"To Foam or NOT to Foam"

Over past few years foam manufactures have touted the need to seal your house tight so that it will be more energy efficient. The fact is the home is a system. No cavity insulation ALONE is capable of providing a continuous air barrier. With proper caulking and poly sealing around electrical outlets, doors, windows, and sealing the top and bottom plates most insulations will perform equally. No insulation plays a major role in blocking air infiltration through the walls of a home. Resistance to air flow through walls is primarily done by gypsum board (77%)1 and sheathing, siding or housewrap (12%)1. The rest comes from proper sealing of the building envelope and the numerous gaps and penetrations to the outside such as pipes, ducts, and flues. Many of these areas can be difficult or impractical to seal with spray-foam insulation, and may require caulking or other sealing measures. Don't be fooled. Air infiltration is not about insulation. Furthermore your home needs a certain amount of fresh air. You can have your home too tight. When this occurs you trap germs inside thereby increasing your risk to illness. Most foam manufactures recommend installing a fresh air exchange unit. This will also add to the already hefty price of foaming your home. It also adds to the energy that your home consumes. The Federal Trade Commission carries the following guideline as it pertains to the manufactures of foam insulation:

If you are a manufacturer, you must give retailers and installer's fact sheets for the insulation products you sell to them. Each sheet must contain what is listed here. You can add any disclosures that are required by federal laws, regulations, rules, or orders. You can add any disclosures that are required by State or local laws, rules, and orders, unless they are inconsistent with the provisions of this regulation. Do not add anything else.

Each fact sheet must contain these items:

a. The name and address of the manufacturer. It can also include a logo or other symbol that the manufacturer uses.

b. A heading: "This is ________ insulation." Fill in the blank with the type and form of your insulation.

c. The heading must be followed by a chart:

1. If Sec. 460.12(b) requires a chart for your product's label, you must use that chart. For foamed-in-place insulations, you must show the R-value of your product at 3\1/2\ inches. You can also show R-values at other thicknesses.