Insulation plays an important role in your home. Whether you decide to build, renovate or update a home, the type of insulation you use makes a difference in your utility bills, among other things. Spray foam insulation has been the popular choice of builders for decades now.
As its popularity increased, so did the presence of contractors who lack the appropriate experience to handle the job appropriately. Several things could go wrong with its use, and if you are aware of the potential issues ahead of time, you may avoid the pitfalls below.
The product matters
When it comes to spray foam insulation, not all products are equal. For instance, Icynene is a popular brand of the product beginning in the 1980s. In fact, many people use spray foam insulation and Icynene interchangeably. Since then, some companies have made similar products and misrepresented them as the original product. Using an inferior product could cause the foam not to adhere properly in the cavity. This could lead to issues with mildew and mold.
The mixing matters
If the chemicals that make up the foam are not properly mixed, the insulation may pull away from the sides of the cavity. This could make it more difficult for your heating and cooling systems to maintain the temperatures you like, which would raise your utility bills.
The application matters
When applying spray foam insulation, the following errors could occur:
- If the contractor rushes the job, workers could miss spots, and gaps could result.
- If the contractor attempts to install the foam too quickly, the thickness and flow rate may be off, which may result in an incorrect thickness and a permanent odor. This happens because the spray foam gets too hot and creates the odor.
- Spray foam insulation does have an odor during the application process, but it should dissipate if one did the job correctly. Otherwise, it would retain an odor and “off-gassing,” which could cause respiratory issues in addition to a bad smell.
If you experience any of these issues, it may be due to your contractor’s error. More than likely, the job will require redoing in order to fix these issues, which will probably be costly. You may be able to go back to your contractor and resolve the dispute amicably. However, if that doesn’t happen, you may need to determine what your rights are and what types of legal options you may have in order to resolve the issue.
