there was the issue of air pressure balance. Happy chickens like a warm and cozy environment, but warmth and lots of living and breathing organisms means condensation. An extreme system of ventilation was already in place to ensure the release of air was adequate, but it caused a build-up of negative air pressure. In fact the negative pressure was so great it actually caused gaps to form between the walls and roof – which would obviously add to the already high energy costs. Fairdale Farms ended up choosing spray foam insulation as their permanent solution to the problems of a leaky roof, excessive negative air pressure, and increasingly energy costs. Let’s put aside the mechanics of installation and all the unique demands of this particular project, and instead focus on how spray foam insulation made this chicken farm more successful.

It’s really quite simple. The Fieldale chicken experts already had the perfect environment for their little peckers; it was the building that was the problem. They needed to seal up the leaks, save money and create a better air exchange system. Polyurethane foam insulation solved two of those issues and assisted in the creation of the third. The expanding foam cures into a rigid form that keeps water out, thereby taking care of the leaky roof problem. By sealing up those gaps between the walls and roof, the spray foam assisted in making the new air pressure system highly effective AND halted heating/cooling dollars from escaping via the gaps. Then there is the massive savings to be gained by having a roof insulated with polyurethane foam. The heat of a hot Georgia day in the summer would no longer raise temperatures in the cold zones of the facility. Likewise, the snowy cold of winter wouldn’t be interfering with the cosiness of the warm zones. The chicken farm would run more efficiently, allowing greater control over operating costs, and have superior building integrity.

There is one simple solution to the issue of ice dams: insulate the attic with spray foam insulation kits. Stop all that warm air radiating from the living areas of the home from escaping through the roof, instead keeping it inside. One might wonder how the cozy warm air from the fireplace might find its way to the attic. Every light fixture, air vent, electrical outlet, exhaust system, chimney or doorway provides an opportunity for air to flow. Stopping up all those little gaps within the interior areas of the home is not necessarily a good idea, as it may create an environment that is too airtight – which usually results in mildew and mold.

By coating the floor of attic spaces, the homeowner is blocking warm air from escaping to the attic and the ensuing chain reaction that result in ice dams. Since the attic space itself is kept as a sort of ‘ambient zone’, it must be properly vented. The venting in this type of attic is a key component, as it allows for moist air to escape (keeping the attic dry). Aside from acting as an air barrier, the closed-cell form of spray foam also provides moisture resistant benefits. The polyurethane foam will not grow mold or become a nesting place for critters and insects. The chemical make-up and inherent rigidity of the foam present a hostile environment for moisture and pests.

Now let’s not forget about those eaves and baffles. Purely from an energy efficient point of view, applying a healthy dose of spray foam insulation underneath the soffits of the home’s overhang, is an excellent way to seal up little crevices and gaps where precious heating and cooling dollars may be leaking out. Combined with the efforts in that attic, insulated soffits will keep any residual warm air from melting the snow in gutters, which of course further prevents heavy ice build up. So, by keeping the cold air out and warm air in, the snow on the roof will not melt until Mother Nature is ready for it to melt. Those dangerous icicles will not form, eaves and gutters will not bend under the weight of the ice, and your mail carrier will be safe.

The story of how spray foam insulation saved a piece of history begins in May 1905 in the Tsushima Strait, between what is now South Korea and Japan. In 1905 the Imperial Russian Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy were locked in a brutal battle in which the Russians were badly outnumbered. Japan’s 89 ships easily obliterated Russia’s decidedly undersized fleet of 28 ships. Russian had their fleet stationed in the Gulf of Finland as a line of fortification to keep the routes to St. Petersburg fortified and safe for trade. So the bitter loss to the Japanese was a massive blow to the Russians.

A couple years after the Battle of Tsushima Strait, when the dust had settled, Czar Nicholas II of Russia was presented with plans to build a naval fortress between Porkkala (in Finland) and Tallinn (in Estonia) until a new Russian fleet was constructed. There were several ‘zones of defense’ in the proposal, including tunnel systems, bunkers and a very bold harbor complex. The centerpiece was a three-domed concrete float plane hanger that was extremely progressive for the period. Construction began on “Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress” in 1912, was stalled during World War I, but completed by the end of 1918. At that point in engineering and architectural history, three adjacent domes measuring 23,500 square feet each, and made of concrete only one and half inches thick, was a most impressive venture. Not only did the project succeed, but it still stands today, almost one hundred years later.

Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress (named after Peter I of Russia) is located on the shores of Estonia overlooking the Baltic Sea. This area of Northern Europe experiences some of the most extreme weather in the world. High winds, -20F winters and several feet of snow are normal events in Tallinn, Estonia. Despite the harsh weather and many years of neglect, the Russian fortress was still standing when the idea came up to turn it into Estonia’s permanent maritime museum. Engineers were brought in to assess the three concrete domes, and quickly decided the only way to provide structural support to the thin concrete (without adding further weight) was with rigid polyurethane foam a.k.a. spray foam insulation.

The use of spray foam insulation on this old relic of a naval fortress had multiple benefits. First of all, as mentioned above, it would provide incredible strength to the concrete domes without adding stress to the structure. Then there are the insulating factors. By coating the domes in polyurethane spray foam insulation, the three adjacent hangers can now be heated and cooled with efficiency and at a relatively low cost. Since the end goal of the renovation project was to restore the building for use as a maritime museum, temperature control was of importance for the preservation of artifacts (not to mention for those visiting and working at the venue).

There are a few limitations for the use of this product, perhaps that most important being surface temperature at the time of application. In previous articles we have discussed how surface temperature must be between 60 and 80F (15-26C), otherwise adhesion and curing may not occur. This isn’t just a manufacturer’s recommendation, this is essential to a successful application. On the shores of the Baltic Sea, disregarding that rule became the reason for an extra $100,000 bill to the general contractor.

With deadlines approaching and weather getting colder by the day, the general contractor insisted the spray foam installers continue with their work despite warnings. As an attempt to appease the spray foam team, the contractor erected a massive tent over the domes hoping it would warm the environment sufficiently. The winter winds kept blowing the tent down, so it had to be removed at the end of each day. Finally, the contractor saw the futility of the situation (plus a $100,000 bill for tent rental, removal and setup), and agreed to delay the spray foam installation until the following spring.

The Estonian Maritime Museum project composed of 70,500 square feet of space for spray foam application. Although this was by no means a typical project, it does serve to illustrate the far-reaching usefulness and value of spray foam insulation in preserving and restoring buildings young and old.

Have you ever known someone who has ‘neglected’ to upgrade certain aspects of their home over the years? Maybe that person is you, perhaps it’s the former you. Maybe they know those single pane windows need to be replaced, but it’s expensive, the tradespeople might find bigger problems and the costs might be huge and so on. Perhaps they tell themselves it’s an expense that will have to wait. Or, they may finally bite the bullet and get an estimate. With so much literature in the media about energy efficient green homes over the last couple of decades, it’s hard to ignore the potential benefits. So, they get the windows replaced, but as cheaply as possible.

Even without the attitude described above, it can be hard for any homeowner to justify – indeed understand – the importance of following through on quality upgrades. Unless the homeowner is in the construction industry, the dollars at the bottom of an estimate can seem excessive and perhaps unnecessary. That sort of assumption is just as illogical as not going to the dentist. By purchasing a fabulous state-of-the-art product and engaging an inexperienced (and inexpensive) contractor to install it, the homeowner is cheating themselves. What good is a beautiful new double paned thermal window if it is not put in properly and ends up leaking, causing mildew and water damage?

Spray foam insulation is definitely an area where a logical follow-through is vital. You already have the great product, but having it installed improperly in order to use an inexpensive contractor is about as logical as not going to the dentist for 17 years. That estimate from the neighbourhood fix-it guy may be a couple of hundred dollars less, but you get what you pay for. All those charges for annual dental cleanings that you ‘saved’ will only come back to haunt you, with compound interest, in the form of crowns and root canals. If your spray foam installer doesn’t know to play close attention to surface temperatures, the polyurethane sealant can fail to adhere, need to be removed and require re-installation.

There is an old English adage that goes something like “penny wise, pound foolish”. Save a penny now, pay for it later. Settling for the cheapest way to get spray foam isn’t the answer. You need the most cost effective way. Very often that is installing it yourself.

You can install spray foam insulation properly and safely in less time it takes to get 3 qualified bids. You want contractors that are honest enough to tell you without you asking that you’ll need to leave for 23-72 hours because of the high pressure spray foam machines they use. Finding them is hard because it makes selling their services much more difficult. However, you want the job done right (which means safely too). How does it look when they’re putting your family at risk just to get a sale?

Getting spray foam insulation installed properly is the key to getting value out of your investment. Skimp on getting good insulation installed properly and safely now; pay the consequences later – and in spades. Skip the dentist during your young and foolish years and have false teeth and a big dental bill by the age of 50. Pennywise logic will never save a penny, and is definitely not wise.

It doesn’t matter what kind of project it is, anyone in the market for a contractor knows they need someone who is able to do the job well and do it safely. When it comes to using chemical compounds contained in high pressure flammable tanks, a fairly comprehensive level of training and certification is required by law. Look for spray foam sealant contractors who have installers that are trained, accredited and/or certified to handle high pressure spray polyurethane foam installation. Ask how current the accreditation is, and perhaps if it has been upgraded or refreshed (if appropriate).

