SprayTight On Smarter with Carter

Spray Foam Magazine – Carter Oosterhouse is recognized as one of America’s most loved lifestyle experts with a passion for DIY. He first appeared as a carpenter on the TLC series Trading Spaces which propelled him into living room stardom. He went on to host other home improvement and how-to HGTV network shows: Carter Can, Red Hot & Green, and Million Dollar Rooms.

This 6’2” carpenter has model looks, but don’t be fooled, he’s not just handsome with a hammer. This guy knows his spray foam from his batt insulation, and what he doesn’t know he finds out by working with experts in the field. The Spray Foam Magazine team caught up with Carter as he was dashing around the country filming the 11th season of the upcoming show, The Great Christmas Light Flight, which airs on ABC the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas every year.

The youngest of four children, Carter was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan. He attended Central Michigan University on a rugby scholarship and to this day he remains a sports fan. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in nutrition and communication, Carter moved to Los Angeles to pursue modeling and acting but soon realized his true passion had always been DIY.

Where does spray foam come into this story? A couple of years back the SFMT had the pleasure of interviewing Eric Qualls, owner, and certified sprayer of SPRAYtight Inc, based in Metamora, Michigan. Qualls has 21 years of experience in the spray foam industry and his company has a reputation for quality craftsmanship and reliability. It’s therefore no surprise that he gets some high-profile jobs.

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Common Questions About Sprayfoam

Common Questions when Installing Sprayfoam Insulation in Your Home or Business

When you are ready to install insulation in your home or commercial structure there are 2 common questions:

  • What is the difference between sprayfoam and batt insulation?
  • How is it saving me more money on my utilities?

Insulation is a major factor in keeping your home either warm during the winter months or cool during the hot summers, stopping heat transfer throughout the building. Because of its quality, spray foam is quickly finding its way into more homes and becoming more recognized in the insulation community. Unlike batt insulation spray foam ensures air sealing at the time of installation and saves you time and money on the extra steps involved with batt insulation. The key to the most effective insulation is always proper installation. For more information on our services and sprayfoam insulation please give us a call at (810) 366-0568

The Benefits and Uses of Sprayfoam

Crawlspaces

Using sprayfoam in crawlspaces can save you hundreds on your heating bill. Sprayfoam is used as a barrier to prevent airflow from coming in and out of the crawlspace thus keeping you warm in the winter and cool during the summer months. It has been shown that using batt insulation is a bad idea when insulating crawlspaces. Batt insulation can come loose, fall off and has to be replaced more often. Sprayfoam has a perfect seal and lasts many years if applied correctly. Also, batt insulation can create a mold issue. Sprayfoam prevents mold issues by preventing moisture from coming in.

Tank Application

Sprayfoam for Storage Tanks is particularly important. Insulation for Storage tanks prevents the deterioration of the liquids held inside. Because sprayfoam is so versatile it will also adapt to a variety of tank sizes. Sprayfoam is the absolute best option for storage tanks because of energy efficiency it leads to because of the thickness of the foam and its ability to fully seal and prevention of outside elements coming in.

Attics

There are obvious reasons why sprayfoam is the best option for attics. Sprayfoam ill ensure that your home stays warm and also will save you about 50%-60% on your energy bills. Sprayfoam application in the attic will also prevent mold problems, moisture problems and ice dams which can cause damage to your home.

Commercial Roofing

For More information on other benefits and uses of sprayfoam give us a call!

What are the types of Thermal Insulations?

Firstly, The U.S. Department of Energy lists nine types of thermal insulation. Some are more common than others, depending on building and construction demands.

Here’s a list:

Foam board or rigid foam, Rigid fibrous or fiber insulation, Insulating concrete forms (ICFs), Blanket: batts and rolls, Loose-fill and blown-in, Concrete block insulation (and insulating concrete blocks), Sprayed foam and foamed-in-place, Structural insulated panels (SIPs), Reflective system. Therefore, most common types of thermal insulation include sprayed foam,), loose-fill and blown-in, blanket (batts or rolls) which use cellulose insulation, fiberglass insulation, or mineral (rock or slag) wool, and foam board or rigid foam, which use polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane.

Secondly, Let’s take a quick look at each of these most popular types of thermal insulation.

Foam Board or Rigid Foam Foam board or rigid foam is made from polyurethane. It’s typically added to unfinished walls, foundation walls, floors, ceilings, and unvented, sloping roofs.

Blanket: Batts and Rolls It comes in the form of batts or rolls, and it is made of flexible fibers (typically fiberglass). It can also be made out of mineral wool (again: rock and slag), plastic fibers, or natural fibers, such as cotton and sheep’s wool.

 Loose-Fill Insulation and Blown-In Loose-fill and blown-in insulation use particles of fiber, foam, or some other material. These are good for adding insulation to finished and/or irregularly shaped areas. The particles conform to the space.

