Month: <span>March 2017</span>

What Certifications the Right Spray Foam Insulation Company Should Have

Just like any company you hire to provide a professional service, it is important that the spray foam insulation contractor you choose for your insulation installation has the right qualifications for the job. You may not know off the top of your head what certifications you should be looking for in that arena, and that’s okay. However, it is in your best interest to learn which qualifications to check for and why each one is important in the grand scheme of your home improvement project. We’re going to give you an overview of the main three to look for.

 

Does the Contractor Use Products Approved by the American Chemistry Council Spray Foam Coalition?

One of the first and foremost factors you should take into consideration is the quality and safety standard of the equipment and products that are going to be used to insulate your home. The American Chemistry Council has several divisions under its Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) that are devoted to spray foam insulation. The Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) is one of these organizations and it focuses on promoting the benefits of spray foam insulation as well as the importance of safe manufacturing, transporting, and application of spray foam insulation.

Members of the the SFC are companies that are verified and able to produce and sell spray foam insulation systems, equipment, and chemicals according to regulation. You should make sure that any contractor you’re considering is using products from an SFC certified member. A full list of SFC members can be found on the SFC’s website.

Many spray foam companies will have information on what equipment and supplies they use right on their website, but if you can’t find that information on their site you can always ask them yourself. This is important to you because you won’t have to wonder about the quality or safety of the products being applied in your home or the spray systems being used to apply them because you will know that the materials are up to regulation standards.

 

SPFA PCP certification

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is another part of the American Chemistry Council’s Center for the Polyurethanes Industry. Its Professional Certification Program (PCP) is a multi-level certification program focused on creating the highest standards of installation quality and safety. The different levels of certification are available for assistants, installers, master installers, and project managers. The PCP includes completion of the pivotal Chemical Health and Safety program by the CPI and also covers CPR, first aid, and OSHA safety courses as well.

Once a spray foam installer is certified, two things happen. The first is that they receive a SPFA PCP identification card based on the level of certification they completed. This must be renewed every five years, so be sure to check the contractor’s card is up to date.

The second thing a contractor gets is a CPI Chemical Health and Safety Training ID number. Feel free to ask your spray foam contractor in consideration for this number, and check it to verify completion, using the database here. Completion of this course and certification by the SPFA ensures that the most thorough safety protocol will be followed by the technicians installing your insulation.

 

ABAA certification

Another helpful certification for contractors to have under their belt is the Spray Polyurethane Foam Installer Training Course provided by the Air Barrier Association of America(ABAA). This course focuses on the necessity and function of air barrier assembly, proper installation procedures, codes, and standards.

In order for a contractor to be granted certification, they also must have 3000 hours of experience with air barrier application or other required fields, which includes at least 1500 hours specifically dedicated to spray polyurethane foam experience. This means that if a contractor you’re considering has the ABAA certification, it is a good indicator of having sufficient experience in the field. As discussed in the last section, plenty of experience should be a reassuring indicator that the contractor is an expert at the best practices for installation.

The importance of making sure the contractor you choose is a spray foam insulation expert is an easy task if you ensure that they have the right qualifications. Checking that your installer has obtained these certifications should make you feel more comfortable with the level of safety and precision they will have when applying spray foam insulation in your home. If you want to equip yourself with more information on how to choose the right contractor before making that decision, check out our guide on how to do so: How to Choose a Spray Foam Insulation Contractor.

What Information to Provide Your Spray Foam Installer to Get An Accurate Insulation Estimate

Once you have decided to move forward with your home improvement project of having spray foam insulation professionally installed, the next step is to do your research on spray foam insulation companies in your area and get quotes. Getting things right for this step is so important. Not only will getting estimates from several contractors give you a realistic range of how much your project will cost, it will also give you a heads up of what to expect throughout the process, as most spray foam insulation contractors will want to discuss general timelines and how they will handle the logistics of the application process. Here are some key factors that you should keep in mind when getting a contractor’s quote on your home’s insulation installation.

 

Location

Chances are you already know which part or parts of your home you want to insulate.  It makes a big difference whether it is the attic, basement, crawlspace, walls, or whole house that you want improved. This is most likely the first question a contractor will have for you so that they can determine which type of spray foam insulation and application (i.e. open cell or closed cell, high or low pressure) would be best suited for your project. Each type varies the overall cost of the project, so it is crucial to determine which one is going to be applied in order to proceed with calculating your estimate.

 

Board Footage

A board foot is a unit of measurement of volume, usually in context of construction. The measurement of one board foot is 12 inches length by 12 inches width by 1 inch depth (12”x12”x1”). Cost per board foot, though variable from one company to the next in terms of price of materials, is always a key factor in calculating an estimate. If you can calculate the board footage of the space you are needing insulated, it will save you time right off the bat when getting a quote because this is one of the first questions a contractor will ask. Don’t worry if you can’t calculate this yourself though, because most contractors can easily do that for you as long as you know the basic measurements. Some companies even prefer to get the measurements themselves in order to provide the most accurate estimate.

 

R-value

You may not necessarily need to know the specific r-value you will need. Any contractor can determine your recommended insulation r-value based on your climate and area of the house you are having insulation installed. However, knowing the recommended r-value already will help you understand what information the contractors you speak to are using to calculate the most accurate quote, as well as weed out any vast inconsistencies. You can read our easy step by step guide to calculating your r-value for reference.

