1. Spray Foam Your Van

We’ve gotten this request a few times now, and we’ve gotten really good at spray foam insulation inside hollowed-out vehicles. Depending on the cargo (some people opt to live in them), your van will be much better at maintaining a consistent climate. If you have a van that needs to be insulated, we recommend contacting us to ensure that everything is done correctly.

2. Enhance Your Arts and Crafts Projects

Surprisingly, spray foam insulation may be used for a variety of arts and crafts projects, and the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. It can be used as an adhesive for miniatures or dioramas, as a technique to add support to fragile objects, or sculpted and painted with great success. This makes it ideal for backgrounds, faking rocks and trees, and any other fun projects your imagination can come up with!

3. Build a Homemade Cooler

If spray foam insulation can keep you warm in the harshest of winters, it can also keep your drinks cool in the warmest of summers. If you have any old plastic bins hanging around that aren’t being used, you might easily construct a portable homemade cooler.

The first step is to spray a thin layer of spray foam inside your plastic bin and lid, then wait for it to set completely (the packaging should have instructions for how long it takes). Take a sharp knife and cut off any areas that have expanded too much once it has hardened, and try to make the bottom as flat as possible.

Finally, use a couple pieces of aluminum foil to line the inside of your new cooler, making sure no spray foam shows through. This will keep your drinks chilled while also keeping them separate from the foam insulation.

Just make sure you’re using closed-cell spray foam, since it’ll be more resistant to condensation and spilled liquids.

4. Spray Foam Your Driveway

Spray foam insulation, also known as foam jacking, can actually elevate and level concrete to produce a smooth driveway surface. It aids in the prevention of your driveway sinking into the earth. Spray foam creates a barrier between your driveway and the ground underneath, preventing sagging and cracking. We are frequently questioned about this little-known service, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

5. Transform Your Treehouse

It goes without saying that having a treehouse is fantastic. However, as the elements steadily eat away at them, they can become a little worse for wear. They may also be visited by a variety of unwelcome visitors, such as ants or termites. You can successfully reduce the number of ants that find their way into your family’s treetop vacation while also preventing the flooring from groaning with some smart application of spray foam. The goal is to block the obvious and simple entry points for them, such as the side nearest to the tree.

Spray foam insulation, if your treehouse is capable of being fully enclosed, could make it usable for longer periods of time throughout the year, as it will be more comfortable inside and better protected from the elements and harsh weather conditions – similar to how attic insulation improvements can significantly improve a home’s level of comfort.

6. Organize a Home or Work Office Space

Using a dab of spray foam as a portable pen organizer is a quick tip that might come in handy in an office setting. To do so, spray a small amount of foam onto a flat surface (such as a piece of paper) and let it cure entirely. Once the foam has completely set, take it away from your flat surface and poke small holes in it to attach your pens in place. 

 How does it work?

 Please send us your information. We’ll get in touch with you to set up an appointment. You can call us at (416) 860-6664 or email us at info@ecosprayinsulation.ca. After that, you will meet with our estimator so he can give you information about your project. You will receive a personalized proposal that includes a project description, extra choices, and full pricing. Don’t hesitate to contact us! 

Q. What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

A. Spray Foam is a mixture of two chemical ingredients, isocyanate, and polyol resin, which when combined together form an expanding foam. Within less than 10 seconds after spraying, the liquid mixture expands 30-100 times of the original volume and hardens to form a solid isolating barrier.

Q. What does Spray Foam Insulation really do?

A. Spray Foam insulation provides thermal and acoustical barriers, helping to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. The ability of the spray foam to expand during application makes possible closing of small cracks and openings, isolating the building from air and sound infiltrations. When closed cell insulation is used, the newly formed barrier will also add to the strength of the building structure.

Q. Where Should Spray Foam Be Installed?

A. Spray Foam can be installed on any clean surface that is dry, free of grease, oils or anything else that could complicate the solidifying process. When considering insulation, the first to come in mind are the attic and the outside walls, but other areas of a building structure as per below require as much insulation:

• Any flat roof, cathedral ceiling, overhang and garage ceiling
• Side and sloped walls of attics used as living spaces
• Any interior wall, ceiling and floor where extra sound barrier is required
• Band, joist pockets, pipes
• Basement side walls and ceiling

Q. How Much Spray Foam Should Be Installed?

A. The spray foam thickness depends on where it will be applied and on the purpose of the insulation. Generally speaking, for closed cell insulation we recommend 5 inches for flat roofs, ceilings, and overhangs, 3 inches for basement walls, and 4 inches for upper floors’ outside walls. For open cell spray foam, we usually recommend 3 inches of insulation.