 Sprayed Foam Naturally, we work with Gaco pro fill and Gaco one pass.

It’s extremely effective, provides continuous insulation, and creates an air-sealing barrier for walls, roofs, contoured surfaces — even around corners!

SPF provides thermal resistance, provides a cost-effective and energy-efficient method for reducing leakage from cracks or seams, and resists heat transfers and heat flow.

The energy savings alone are worth the price of installation.

We take advantage of that expansion to insulate, seal gaps, and form barriers to keep out moisture and vapor.

Even better, SPF applications can actually make a building stronger and more durable. That’s because SPF’s super strong bond protects roofs and helps them last longer by eliminating water seepage and bolstering a roof’s defenses during high winds.  As we like to say, our spray foam essentially “glues” the whole building together!

Spray foam is a particularly effective method of insulation, especially around windows and doors, plumbing vents, recessed lighting, and attic hatches. This remains true whether our insulation experts work in a large commercial building or a single-family home.

Secondly, there are three density types of sprayed foam insulation:
  • In this paragraph, we talk about Spray foam is a particularly effective method of insulation, especially around windows and doors, plumbing vents, recessed lighting, and attic hatches. This remains true whether our insulation experts work in a large commercial building or a single-family home.
    High (common in roofing and other exterior applications)
    Medium: (common with interior cavities and unvented attics)
    Low: (also used for interior cavities and unvented attics)

Most importantly though, out of all the types and kinds of thermal insulation, why choose SPRAYtight Inc? There are a lot of reasons, not least of which is the fact that as much as 45% of a building’s energy is lost through gaps and air leaks. Spray foam insulation closes those gaps and helps you save money and become more energy efficient.

What is Open Cell and Closed Cell Insulation?

It’s important to choose the right type of insulation for a commercial or residential project. Spray foam is either open-cell or closed-cell. The two types of insulation differ in cost, application, and capabilities. The differences boil down to density, structure, and application. If you want to insulate a metal commercial building, you wouldn’t necessarily choose the same type of spray foam that’s used for a home. Most projects require that you choose either open- or closed-cell foam insulation, but some may need a combination of both types. Location and climate are also important considerations. In the Mid-West, especially here in Michigan, moisture is also a consideration. If you own a commercial building in the Detroit metro area, or On the Northern part or the East side you may want to choose an application that strengthens ceilings and walls.

 What’s the Difference Between Open and Closed-Cell Foam Insulation?

Spray foam consists of many tiny cells or bubble-like structures. Open-cell foam is soft because the cells are open. Closed-cell foam consists of closed bubbles. The cells or bubbles pack together tightly. Gas rather than air fills each cell. The gas helps to expand the foam and improve the foam’s insulating properties. Closed-cell is stronger and denser than open-cell foam. Both types of insulation use a blowing agent for application. Water is the blowing agent for open-cell foam. Technicians use chemicals that increase insulation when applying closed-cell foam.

 Which Type of Spray-Foam Insulation Has Better Insulating Properties?

Closed cell foam insulation all the way! Closed-cell foam insulation forms a water barrier. Because of its density, closed-cell foam is the more robust insulator. It also resists air and water vapor. While open-cell foam doesn’t provide the benefits of closed-cell foam, it is an adequate choice in the right situation. Compared to fiberglass or cellulose, open cell is a superior insulator.

 Which Type of Spray Foam Is Most Affordable?

Open-cell spray foam has a lower cost than closed-cell foam. It is an excellent value and the right choice for many buildings. If greater insulation, R-value, is needed along with resistance to air and water vapor, closed cell is the better choice. R-value expresses insulating effectiveness. Closed-cell costs more in part because it requires a greater volume of blowing agent.

 Which Type of Spray Foam Is Right for Your Project?

Many commercial buildings choose closed-cell spray foam. This type of insulation can strengthen walls and roofs while taking up very little space. It also controls water vapor effectively. Open-cell is the best option when you’re insulating to reduce noise and for some interior applications. There are many things to consider when deciding between types of insulation. Contact SPRAYtight INC for help choosing the right material for your project.

What makes a good roof coating contractor?

Your roof is a vital part of your business and making sure it is sealed and protected is key to its long life. When you are looking to seal your roof so it is secure all year long spray-on roof coating is one of the best ways you can do that.

But once you start researching, how do you know which company is the best option? Here we will talk about what makes a good roof coating contractor and how our team at SPRAYtight Inc has experience in working with customers of all kinds for the last three decades.

#1: Attention to detail

Roof coating contractors must have a positive reputation for paying attention to the details. Roof coating means sealing areas that may be small and hard to work on. Only with careful attention to detail can the job get done well the first time.

Be sure that you read reviews of how contractors have treated the small parts of their jobs. The details matter, especially when it comes to your roof.