With so many young people entering the job market these days, it is certainly not unusual to encounter installers who have recently completed their training. The facts may be sharp in their minds, but it is highly likely they lack experience. Now, there is nothing wrong with a newly trained installer – provided they are assisted by a highly experienced supervisor. Don’t be afraid to ask the question. At the very least, the installers will know you are paying attention and most likely be extra careful.

Requesting and checking the references of a potential contractor is absolutely necessary, and in no way an insult to the company. Most reputable contracting companies (in any trade) are happy to hand over a list of prior clients, but don’t stop there. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of standing the contractor has with them. As previously mentioned, installation of high pressure insulation is professional work requiring specialized training. Therefore association with a professional organization is an excellent sign of a good spray foam insulation contractor. It shows their commitment to the responsibilities of the profession.

Licenses and insurance are requirements that vary between states, counties and even local jurisdictions. Some areas have by-laws in which a spray foam contractor must have a license even for just a small project they are doing for a friend. Other places require one single license over a period of several months. To understand the requirements of your own region, call the Better Business Bureau. They will be able to tell you if a spray foam insulation installer needs a specific license for spray foam, or just for general construction. Then, be sure whomever you hire has followed the rules.

Insurance works much the same way. Some states demand certain contractors have a surety bond with their local contractor’s board or council. The surety bond is limited on its own, but combined with general liability insurance, bodily and property damage is usually covered. Ask the contractor about their insurance, especially to ensure it has not lapsed. Before the day of installation, check your own home and liability insurance to see if contractors or damage from renovations is covered. If not, speak to your insurance agent about the option.

Finding the best spray foam insulation installer is much like finding the best candidate for a job posting. It’s all in checking the facts. Don’t be afraid to ask for references, names of trade associations they are affiliated with, the status of certification or insurance. Any contractor unwilling to give these types of details is not a contractor you should hire.

Yet the equality minded people of the world must wonder, what about the good guys? What of the contractors and sub-contractors who really do strive for excellence, work beyond minimum building codes, are minimally invasive during the project, finish in reasonable time, do not demand their client’s first born child as payment, communicate effectively and are actually respectful? What of them? The reality is there are good contractors, just as there are bad clients. What we aim to explain here is how to work with a contractor and be a good client.

Be a good client
It doesn’t matter what work is being done, being a good client for your contractor and their sub-trades comes down to a few simple things. First of all, communicate. If there are any alterations, special instructions, or unusual circumstances about the project, tell them. Even if you think it may not matter, tell them. For example, if your gas fireplace installer moved the installation date to the same day the home insulation is going in, the contractor needs to know. If you had a toilet overflow the night before hardwood is to be installed in the hallway, the contractor needs to know. Now, it is also important temper that instruction with reason. Communicate about the job site, and leave it at that. Time is money.

Next, be respectful. Tradespeople and contractors may arrive to work in grubby clothes, but they are skilled in a particular trade, hard working and deserve the same amount of respect as anyone else. They will take reasonable breaks, and they will get the work done. Just because the guys head out for coffee mid-afternoon doesn’t mean they are lazy. One of the most unnerving things a client can do is stand over (literally or figuratively) someone while they work, so-called ‘supervising’. It is not your job to supervise; they have a boss for that.

Working with your contractor
Working with your contractor (instead of against them) encompasses being a good client, but there is more to it than that. Knowing exactly what to expect from the contractor is important for both parties. Before the work begins, your contractor will likely schedule a consultation where all details will be discussed. This is the time to ask questions, bring up concerns and be specific about your expectations. If anything seems unreasonable, unworkable, unaffordable or just too problematic, that is the time to iron it out. Then, when the work does begin, everyone will be on the same page. When it comes to spray foam insulation, there are safety guidelines that must be adhered to – not only by the installers, but by the homeowner as well. Do not expect to have access to the site during installation. Ambient temperatures need to be exactly right for the spray foam to reach full potential, so if installation day comes and the weather is either too hot or too cold, don’t be surprised if the job is delayed.

Working with a contractor is like working with any other professional, the only difference is the work takes place in the context of your home. That factor alone can set off some pretty demanding behavior, but if everyone tries to stick to the advice above, then hopefully Mike Holmes won’t be on the war path.

What makes this map so very cool is the detailed application of data. People living in every corner of the US, including every city block, country tract, and suburban lane are recorded according to their census data – but represented through Bill Rankin’s dot method of reporting.  Each dot represents 2500 people across four topics:  ethnicity, income, education and housing.

