When spray insulation is applied properly by a trained technician, it creates an air seal that prevents drafts and condensation issues on walls. It also helps save up to 50% on energy bills.
The process involves a large truck with a trailer that is equipped with a high-end “rig.” Inside the rig, there’s a tech who mixes the isocyanate and polyols. The isocyanate is contained in one barrel, and the polyols are stored in a second barrel called the “B” side. Once the two sides are mixed together, they react almost instantly and spray through a hose. The mixture can be sprayed onto walls, attics, crawl spaces, rim joists, new construction homes, pole barns and more. The rig is heated to 770 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the product is at the proper spray temperature at all times.
A professional technician will wear a mask to avoid breathing the off-gassing toxins during application and curing. They may also recommend that you vacate the home during the spraying and curing process. The off-gassing will subside within a day or two once the insulation has fully cured.
While the benefits of spray insulation are many, there is a plethora of other green products available on the market including recycled options like mineral wool and cellulose. These products, as well as blown fiberglass, last for up to 20 years and are made from recycled materials like cotton, denim, post-consumer plastics and pre-consumer paper. The best option, however, is to use a low GWP (global warming potential) spray foam insulation like Insulthane or HandiFoam High-density. These brands use HFO blowing agents, which drastically reduces the GWP of the insulation.