DALLAS Blog

Is Spray Foam Insulation the Right Choice for My Home?

At Koala Insulation of Dallas, we are frequently asked by homeowners if they should convert their homes from traditional blown-in insulation (fiberglass or cellulose) to polyurethane spray foam insulation. The answer, of course, is, it depends.

Polyurethane spray foam insulation is an amazing product which seals a home better than any insulation product on the market. If building a new home, this product will provide the best experience of any insulation available today.

For an existing home, the choice is a bit more complicated. There are a number of considerations that a homeowner needs to make when considering spray foam.

1. Moisture. A traditional attic is designed to breathe and should have plenty of airflow to expel hot, moist air. Spray foam is applied to the underside of the roof deck (not the attic floor) to tightly seal an attic, meaning it will no longer breathe. A spray foam insulated attic relies on the home’s air conditioning system to remove humidity and prevent mold and mildew. In order to ensure that the attic receives conditioned air through the ceiling, traditional insulation on the attic floor must be removed, lest moisture accumulate in the attic and lead to mold. If you convert your home to spray foam, make certain attic floor insulation is completely removed before application.
2. Mechanical Ventilation. A home insulated with spray foam provides next to no air flow within the attic. Gas furnaces and hot water heaters require oxygen to function properly and to vent harmful carbon monoxide through vent stacks. A home sealed with spray foam insulation needs to be fitted with electric appliances, or modern, high-efficiency gas appliances. A Dallas HVAC professional may be consulted to install mechanical ventilation for older gas furnaces and water heaters, if a homeowner is unwilling to replace older, less efficient gas appliances. Koala Insulation of Dallas is happy to provide names of several established HVAC professionals who will safely and expertly install mechanical ventilation. This work must be performed prior to installation of spray foam insulation.
3. Chemical Reaction. Polyurethane spray foam is applied by simultaneously spraying two chemicals on to the surfaces of a building structure. The chemicals react on contact, changing from a liquid state to a gas and solid state. The gas is expelled into the atmosphere and the solid forms a tight seal of foam along the surface of the walls and ceiling. While the gasses quickly dissipate into the atmosphere, they are harmful to humans and animals, requiring personal safety equipment for installers. To ensure safety, it is an industry standard that homeowners remain out of the home during installation and for a period of 24 hours following job completion.
4. Return on Investment. The cost of removing existing insulation from a 2000 to 3000 square foot home in Dallas, Richardson or Plano, and replacing it with spray foam can range from $7000 to $14,000. Upgrading the blown-in fiberglass or cellulose insulation in the same size home can range from $3,000 to $5,000. While adding blown-in insulation will never result in a home as airtight as spray foam insulation, energy savings and increased comfort can be accomplished for less than half of the cost. One should consider how long they intend to live in their home before determining if spray foam is the right approach.

Our team at Koala Insulation of Dallas is always available to perform an insulation inspection at no charge, and to provide several options to fit different needs and budgets.