Spray foam insulation or spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a versatile alternative to traditional building insulation materials. Using SPF can help eliminate air infiltration and provides insulation to a home.
The combination of chemicals in spray foam, polyurethane and isocyanate react with one another to harden and this harden layer of foam provides a layer of protection for whatever you’re covering.
There are many benefits to using SPF insulation:
- It saves money by saving energy.
- It works great as an insulator, sealing all sorts of exposed cracks and crannies.
- It helps get rid of mold since it’s water resistant
- It has a long life-span and saves families money by lasting for years and years.
- It is environmentally friendly and helps reduce energy consumption while protecting against mold and moisture.
Buying your own spray foam rig can have benefits, especially for contractors, but there are many things to consider once you’ve decided to buy one. For starters, it helps to know how to use the rig and what sort of spray foam chemicals you’ll be using and spraying. It also helps to know all about the different parts of the spray foam rig.
- Know what sort of trailer you need to use for your rig. Trailers come in several different styles and it’s important to find one that can handle the weight of the equipment and store spray foam chemicals safely.
- A properly working air dryer is important because it helps when dealing with spray foam chemicals that are moisture sensitive. A high temperature refrigerated air dryer can go a long way.
- Make sure to select the right sprayer for the job. Sprayers come in several forms and they deliver chemicals to the spray foam gun after heating them. Thinking about application, outputs and hose lengths when choosing a sprayer.
- A Spray foam gun is where spray foam chemicals are mixed and these come in several varieties, so picking one depends on preference, desired output and the materials being used.
- Be sure to choose an air compressor that meets your equipment needs as many tools like a spray foam gun and power tools require compressed air.
- A generator must provide power consistently to a spray foam rig and can do wonders when it’s working correctly. A generator powers so many pieces of a rig that it is essential to getting a job done and getting it done right
- Dealing with spray foam chemicals can be dangerous stuff and protection must be used, so it’s important to keep breathable air, eye wash and a fire extinguisher on hand for emergencies.
Contractors looking for spray foam rigs can by them new or used, but used SPF equipment should be treated with some caution. While used equipment can come at a discounted price and look good as new after some refurbishing, it’s important to check on the age of the equipment, how often it’s been used, a repair history and how it has held up from use.
Spray foam insulation and spray foam equipment like A spray foam gun can have numerous benefits to contractors and homeowners alike. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that having proper insulation and eliminating air leaks can cut energy bills by up to 20 percent.
While spray foam is insulation can be extremely useful, there are always other options available. Generally speaking there are four main types of insulation: foam-in-place, rigid foam, rolls and batts and loose-fill. When it comes to installing insulation, staple guns are one of the most useful tools in your arsenal.
With a staple gun, you can be sure your insulation is going to hold. If you’re installing underfloor insulation, staple guns equipped with the proper staples will hold the insulation securely to the floor and help ensure that rodents aren’t going to get in it.
You can use good old-fashioned staple guns with 10mm staples, but if you’re installing underfloor insulation, you’re potentially putting yourself at risk of being electrocuted. Better and safer options are electric staple guns because it’s double insulated. To amp up the safety even more, use an electric staple gun with a residual current device (RCD), which acts as a kill switch if something goes wrong.
Whichever way you install insulation, go about it safety and make sure you have the tools you need at hand.