#2: Experience

SPRAYtight Inc has worked with all kinds of businesses since 1996. Our three decades of hands-on experience means that you can trust that we have the experience to get the job done. Our experience means that we can handle jobs big or small, easy, or difficult.

#3: Knowledge

With experience, comes knowledge. We have worked on thousands of different projects over the years. That means that we have a working knowledge of roofing types and some of the common problems that can happen with them. If there is an issue, we will address it right away and make sure to talk to you about it.

The wet and windy weather is coming soon with autumn and winter right around the corner. Contact our team today at SPRAYtight INC. Our positive reputation for customer service and quality workmanship speaks for itself! Let us help get your roof coating project started in time for the change of season!

IS SPRAYFOAM WORTH IT?

It gets cold outside in the winter but that doesn’t mean it has to be cold inside your house. Using the right kind of insulation in the right way is the key to staying warm and safe indoors. I’ve written about a variety of different types of insulation including blow in, batt insulation and mineral wool, but today I want to focus on foam insulation.

Foam insulation can come in a few different forms, the most popular of which is spray foam, but there is also foam board insulation (often called rigid foam insulation). In this post, I’ll give you a breakdown of all three types and when and where they work best. These are all fine types of foam insulation, but don’t be fooled that they all work in every situation. When poorly matched to your application, some of these can pose major problems.

Spray Foam Insulation

Open-Cell Spray Foam

  • R-Value: 3.5 per inch
  • Cost 2$ to 5$ per SF

The most affordable of the spray foam options, open-cell spray foam, is used in many applications like roof, walls, and ceilings. Open-cell foam insulation expands greatly upon installation and is fairly soft to the touch, unlike closed-cell foam. Open-cell foam is also vapor permeable which means it does not count as a vapor barrier and needs to have one applied over it. The vapor permeability of open-cell spray foam means that it can take in water and hold it, which can be a real danger. In the case of leaks, open-cell foam will absorb water and hold it against the framing and sheathing elements facilitating mold and rot.

Bottom Line: It’s a great and affordable insulation option when there is no chance of water intrusion, but you’re rolling the dice if you think it might get wet.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam

  • R-value: 6.5 per inch
  • Cost $3 to $6 per SF

Closed-cell spray foam is the king of the insulation when it comes to both R-value per inch and cost. Nothing else comes close, really. Unlike its open-cell cousin, closed-cell spray foam is not vapor permeable and will not hold water. This makes it an excellent option in case of water intrusion. It also includes binders and glues in many applications that help it to literally glue a structure together. Its strength can help prevent uplift when applied on roof decks and provide shear strength to structures. One downside is that often the blowing agents for closed-cell foam are hydrofluorocarbons, which are not so good for mother nature.

Bottom Line: It’s expensive, but wow, will this get you a structurally sound and well insulated building.

My personal preference on spray-foam insulation is that for new construction, they are an excellent option.

Spray foam is NOT reversible, which is a major problem in historic buildings, which may cause irrevocable damage to historic fabric.

Conclusions

It’s really for you to make up your mind as to if foam insulation is right for you, and if so, which type and where. I know, I know, lots of question and not as many answers. My hope is that armed with the information here, you can make a better decision when it does come time to insulate your house. Happy insulating and stay comfy!

Case Study: Tricky Michigan Roof Receives New Life With Spray Foam

“Case Study: Tricky Michigan Roof Receives New Life With Spray Foam “

Spray Tight Foam Insulators, a respected regional spray foam contractor, was in the process of installing spray polyurethane foam insulation throughout the interiors of a commercial facility in River Rouge, Mich. After applying 80,000 square feet of two-inch spray foam insulation with a DC 315 thermal barrier to the facility, the owner and occupier, who had been contemplating a major roof retrofit, decided on spray polyurethane foam as the replacement system.

A Watertight Solution For Roofs

A Watertight Solution For Roofs

A spray foam roofing system provides a watertight solution for a leaky EPDM roof. Leaky roofs can be a hassle to deal with but imagine the difficulty of addressing a leaking roof the size of one and a half football fields. Add to that situation a water treatment facility, and you have a major headache. Because water treatment plants are responsible for decontaminating their city’s water, it’s particularly important that outside water not infiltrate the facility….

Improperly Insulated Oil Tanks Rehabbed With Spray Polyurethane Foam

“Improperly Insulated Oil Tanks Rehabbed With Spray Polyurethane Foam”

After several years of exposure to the elements, industrial steel oil tanks that are not properly insulated can rust and deteriorate, causing dangerous and costly problems. Consumers Power, a major energy company servicing Michigan, recognized that three of their oil tanks were in dire need of new insulation after an insufficient coating application caused them to rust and deteriorate. The existing insulation and subsequent coating was not applied at the proper thickness. So, the company contacted SPRAYtight, Inc., a contractor with experience insulating tanks who had worked with them before, to re-insulate the tanks and give them new life.