For our purposes, the data we are most interested in is the median home values across the nation and the percentage of change over the last few years.  After clicking over to housing, and median home value, we zoomed out and viewed the map from a national point of view.  Light yellow indicated a region where homes are valued at $50,000 and under, each progressive change of color designates a further increase in value, with the last being described as “more than $400,000”.

At first glance, the regions showing the residences with the least value lie in the center of the country.  With a few small counties aside, the states with low median home values are Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and some areas of Arkansas and Mississippi.  Within those states, Mapping America shows the lowest home values as being in southern Texas ($30,000) and the south-west corner of South Dakota ($20,000).  Those are not anomalies of the state either, as other counties show median home values of $40,000 or $50,000 – well below the national average $221,800.  Keep in mind the states listed above experience some of the most extreme weather in the country, even the continent.  All that harsh weather severely hampers farming revenues (both agricultural and livestock), destroys ecosystems, and shortens the life of commercial and residential buildings.

Thankfully, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were passed.  There were five distinct points of intent listed in Section three of the Act, the first two of which pertain to our topic; the intention behind the Act is “to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery”, as well as “assist those most impacted by the recession”.  Out of the $787 billion allocated for the Act, $14.7 billion was earmarked for ‘housing’.  More specific allocations included repairing, modernizing and implementing energy efficient systems in public housing; rental assistance; stabilization programs for buying and repairing foreclosed housing; community development grants; energy efficiency measures and modernization of low-income housing; financial assistance for helping rural families purchase homes; and finally, provisions for building community facilities in rural locations.

For those light yellow counties on Mapping America, the ones showing the nation’s lowest median home values, the housing portion of the Recovery Act will make a difference in the lives of homeowners.  The Act cannot change the cruel ice storms and tornadoes, but it can help families put up a firmer defense against unchangeable circumstances.  By having the funds available for low-income families to armor their homes with state-of-the-art products such as spray foam insulation, home values will rise.  By giving rural families the tools and assistance needed to purchase a home, the value of a community rises.  When community development increases, investors take interest in the area and jobs are created.

Mapping America is more than just a cool project bringing statistics together with maps; it’s really a way for every user to see with certainty the real condition of the country in terms of ethnicity, education, income and housing.  What is the state of your own county?  Is the value of your own home in line with others in your area?  There are funds available to help homeowners increase the value of their home, including thermal efficiency measures, such as expanding foam.  It is definitely worth investigating.

Polyisocyanurate differs from polyurethane in that instead of using polymers combined with urethane links, it uses a polyester derived polyol with the urethane. The end product is sturdier, and more thermally stable. For these reasons, most spray foam manufacturers use polyisocyanurate but in the industry the two terms are sometimes applied interchangeably.

As previously mentioned, the creation of the foam can be manipulated to produce different foam densities and structures and can be used as a polyurethane sealant. Closed cell spray foam insulation is comprised of air pockets that are not interconnected. If moisture makes contact with the spray foam insulation, it will not enter the ‘cells’. Instead it will evaporate without creating mold. Once the closed cell spray foam insulation has cured, there are no off-gases and it becomes very hard. Even critters and insects usually won’t dig their way into the spray foam insulation. Yet the most important aspect of the insulation, the reason it is so effective, is that all those little air pockets sealed in the hard foam create a solid impenetrable barrier between the inside and outside of the home.

Open cell spray foam insulation is much the same, except those air pockets are open. Moisture can find its way into the ‘cells’ and create mold (except if the chemical formula is treated with an antimicrobial agent). Open cell spray foam is still a very effective product for use in walls and cavities. In addition to all the thermal insulating benefits, there is also the fact that it is an excellent sound barrier.

Since the foam is applied via a spraying action (much like using a paint spray gun) there is an even distribution. Seals, cracks and crevices are filled in – permanently. Assuming all temperature guidelines are met and preparation is carried out properly, spray foam insulation does not sag or break apart over time. Also, there is very little weight added to the surface and a great deal of structural strength is gained. With such a significant impact on the building science industry, it is no surprise that spray foam insulation has been thoroughly reviewed, tested and approved for use as a material to meet building code standards nationwide.

It should now be very clear just how effective spray foam insulation is, yet there is just one more point to make: the lifetime of spray foam insulation as it is used for thermal insulation, could be longer than that of the structure itself. It stays in place and does its job until it is physically removed, and even that is a difficult task! Fiberglass batting requires replacement over time, as does blown-in insulation. Once spray foam insulation is in, it’s in. Forever dedicated to shutting out the extreme chill of winter or the oppressive heat of summer, spray foam insulation is effective for your thermal needs.