What does a foam insulated sealed attic look like?

Streetman Homes in Austin, TX uses Agribalance, an environmentally friendly open cell foam to insulate some of their most energy efficient homes. Sealed attic systems with foam insulation have many advantages of traditional fiberglass batt systems.

Take a look inside the attic of one of the Streetman Homes in Mueller, as Craig Bushon demonstrates why this is a great way to build your new home.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Austin
• Craig Bushon
• Steve Rosenbaum
• Streetman Homes
• Texas
• TX
• What is Green Building

[d1incharge]

How thick is that stuff? By the looks of the 2x6, maybe 2x8 rafers, it would be 6-8" thick! That would be great, but isn't open cell foam 3.6/inch making your total R-value= 21.8 - R28.8 maybe give you the benefit of the doubt and say it is R-30, aren't the MINIMUMS R-38?? recommended R-49??? And how many more cubic feet of air are you having to condition now, by bringing the attic into the envelope? Do you test homes when you are done to make sure they are not too air tight?

[SteveJRosenbaum]

d1incharge,

Good questions! I have contacted the manufacturer of the foam, and Streetman Homes and asked them to respond. In addition, we are going to address your very questions, live on our radio program Sunday morning on ESPN Austin. I invite you to call in and be a guest and pose your questions on the air.

Let me know,

Steve

[amusingisthedawn]

I can't believe how many videos promote spraying directly onto the roof deck. You need a radiant foil with an air gap...THEN you can spray away...spray foam doesn't do anything more than batt insulation except seal a few more air gaps. It isn't magic.

[HomeEnergyNow]

Are you still on the air? I would love to help put an end to this temporary trend here in Austin, I have seen the spray foams come and go in many places, somehow it is still surviving in Austin. Somebody needs to get the information out as to why spray foams need to stay out of residential construction for energy, and health of the occupants. Here in Austin to bring in fresh air they just poke a hole and run it to the return. Energywise no gains.Healthwise, way more risk of not getting fresh air

[HomeEnergyNow]

@chechnya Spray foam is for conductive heat. Most heat transfered through the roof is radiation, not conduction. So applying foam to a roof deck is retarded for many reasons. Foil is 97% reflective, meaning the heat from the roof is reflected back out, and the temperature of your ceiling/insulation is reflected back to the ceiling. The coatings are usually around 75-80% reflective, they are designed for attics that would be difficult to foil. Foil/aluminum is more for hot sunny climates.

[chechnya]

What is the difference between spray foam vs. foil barrier vs. spray aluminum barrier?

[d1incharge]

@Enviropro8829 I have built from Texas up to Kansas. From slabs to basements, hvac w/in and hvac outside of the envelope, in three different climate zones.. Kansas was where my numbers came from, I had a personal house in one of the breeziest areas, and it is NOT a moderate climate. The kwh rates there are good, but the ROI w/foam ALWAYS ends up the same. To get R-60 depends on the loose-fill, I just looked up certainteed, it is 22" blown in for R-60. Is that even possible with open cell?

[Enviropro8829]

where are these homes? SOunds like the climate is 72 degrees year round. If you are located in a moderate climate the type of insulation used will have little impact on the cost savings. Your comments are based on your personal experience in one climate, which does not apply to all climate zones. Moderate climates do not have the same issues or payback as the Hot/Humid or Cold climate zones. You never answered my question on how you acheive a R60 with blown in products.

[d1incharge]

Here are some #'s from the last ten houses we put up that I tested last year. Avg .017$/sqft/month to heat and cool.......What it would have cost to use foam .007$/sqft/month just in interest. Now to pay towards the 4250$ cost of spray foam to find a return on investment date, lets say you had ZERO heating and cooling costs, it would take 11.6 years for my avg. home-buyer to pay for the cost of foam EVEN IF THEY HAD USED ZERO HEATING/COOLING. Nice ROI, the secret to new const.'s last choice.

[Enviropro8829]

You talk in circles because you have no facts just opinions. How do you acheive an R60 with a blown in material on the floor of an attic. Please don't tell me it is the number of inches of the material X it's Rvalue at 1 inch.

[d1incharge]

@Enviropro8829 You should try building, and watching costs start to heavily outway the savings. You should learn more about codes and local govts., since they change from place to place. Most of all, you should prove that somehow, if you create a larger conditioned space, use a lower r-value(no I dont want to get into the foam industries biggest BS arguement with the ASTM) somehow this will save people money? Greater envelope.......greater ft3 to condition...less r-value....lesser bills?

[Enviropro8829]

You have many things to learn my friend, please put your bias aside and open your mind to the science of the truth.