NEW ORLEANS Blog

Don’t Skimp When it Comes to Insulation - Especially Foam

Hiring the right man for the job the first time around always pays off in the end. It sometimes seems like a good idea to go with the cheapest option, but this can actually backfire on you, resulting in more money having to be paid out in the future due to a poorly done job. This is your home, and for the majority of Americans, it is the biggest investment you will make.

We are often challenged by going into a home to evaluate what is going on with insulation that has already been installed. Our job is never to step on another company’s work, but a bad insulation job can lead to excess moisture if not installed properly in your home, which can cause mildew and mold overtime. We recently had a project that was a tough experience for the customer. Before we get into that, let’s learn a bit about spray foam insulation (SPF).

What is Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation?

SPF insulation creates a tight seal, preventing air movement. Spray foam expands and completely fills every tiny hole and crevasse providing a superior air seal combined with a powerful R-Value per inch of installed spray foam. There are two types of spray foam insulation, Open Cell and Closed Cell. Both materials are great insulators and air barriers, and offer many benefits to make your home more energy-efficient. SPF is a spray foam that hardens to be almost the same consistency as concrete. This is great for not allowing moisture and cold air into your home. However, if you already have moisture in the wood, this moisture gets trapped and can cause rotting. It’s important to always test the wood moisture before any spray foam is installed to ensure that it is okay to spray.

We were recently hired for an insulation job where the customer had a spray foam insulation installation done not too long ago. He called us because he felt something was wrong with his insulation as it was falling off from under his house. As we were taking a look at his spray foam insulation, we quickly realized a horrible reality - he had moisture under his current spray foam insulation! This moisture was causing the wood under his insulation to rot. This was likely due to an insulation job that was sprayed without testing the wood first. Once we realized the severity of the situation, we knew we had to make this right for the customer. We got to work prying off the current closed cell spray foam that he had under his house. Our customer had shared with us that his son used Koala for his previous insulation job and was extremely happy with the results. He expressed how he wished he would have done the same from the get-go instead of hiring a cheaper company. This could have completely changed the outcome of the situation as we always test the wood moisture to ensure that it is under 18% before we apply our foam. If you skip this step, you can end up trapping moisture in the wood, which will quickly spread.

SPF is a great option for insulation as it has many benefits. But it is tricky if the wrong company is hired for the job. Koala wants to make sure you never have to go through a situation like this. 

Is there moisture under your home? To read more about moisture and spray foam insulation, read our blog post on how moisture can impact SPF insulation. 

Home insulation is not a quick and easy job. Spray foam should only be installed by a professional that has the proper training. Koala technicians are trained in handling the spray foam components and in completing the installation safely. Our Koala Insulation of Greater New Orleans team is happy to help, so call us today for an estimate!