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what type of insulation should i get for my house?

Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:16 pm
Posted by beenHADdat
Port Allen, LA
Member since Sep 2011
423 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:16 pm
Is spray foam the best? What other options are out there that would give me the best bang for my buck?
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
46135 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:31 pm to
New construction?
Posted by Jack Daniel
Gold member
Member since Feb 2013
27444 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:33 pm to
New construction?

I just built a 3,500 sq ft house and spray foamed the entire house. Last electricity bill for last month was $75
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:39 pm to
i have done a lot of research into this and i found experts all agree the best is you want a combination of both spray foam and bat insulation.

spray foam inside the walls, but use bat insulation for the ceilings so the house can still breath and not have stale air issues and require you to provide ways to bring in outside air to offset that.

radiant barriers work great for keeping the heat out of attics as well so you definitely should get this done
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 3:41 pm
Posted by Jack Daniel
Gold member
Member since Feb 2013
27444 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:46 pm to
I would say the opposite is best because 70% efficiency is lost through the ceiling. Spray foam the ceiling rafters then bat the walls if you’re looking to save a little money. This will also improve efficient to your AC unit due to the ducts being in a “cooler” attic as opposed to attics will blown insulation in the ceiling and reaching temps of 120+ during summer months.
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6917 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 3:55 pm to
quote:

best bang for my buck


The difference in cost during construction will be marginal in comparison to long-term benefits of energy cost imo. Spend more up front if you need to in order to maximize benefits monthly.
Posted by Blah Blah Blah Dude
My 20 is in the 225
Member since Mar 2009
658 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 4:14 pm to
Serious question- can you remove the spray foam from the walls if the house floods?


Posted by shell01
Marianna, FL
Member since Jul 2014
806 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 4:20 pm to
quote:

so the house can still breath and not have stale air issues


LINK

Also, Home & Garden Board ;)
Posted by shell01
Marianna, FL
Member since Jul 2014
806 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 4:21 pm to
You can cut spray foam with a utility or drywall knife. But closed cell foam doesn soak up water so not sure it's actually necessary?
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 5:26 pm to
quote:

shell01


its not what you think it is, try watching this
LINK

Posted by Jack Daniel
Gold member
Member since Feb 2013
27444 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 5:27 pm to
Closed cell is VERY expensive and most residential cases use open cell. Closed cell is generally used on metal building. Another reason open cell is used in residential is its ability to channel water and allows you to identify leaks. With closed cell on wood frames, you wouldn’t know you had a leak until your roof or wall falls due to rot
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 5:42 pm
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 5:47 pm to
quote:

Serious question- can you remove the spray foam from the walls if the house floods?


serious answer - no, you are screwed and everything must come out and be scraped off the framing and walls, its the only way to prevent mold and rot

and it doesnt even need to be a flood, a simple busted water line upstairs can lead to having to open up and redo an entire side of your home.

closed cell wont allow water in, but no job or coverage is perfect so it can and will have the inevitable voids in a few spots to trap water that you wont know about until serious damage and toxic mold health risks are involved
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 5:50 pm
Posted by Lanitrofish
Member since Nov 2017
75 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 6:55 pm to
Heads up my builder would not spray foam roof and bat walls. I’m doing bat in walls blown in attic.
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3894 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 7:07 pm to
I just finished up my house and did a combination of open cell foam and blown fiberglass (plus a little batt).

I did open cell foam in the 2x4 walls. R38 Blown fiberglass in the attic. Batt in the bonus room/open walls and garage.

My house is 4000 sqft and electric bill is less than $100.

If you encapsulate the roof, gas appliances in the attic space have to have special venting for them. Also the HVAC may need to bring in fresh air as well.

The cost difference between my combination and encapsulating my roof, was over $7k not counting any venting cost for appliances. Based on my electric bills now, it would have taken a very long time to return that money.
Posted by Chuckd
Louisiana
Member since May 2013
797 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:25 pm to
I’m not sure what’s in my walls but my attic has spray foam on the rafters. Personally, I love it. It’s not hot at all up there, usually less than ten degrees hotter than my house and I have a dehumidifier up there so I can store anything I want up there without the worry of heat and humidity destroying it. Also, it’s super clean up there. No dust at all. I don’t even have to store things in boxes if I don’t want to.
Posted by caddysdad
Member since Oct 2015
275 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 9:41 pm to
Every house needs a certain amount of fresh air regardless of what the temps are. Opinions on how you do that are all over the board. Foaming the roof rafters is the way to go. Of course the insurance and pest agencies are putting up a real fight against that along the gulf coast..
Posted by Chuker
St George, Louisiana
Member since Nov 2015
7544 posts
Posted on 6/19/19 at 9:59 pm to
quote:

insurance and pest agencies are putting up a real fight against that


? why
Posted by beenHADdat
Port Allen, LA
Member since Sep 2011
423 posts
Posted on 6/20/19 at 6:27 am to
yes, new construction
Posted by Jack Daniel
Gold member
Member since Feb 2013
27444 posts
Posted on 6/20/19 at 12:41 pm to
Why would pest agencies care about insulation?
Posted by halleburton
Member since Dec 2009
1563 posts
Posted on 6/20/19 at 7:21 pm to
Can’t inspect for termites due to everything covered in foam. Bonds are hard to get with spray foam on roof, but several companies offer them, and its 100% worth it (foam on roof deck I mean).
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