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Insulation (attic and cavity wall).....advice needed!

  • 16-11-2015 11:12am
    #1
    ButtersSuki
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    New to this area so go easy on me and my likely very dumb questions!

    Live in a standard 3 bed end of terrace (terrace of 3 if that makes any difference?) house build in 2006 which had the attic converted in 2012.

    Have done some basic research and want to get the attic and cavity walls insulated using the spray foam system (icyene). Any advice? Watchouts? pros/cons etc.?

    Any help greatly appreciated!


Comments

  • #2
    Dudda
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,541 ✭✭✭Dudda


    ButtersSuki wrote: »
    Hi all,

    New to this area so go easy on me and my likely very dumb questions!

    Live in a standard 3 bed end of terrace (terrace of 3 if that makes any difference?) house build in 2006 which had the attic converted in 2012.

    Have done some basic research and want to get the attic and cavity walls insulated using the spray foam system (icyene). Any advice? Watchouts? pros/cons etc.?

    Any help greatly appreciated!

    I remember reading here on Boards some place of a potential issue where the foam inside the cavity contracts over time and due to its strength can move the external wall leaving several structural cracks. It was fairly recent in this construction forum area so should be possible to find the thread. Why not use the bead stuff in the walls?


  • #3
    yupya1
    Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭yupya1


    Great job, well worth the cost.
    The foam really does fill out the entire cavity. We even had some come into the attic ( no issues can be taken away when dry)

    It will take a month to really feel the benefit cos needs to dry out completely.

    Only Con I could say is drilling the walls but ours were patched up pretty well and look fine now.

    We had a good experience with -no adds-


  • #4
    yupya1
    Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭yupya1


    Dudda wrote: »
    I remember reading here on Boards some place of a potential issue where the foam inside the cavity contracts over time and due to its strength can move the external wall leaving several structural cracks. It was fairly recent in this construction forum area so should be possible to find the thread. Why not use the bead stuff in the walls?

    That's sounds completely implausible. Contracting foam couldn't move anything and certainly not a wall.
    When it is going into the cavity is when all the pressure is applied.

    Heard the beads is not of the same insulation value and can get clogged in places and may not fill whole cavity so went with the foam


  • #5
    Dudda
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,541 ✭✭✭Dudda


    yupya1 wrote: »
    That's sounds completely implausible. Contracting foam couldn't move anything and certainly not a wall.
    When it is going into the cavity is when all the pressure is applied.

    Heard the beads is not of the same insulation value and can get clogged in places and may not fill whole cavity so went with the foam

    I'm just passing on what I read. I think it's plausible but I'm not sure it happened. It's just such a huge problem if it were to happen it's worth mentioning. It might be in extreme cases linked to poor blockwork or something.
    For the roof foam I'd say is no problem as the timber has movement in it unlike blockwork.

    This is the thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=95388087


  • #6
    yupya1
    Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭yupya1


    Dudda wrote: »
    I'm just passing on what I read. I think it's plausible but I'm not sure it happened. It's just such a huge problem if it were to happen it's worth mentioning. It might be in extreme cases linked to poor blockwork or something.
    For the roof foam I'd say is no problem as the timber has movement in it unlike blockwork.

    This is the thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=95388087

    Yea sorry didn't mean to seem like I was attacking you but after reading the thread I'm more convinced it's not possible, the posters seem unreliable but the main point is this cavity foam doesn't grip anything.
    It is completely different to the roof/spray foam.

    Some came out in our attic and it's like hardened shaving foam no grip whatsoever.


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  • #7
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,141 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    ButtersSuki wrote: »
    Hi all,

    New to this area so go easy on me and my likely very dumb questions!

    Live in a standard 3 bed end of terrace (terrace of 3 if that makes any difference?) house build in 2006 which had the attic converted in 2012.

    Have done some basic research and want to get the attic and cavity walls insulated using the spray foam system (icyene). Any advice? Watchouts? pros/cons etc.?

    Any help greatly appreciated!
    Is the felt breathable?
    How will the attic timbers be vented?
    How difficult will it be to achieve vapour barrier continuity on the warm side of the foam?


  • #8
    JonathonS
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭JonathonS


    2012 is very recent, was your attic not well insulated as part of the conversion?

    Re foam cavity fill there are two types. Most companies offer icynene, which is an open-cell foam.

    A few companies offer BASF Walltite or Technitherm, which are closed-cell foams, there may be others. A bit of Googling will get you a lot of info to help you decide the advantages and disadvantages of open vs closed.


  • #9
    ButtersSuki
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    JonathonS wrote: »
    2012 is very recent, was your attic not well insulated as part of the conversion?

    Re foam cavity fill there are two types. Most companies offer icynene, which is an open-cell foam.

    A few companies offer BASF Walltite or Technitherm, which are closed-cell foams, there may be others. A bit of Googling will get you a lot of info to help you decide the advantages and disadvantages of open vs closed.

    It was insulated yes, just want to explore other options. Thanks for your suggestions though!


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