A professional contractor will always be concerned with r-value, but some may try to tell you a much higher r-value than is actually needed in order to increase the price of application. On the other hand, some may give artificially low recommended r-values in order to cut corners or seem more budget-friendly. The important thing to remember in terms of r-value is that if it is not up to what it needs to be, you will be missing out on the incredible energy-efficiency, long term savings, and other benefits of spray foam insulation.

 

Budget

If you hadn’t already estimated what your budget should be for the project, it is not a bad idea to use a cost estimation calculator before you even contact any contractors. This should give you a generalized idea of how much you should plan to expense for. A good example of a spray foam insulation cost calculator can be found here. These calculators shouldn’t take the place of comparing specified costs given to you by professionals. A calculator won’t take into consideration any variables that may be part of your project. Some of these variables include recommended r-value, budget restrictions, type of spray foam, and any specific conditions of your house that may affect application.

 

How to analyze the quotes that come back

Unless you are talking about completely different projects in completely different locations of your house, the estimates you receive from different companies shouldn’t vary greatly. Beware especially when it comes to significantly lower quotes. They may have left out an important factor and therefore not have given you the most accurate estimate, which could change drastically once the project is underway. Alternatively, they may  be lowering their normal price in order the try to push old or lower quality materials out of their inventory.

A lower estimate is not always be a bad sign, either. Some of the best contractors may build rapport with you, get an idea of your budget restrictions and work to give you the most competitive rate in accordance with what is best for your home.

By the end of collecting quotes, not only should you have a good idea of which estimates are the most accurate and realistic, it should have also given you the prime opportunity to check the qualifications and certifications of each installer you spoke with. Your cost comparison along with getting to know more about the companies individually will set you on the right track to hire the best and most qualified contractor for your spray foam insulation project without any major surprises later!

DIY Spray Foam Insulation vs. Professional Installation

Anyone who has looked into spray foam insulation knows that as a general rule of thumb, there’s not really such thing as do-it-yourself (DIY) spray foam insulation. If you have decided to insulate your home with spray foam and are looking for the next right steps to start your project, you may still be trying to find a way to make it work as a DIY project. Common reasons for trying to do things alone include trying to save money or avoid the hassle of finding the right contractor. Sometimes a homeowner is just more of a hands-on home improvement person in the first place, and accustomed to handling projects with ease. If you are harboring any doubts whether installing spray foam insulation is really as complicated as contractors say it is, rest assured., In most cases, spray foam insulation technicians aren’t just conveying the idea that DIY is a bad option in an effort to gain more business for themselves. Ethical installers care that things are done safely and effectively and seek to underscore the many reasons why installing spray foam in your house is best left to spray foam insulation experts.

The first and most obvious reason is because of the specialized equipment systems needed for application. Even the oversimplified DIY spray foam insulation kits you can purchase at a home improvement store near you require very specific processes in order to function properly when applying spray foam to even the smallest areas. Although they are already intended for small projects, the most common complaints made by consumers who try to use these kits are that they cover much less square footage and thickness than advertised, and that the mess caused by faulty hoses and broken tips is not worth the hassle. This means in order to finish your entire installation project using  nothing but do-it-yourself kits, you would probably end up spending just as much money and many more hours than that of having it installed by a professional.

Professional rigs like the ones used by contractors can handle much higher application demands, but are impractical to purchase for single project use. They would cost you literally tens of thousands of dollars more than just hiring a contractor to complete your project. There would be absolutely no reason to purchase a professional spray foam system unless you yourself are looking to get in the business of spray foam installation!

Having technical issues with equipment isn’t the only way to end up with a mess on your hands. The spray foam insulation application process can be a messy one. Think about it: A pressurized machine is being used to spray liquids that quickly turn into foam onto a surface that is most likely indoors. Unless you know the proper procedures and techniques to follow for the most precise application, there will be quite a bit of fallout. Luckily, certified spray foam insulation contractors have been trained on these techniques to eliminate as much mess or waste of supplies as possible. Not to mention, precision spray foam insulation installation ensures there are no holes or gaps overlooked that could result in air infiltration and weaken your home’s energy efficiency.

The last and possibly most important reason to leave your spray foam project to a professional is due to crucial safety concerns. There are particular specifications on how the equipment and chemical compounds used in the application process for closed cell foam must be handled in order to ensure the health and safety of both the installers and homeowners. Professional installers go through training and certification courses on chemical safety to be equipped with the safest application procedures to follow as well as what to do should a first aid situation arise. This should give you more peace of mind that a certified contractor completing the job will follow proper protocol and not unknowingly compromise the health of you or your loved ones by improperly handling products during application.

As you now see, there are several very important points to dissuade you from attempting to make insulating your home with spray foam a DIY project. Spray foam insulation is a fantastic investment for your home, so there is no reason to compromise its value or effectiveness. A certified professional will be able to complete your spray foam insulation in the most cost effective way and the least amount of time without compromising precision or safety.
If you’re ready to find the right installer for your project, download our e-book How to Choose a Spray Foam Insulation Contractor to learn about the specific qualifications you should look for when choosing your contractor.