Home Projects Forum

Guest · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:32 am Post subject: Spray (Foam) Insulation

DIYer question:

Would spray-in insulation be good for use in the floor of an attic? I have a very large attic for storage and I want to insulate the floor and walls. I would like to spray the ceiling but I'm not sure about the floor.

Answer:

If you live in a warm climate, such as Florida or Arizona, attic temperatures can get 160 degrees and higher. The object in foaming is to create a much-more-efficient thermal and vapor-proof living envelope in your new home. Applying the foam on the flat attic or directly to the top side of your ceiling material is very effective at preventing the effects of convection currents in your attic. This creates a better insulation barrier, and helps control dust by sealing the top plates of your framing. Applying foam to the bottom side of your roof decking after the flat area has been foamed is essentially a waste. The cost of foam is always an obstacle. If you can't decide where to use it, the attic is the best place. This is where your greatest temperature differences occur.