NW JACKSONVILLE Blog

Are DIY Spray Foam Kits Useful: The Difference From Jacksonville Pros

When looking for a strong insulator and vapor barrier, spray foam insulation is a great choice for both residential and commercial buildings. When applied to a surface, this mixture of chemicals expands on contact and seals the area to reduce heat transfer and air leaks. Adding this material helps to reduce poor indoor air quality, pest infestation, and even moisture.

A spray foam DIY kit is a small-scale spray foam applicator that can usually be found in the hardware section. Before you start on your next renovation project, it's important to understand the effect spray foam can have on your environment. There are a few major differences between a simple DIY project with a kit and a professional spray foam job. Your comfort, safety, and savings are all impacted by making the best choice for the unique needs of your home. 

Can You Buy Spray Foam DIY Kits?

Yes. Spray foam DIY kits are smaller sealant applicators that you can typically find at a local Jacksonville area hardware store. These kits are great for small projects like plugging cracks and holes in your building envelope that are contributing to air leaks. Unfortunately, a DIY kit isn't designed to effectively take care of large-scale projects, such as insulating areas around a house.

Common Spray Foam DIY Mistake

For homeowners who aren't familiar with DIY insulation, these aren't going to be the easiest instruments to pick up. Projects can become time-consuming and costly from even the most minor of mistakes. The most common issue is that people aren't used to gauging the right amount of material to apply. The expansion of foam can be messy, often leading to excessive material waste.

How Should Spray Foam DIY Kits Be Used?

There is one main difference in choosing between a DIY spray foam kit renovation and hiring a professional: the goal of your project. Sealing air leaks, filling cracks, and reducing openings during a home renovation are all opportunities to use a DIY spray foam kit. These are considered "small-scale" problems that are quick and easy to adjust. After you get used to filling these spaces with the right amount of spray foam, they're a simple fix for you and your household to cover.

Meanwhile, for problems such as temperature regulation, humidity, and noise reduction, you’ll need to consult an experienced group. Local experts like Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville have industry equipment like spray foam rigs that will seal hard-to-reach places and close off seemingly insignificant areas that go unnoticed by homeowners. 

DIY Spray Foam Vs Northeastern Florida Contractor

Taking on a larger renovation means you need to make a call to your local experts when planning to install professional-grade spray foam. Your team at Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville has the necessary equipment to ensure the job is completed quickly and effectively. This type of hardware needs to be operated by a trained team in order to properly mix the chemicals, install the right amount, and reduce the mess in your space.

This group of experienced professionals helps cut down on the time necessary to install the right spray foam materials, whether it’s open-cell or closed-cell spray foam. The chemicals are mixed on-site before being sent through a hose where they’re sprayed onto a surface, such as between joists or into stud cavities. Once the material has hardened, your new insulation creates a long-term barrier that fills tiny cracks in the facade to reduce leaks, moisture, and heat transfer.

Hiring a team is most often sought after because it’s seen as the better option for extensive renovation projects. It also means the experts aren’t going to be taking apart your home, like cutting out significant parts of drywall to reach important spaces. Rather than ruining your framed walls and tearing up your floorboards, Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville can help you determine where you’re in need of newer materials and install the necessary insulation quickly and safely.

Evaluating Your Material With A Local Expert

Although spray foam is widely used in residential projects, many homeowners are still unfamiliar with the material and therefore may be wary of the large equipment and potential costs. While a major project may at first seem daunting, professional spray foam insulation cuts back on mistakes, time, and inefficiency.

By offering free evaluations, Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville can help our neighbors cut down on these costs. Before you worry about the budget when looking at an important project, you need to have the information that tells you what kind of return on investment you’re looking at. 

Our free evaluations help you and your household learn more about the current condition of your home’s insulation and air sealing. You can make informed decisions with these details to take into consideration your schedule and budget so you can easily plan out the extent of your renovation project.

A Koala Insulation Inspection

Scheduling an inspection helps you find areas that are lacking proper materials. It can also uncover hidden damages or hazards that could be contributing to other problems in your home. Koala Insulation's free evaluations give you the chance to learn more about different types of insulation and find solutions that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient. With your local Jacksonville area experts, you'll be able to determine if spray foam is even the right insulation to get the job done for your home's unique needs!

How Can Spray Foam Improve Your Jacksonville Environment?

If you’re looking to seal a new installation or patch up a problematic air leak, a quick project like this can be handled with a spray foam DIY kit. However, if you’re in need of updated insulation, better sound reduction, or a vapor barrier, you’ll want to consult your local insulation experts. Contact Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville to schedule your free evaluation today and learn more about how spray foam can reduce discomfort while increasing savings.