Q. What Is the R-Value and how do I figure it out?

A. The R-Value indicates the resistance of the insulation to conductive heat flow. A denser material has a higher R-value and as a consequence, more insulating power. Closed cell spray foam has an R-value between R-6.0 – 7.0 /inch of thickness. This means that if you put 4 inches of closed cell insulation to your outside walls, you reach a thermal resistance value of R-24 ( 4” x R-6.0 = R-24). Open cell insulation on the other hand is less dense and its thermal resistance value stands at around R3.7 / inch of thickness.

Q. Should I use Open Cell or Closed Cell for my home?

A. The answer to this question depends on several factors. Closed cell spray foam will offer a higher R-Value to your insulation, but if you are more interested in the insulation to act as a sound barrier as well, then Open Cell is the right for you. Closed cell insulation is more solid and can improve the stability of a building. The table below shows the different properties for each type of spray foam application:

Q. Is Spray Foam Safe? Should I access the house right after Spray Foam Insulation?

A. Spray Foam in itself is a very safe product for your home or industrial building if installed properly by the insulation company. However, during the process of spray foam insulation, there can be generated fumes and mists that can be hazardous for the health of the homeowners and other trade members working on site. For this reason, it is recommended that the work area be vacated during and after 24 hours of spray foam application and access to the site be limited to technicians wearing adequate personal protective equipment.

Q. How much will I save on my utility bills by insulating my home?

A. It is well proven that a properly insulated home will act as a barrier to conductive heat flow, preserve the indoor climate, and lower the pressure on your HVAC system. Lots of our customers have reported savings on their monthly energy bills of between 15 to 50%. However, there are extra factors that will determine the amount of energy you will consume such as the climate of your location, the construction shape and size, the HVAC system, and the type of fuel in use, as well as the living habits of the homeowner.

Q. Can insulation help reduce unwanted sound?

A. In addition to blocking outside air and pollutants entering the house, insulation also blocks unwanted sounds, creating a quieter and more comfortable home environment. Good insulation will also reduce the transmission of sounds and noises in between floors and walls of the same building. Our experts at Eco Spray Insulation will help you choose the proper insulation type that answers your needs for home insulation.

Q. What is the Average Cost of Spray Foam Insulation?

A. Spray Foam products are in general more costly, but at the same time much more effective at providing high isolating properties than other traditional materials. However, the number one factor to consider when planning the costs for home insulation is the square footage of the building. Another factor to consider when planning for insulation is the difficulty of the job. Most of the houses have a very regular shape, making the Spray Foam application process very easy, but other homes with a more complex layout can prove to be more difficult to insulate.

Q. Can I Add Spray Foam Insulation Myself?

A. Many more people nowadays are wondering if they can install themselves the spray foam insulation, following the “Do It Yourself” home improvements culture.  Although practically it wouldn’t be impossible, the real concerns on our side would address the quality of the spray foam application process, which in turn would compromise the insulating properties and can result in additional costs.

Q. Can I Install Spray Foam Insulation Without Removing the Drywall?

A. Spray Foam insulation can be added to existing walls, but for a better application process, it is recommended that drywalls be initially removed. The expanding ability of the initially liquid material would put pressure on the inside of the drywall, resulting in cracks and breaks of the latter.

Q. Does Spray Foam Insulation Emit Odours?

A. Some spray foam materials may retain a noticeable odour lasting various days after the application process. This is not an indication of hazardous materials and proper ventilation of the insulated area for a few days would minimize to zero these odours. If the odours are persistent for longer periods, this might be a consequence of poorly installed spray foam.

Q. Will insulating my home raise the resale value of my home?

A. The short answer is “Yes”. More and more homeowners are using their utility bills to prove the energy efficiency of the building, and so prove a strong selling point for potential buyers. A well-insulated home is environmentally safe, high resistant to heat flow and so it would be considered a good investment for the future.

Call Eco Spray Insulation experts anytime at (416) 860-6664 for further explanation or to discuss your project.