A New Warning About Spray Foam Insulation

From The Real Estate Espresso Podcast Victor Menasce

Today’s show is covering a story that is coming out of the UK. It’s a warning to all real estate investors. While the story has not hit the US or Canada yet, I personally think it is only a matter of time.

I’ve done a bit of research on the technology. Promoters of the technology rave about the high insulation value, the excellent performance with a complete vapour barrier. The application is fast and the coverage is complete if applied properly.

These spray polyurethane foams cure through a chemical reaction that produces isocyanate vapors and aerosols. Even once the surface is dry and hard, it can take a long time for these gases to escape to the surface. Some manufacturers recommend a 24 hour waiting period and then ventilating the area until the all of the gases are out of the enclosed space.

There are some applications where quite frankly the closed cell foam is hands down the best product. The edge of the floor joists at the perimeter of a home is one such example. The traditional approach of using batt insulation and plastic vapour barrier is simply ineffective in those areas. The geometry is too difficult to seal properly.

According to a report issued in February of this year by Building Safety Regulator in the UK, there is a concern that foam insulation applied to timber sloped roofs in existing dwellings creates a moisture risk. This 76 page report outlines the research and findings.

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