I tried to post this in the energy and heating forum and got spam filtered so will try here…
Client has 2300 sq. ft. home under const., 6″ walls, all electric heat. Single story. Location is north central Arkansas, hot humid summers and mostly mild winters.
Insulator bids came in at $2300 for cellulose vs. $6500 for icynene foam.
Any recommends at which is the best long term investment?
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Replies
I would not
use icynene or other open cell foam as a hot roof. For that matter, open cell has very little R value advantage over cellulose, so why the extra $4000?
You might look at some sort of hybrid... closed cell in the walls, dense pack the floor, dense pack any slopes (with appropriatae vent baffles), loose fill the attic.
thanks...
The sales pitch was loaded toward the icynene, mostly promoting it's infiltration sealing capabilities and even admitting it's minimal r value edge. Homeowner was a little smitten with the foam idea, it's all so modern and all.
I'm sold on a more traditional approach of us doing the caulk and seal of the envelope and then hire the cellulose install but all opinions are welcome.
Earlier this year
I did a major overhaul of our place... 1930s single story farmhouse with easy crawl space and attic. I got the air leakage wayyyy down (around 2.5 ACH50) using the various boot-and-suspenders methods and then insulated everything with cellulose: dense pack walls, dense pack floor joists with canvex underneath, loose fill attic. We routinely do this to houses of various ages and it's very simple if you have access. It helps to own a blower door or at least simulate one. You need the same access to spray foam, so I don't see the appeal, except for closed cell in certain scenarios. I see no value in open cell. I can do everything I need to do with small amounts of canned foam and rigid board, the rest is cellulose (which is dirt cheap and has other excellent properties).
Search atticles on flassh and batt for controlling infiltration.
But IU I not sold on any open celled foam. Most of their advertising and sales pitches rely oin reseach done for closed cell foams, which are entirely different. They offer a misture barrier and nearly twice the R-value. Opencelled have been known to absorb and hold moisture and cause rot.
If those are the only two choices, dfeinitely go with the cellulose