October 5, 2009
S.O.S. (spraying on site)
After all of the various disruptions we've encountered during renovation, who knew that insulation would be the thing to drive us from the house? I think we were really beginning to think we wouldn't have to vacate for anything!
Spray foam insulation is going to be wonderfully snug when the wind starts blowing, and it certainly looks harmless enough—a bit like whipped cream. It already dampens the sound in the house quite a bit. On the downside, the fumes are pretty strong when it first comes out of the nozzle. We were strongly advised to stay off of the premises for twenty-four hours after installation, which ended up meaning several days away as the spraying itself took more than one day to complete.
Many, many thanks to the kind neighbors who heard our S.O.S. and took us (including the dog) in, on very short notice. Now that the fumes have dissipated, it feels great to be back home, even in its current, torn-up state. With new insulation in the walls and ceilings of the new addition, the attic, and parts of the basement, we will be cozier than ever!
(3) Comments
Comment on this BlogSome new no fume insulation. Greensulate (also Eco Cradle) invented by www.ecovativedesign.com .
Also, www.Icynene.com Icynene-LD-R-50 insulation. Might want to investigate.
So if this soybean derived sprayfoam is so ecco-friendly, why all the "fumes", and will these "fumes" continue to inhabit the house in low but annoying concentrations creating a health hazard? Also, how flammable is the stuff? Some foams burn rapidly and produce a lot of toxic gas when they do.
There're a number of green insulation options that you could've used to combat the insulation problem, such as using recycled denim, hemp and even newspaper.