Importance of creating an air barrier in an unvented attic

Creating an air barrier in your unvented attic can lead to serious savings in energy costs and create a healthier living environment for you and your family.  Basic insulation provides R-value, which is the materials ability to slow down heat transfer across a membrane such as a roof or attic deck.  This R-value helps with heat conduction but does not prevent the accumulation of heat by convection, which is air passing through cracks, crevices, and other openings of an attic trying to create equilibrium between the house temperature and the outside heat and elements.  The cold air being pumped through your vents is constantly being sucked into the attic and leaked into the atmosphere.  With Therma Seal's Icynene Spray Foam System you can reduce energy costs by creating R-value but ALSO eliminate heat build up through convection.  Any cold air pumped into your house would be encapsulated within your house and attic without any waste.  You wouldn't go to the beach with a cooler of ice and not put the lid on it right?!  Contact Therma Seal Insulation Systems at 561-775-9703 or visit our website www.thermaseal.net for more information about our energy saving solutions.

Ultra energy efficient insulation system along with healthier air quality!

Counihan Construction utilizing spray foam insulation to give their valued homeowners an ultra energy efficient insulation system along with healthier air quality!

FAQs about spray foam

Can you explain how the different R values are achieved? Is it just sprayed on thicker? If so how is this done on the underside of the attic if the roof is constructed of 2x4 lumber? Does it expand beyond the beam thickness of 3.5 inches?

Now that I have some quiet time.  The primary reason the Icynene is a game changer is it utilizes the synergy of R-Value with Air Barrier.  1+1=4.

R-Value is a mathematical denotation for the resistance to heat transfer by conduction and conduction only.  Higher the R the slower the warm molecule are apple to transfer form warm side to cold side.

Air Barrier is either air barrier or it is not.  That said once an air barrier achieved added product does not improve the air barrier.  Icynene achieve air barrier at 3.5” (aka R13).  Short story at an R20 the foam prevent 95+% of heat transfer and 97% at an R30 (8”).

Icynene is designed to be used to encapsulate a conditioned space, when utilized in a non-conditioned area it performs only as a thermal product providing R-Value.

Does it expand beyond the beam thickness of 3.5 inches?

Yes, an R20 thickness will encapsulate a 2x4 truss system.

Is it just sprayed on thicker?

Yes adding thickness increases R-Value to spray foam.  There is a diminishing value return which occurs beyond a R13.  Typical residential code has always required a R19 minimum so generally we offer R20 as the optimum thickness choice.

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Icynene Spray Foam in Hot Climates

Hot or warm climates like the southern states of the USA can benefit equally as well as their northern counterparts from spray foam insulation. In fact, one area of the typical family home that can benefit from spray foam insulation is the unvented attic.

A report titled Energy Efficient Homes: The Duct System from The University of Florida - IFAS Extension suggests that typical duct systems lose up to 40% of heating or cooling energy leading HVAC equipment to work harder.  According to the report, ducts leaking just 20% of the conditioned air passing through them cause your system to work 50% harder. In turn, duct leakage not only translates to higher utility bills but also can contribute to mold problems as well as potential health and safety issues.  To combat these potential issues, installation of spray foam insulation like Icynene Classic Max in an unvented attic in hot climates like Florida and Texas can allow:

• duct leakage to remain in the conditioned space, eliminating the loss of conditioned air
• increases the efficiency of the HAVC equipment
• maintains a temperature in the attic space roughly 5^o to 10^oF within the living environment below
• Plus, spray foam insulation products like Icynene Classic Max allows builders to build homes with the safest attic configuration available on the market

The graphic below demonstrates how an unvented attic with Icynene open cell spray foam insulation in a hot climate or southern US climate can help regulate HVAC efficiency and maintain improved indoor temperatures.

Ninety-nine percent of moisture travels through the air. An integrated open-cell spray foam insulation and air barrier system minimizes air leakage and, therefore, accompanying moisture. Diffusion represents only 1% of the total moisture flow. Diffused moisture travels through the sheathing and the insulation to the interior space where it is easily removed from the air by the A/C sytem. The moisture load and latent heat load is thereby dramatically reduced with the use of air-impermeable, soft foam insulation.

Appraisal Institute's Residential Green & Energy Efficient Addendum

Appraisal Institute's Residential Green & Energy Efficient Addendum

The Appraisal Institute’s Green Addendum is the first residential green and energy efficient appraisal report addendum developed by appraisers, for use by appraisers.  The addendum provides items of high performance house features for consideration by appraisers and will provide appraisers a tool for selecting comparable sales for the property they are appraising.

 

Summer has kicked off to be a hot one: Icynene, Sustainably COOL!

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Happy Customers

Good morning -

I just wanted to say thank you, the installation of the insulation went beyond well.  The guys, Chris, Mauricio, and Adrian were beyond, polite, professional, and prompt. Both my husband and myself were extremely pleased, thank you again so much, and please send our thanks to the guys who did the work again!!

Leighann Molina