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suzyg215

spray foam insulation question...

Suzy
14 years ago

it's going to cost us $13k extra to do spray foam insulation on all the outside walls of our house (house is close to 6000 sf). is it worth it?

Comments (8)

  • phillipeh
    14 years ago

    In a word: yes. It cost us $9K (or $6K out of pocket after taking into account the builder's allowance for insulation). We have only 3000 sq ft, but everything is electric except the stove top and the tankless water heater, and our electric bill has not topped $125 since we moved in. We did all the exterior walls and the roof decking. We have OC foam, full exterior wall OSB sheathing, and Tyvek.

  • roserblanes
    14 years ago

    From a financial standpoint I don't think it's worth it. It will take many, many years for you to get your money back. For my 2600 square feet house I calculated the payback is 20 years - so it's not worth the investment. Also, I don't think you would get your money back if you were to sell your house, since buying a house has an emotional element and people don't usually pay a premium for things they cannot see.

  • macv
    14 years ago

    Too little information to give you useful advice.

    Where is the project located, what R value is desired, what is the depth of the exterior wall studs, what kind of foam is being offered (open or closed cell), what is the R value per inch, and what is the exterior sheathing/air barrier/cladding/etc.?

    You need to design the whole wall system rather than one element at a time.

  • worthy
    14 years ago

    is it worth it?

    That's really two questions.

    First, is this quote competitive with other spray operators in your area?

    Secondly, what is the payback period vs. alternatives?

    In Canadian Zone B (equivalent to US Dept. of Energy Zone 5 US) I've found alternatives that exceed Code and provide better value with our average home ownership period of 4 years before moving on.

  • manhattan42
    14 years ago

    In most cases, using spray foam will be a waste of money when you look at it from a return-on-investment point of view.

    Foams can cost 5X more than more conventional methods while providing no added benefit.

    Foams will therefore take up to 5X longer to simply pay for themselves before a penny is even seen on energy cost savings.

    It's your money, but foams rarely ever pay for themselves in any climate.

  • rethree
    14 years ago

    Consider building your exterior walls (and roof if feasible) with SIP panels. Has the foam built right in, plus will give you a deep-set window profile, tight building envelope and some additional fire resistance if you use polyurethane SIPs. SIPs also add structural rigidity to the house - added benefit. If it's a house you're living in for the rest of your life, I think it's money well spent.

  • macv
    14 years ago

    srg215, such a simple question with no specifics will not get you the answer you are looking for.

    Tell us what you're trying to accomplish and where.

  • peytonroad
    14 years ago

    I would spray the attic as well, not much sense spraying the 4 walls and not the attic. Works best as an envelope!