Questions on Icynene and Foam insulation
For a non-construction-type…
looking at icynene for the new addition, in the Chicago (for icynene purposes, let’s call it equivalent of Madison WI) and have some, probably stupid, questions:
1) Do they spray UNDER the roof sheathing, or in the rafters? (Truss rafters, no future access planned to the “attic” space.
2) If they spray under the sheathing, do they need to install some of those flat air-duct-type units between the underside of the sheathing and the icynene? To allow the sheathing to breathe/dry/cool?
3) At what point in the building process does foam get sprayed in? The framing is up now, they’re working on the roof framing. Does the electrical conduit go in first, they everything gets sprayed? Or do the open cavities get sprayed and then the electrician carves through the foam?
4) After the walls are foamed, the drywall goes up, what happens if I want to run some speaker wires or antenna wires or whatever through the walls?
Thanks for any help.
Replies
My brother is an Icynene installer based just outside of chicago, I can get his number to you if you would like it.
In answer to your questions
1. common method is to spray under sheathing, but depends on construction.
2.again depends on construction.
3. the best time to spray is after all rough in inspections have been done ,right before dry-wall is installed.
4.place empty runs of conduit in a few locations in the house for future use saves alot of time in the long run.
hoped these helped.
I hope he's not the one in Homer Glen...never returns phone calls, pushing double digits in non-returned calls to-date.Otherwise, give me a name and I'll call him.Thanks
He is located in Gilberts office #847-844-3425. Ask for Pete
Hi Raokman,
Our house had Icynene, and this is just my thoughts on it.
Icynene is fairly expensive per foot, so doing the joists would cost considerably less. The manufacturer, however, suggests doing the ceiling joists so that any heat or air conditioning in the attic will operate more efficiently.
If the rafters are done consider venting the roof. Some people don't think venting is needed, but I noticed a great difference in summer temperature inside our house when we put the vent channels in (before the Icynene was sprayed), so I think venting is very helpful in hot weather. Also our shingle warranty would have been void without venting. I'm in a warmer area than you are, so it probably helps us more.
Our house is all cathedral ceiling and we didn't think the ready made vent channels do a very thorough or good job, so we made our own out of 1/2" styrofoam. If you decide to do your own, I can post a pic of what we did.
Try to get those speaker and other wires in before drywall, but as exfitter said, run some conduit where you think you may want something in the future.
Icynene is a great insulation.
kestrel
edit typo
Edited 7/25/2005 10:59 pm ET by kestrel
Hopefully, Piffin will come along and give you his perspective. IIUC, he is quite experienced with icynene and very positive about it.
I plan to use it in the walls of the remodel that I'm working on right now.
"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
#4, that's why attic access is required.
#1, a 20 X 28 trap is code here ..