Northstar Foam: FAQs

FAQ

Q) What is Walltite ECO V3 Spray Foam?
A) WALLTITE ECO® is a medium density polyurethane foam insulation/air barrier system designed to improve the energy efficiency of any type of building. Its formulation includes recycled plastic and a zero ozone depleting blowing agent. It adheres to virtually any surface, providing a gap-free, airtight envelope of low permeability even under extreme climatic conditions, and does not support fungal growth.

WALLTITE ECO’s industry-leading performance results in substantial energy savings. As a spray applied seamless system requiring no fasteners, WALLTITE ECO maximizes the performance of the building envelope, allows HVAC systems to operate more efficiently, thus reducing energy costs while improving occupant comfort.

WALLTITE ECO exceeds the requirements of the National Building Code of Canada. In fact, WALLTITE ECO air barrier systems are the only products available on the market today that have successfully met the polyurethane durability test of appendix D of the “Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) Technical Guide for Air Barrier Systems for Exterior Walls of Low-Rise Buildings.” WALLTITE ECO systems also conform to CAN/ULC-S705.1 (including amendments 1 and 2).

Mike Holmes promotional video link
http://www.walltite.basf.ca/FoamMasters/English/index.html

Q) Why Choose Walltite Eco over other spray foams?
A) Walltite Eco is environmentally responsible in every stage of its lifecycle. It uses less energy during production than traditional insulation materials. As a lower density, closed-cell foam, it takes less material to produce the performance you need. It burns less fuel during transportation because it’s transported as a liquid, then expands over 30 times its volume during application—that’s a lot of insulation in every drum. Walltite Eco also lowers impact through installed performance, with outstanding in-place insulation and air barrier energy efficiency, unparalleled durability, improved occupant comfort, health and safety, complete design freedom with less wasted material and the lowest lifecycle cost compared with traditional materials.

Walltite Eco is also economically responsible. Labour accounts for a large portion of the cost on any project. Walltite Eco provides three integral systems in one application—insulation, air barrier and vapour barrier (depending on application and installation). Steps are reduced and so are labour costs. As a spray-applied, fully self-adhering system, detailing is less complicated so it also installs faster than membrane, torch-applied, batt and board materials for afurther reduction in labour requirements.

Walltite Eco uses recycled materials. In order to obtain EcoLogo™ certification, Walltite Eco contains significant rates of recycled content. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is among the most common plastics used for packaging, bottles and containers. Post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material is processed to make raw material for new applications like Walltite Eco.

Walltite Eco uses zero-ozone-depleting blowing-agent technologies approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Significant New Alternatives Program to meet the requirements of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. BASF was the first polyurethane manufacturer in Canada to meet Montreal Protocol requirements with the development of its zero-ozone-depleting polyurethane foams for industrial pipe and tank applications.

Q) What is R-value?
A) The measure of an insulations thermal performance is currently “R Value”. To retain the R-value for any insulation it is critical that it be installed to eliminate convective air currents. Insulation must be installed in intimate contact with the substrate and with no gaps between boards to achieve this. A spray-applied product is inherently more capable of making intimate contact with the substrate versus SM board or batt insulation.

Q) What are the differences between Spray Foam and Batt Insulation?
A) Spray foam is a one step process that provides a gap free, air tight, monolithic envelope of low permeability closed cell moisture resistant insulation which adheres extremely well to virtually all surfaces, smooth or irregular. It can be applied over a large area in a single workday with unsurpassed sealing performance. It is significantly quicker to install vs traditional insulating methods. It reduced energy consumption ensuring lower energy use, thus lower energy costs.

Batt fibreglass insulation is made from tightly woven glass strands that produce a baffle like matrix to help slow down air flow thus reducing the transfer of thermal energy from interior and exterior environments and vice versa. A poly plastic layer is then placed on the warm side (interior) of the structure (i.e. wall) to provide an air/vapor barrier and acts just as the name suggests. It stops air and moisture from infiltrating from one environment to the other (indoors to outdoors / outdoors to indoors). The fiberglass batt insulation and poly plastic only work as a system and cannot work without the other.

There are many problems that can arise when using batt insulation. It can be compressed too much when installed, it can be poorly fit in the wall cavity allowing gaps between it and the substrate, and it can sag significantly over time creating even larger voids. All of these conditions lead to reduced R-values and increased heat loss. And for the plastic poly, every hole that is created by the staples while it is tacked into place, every drywall screw and every other thing that punctures through it provides another point of entry for moisture and air to enter the household. For every one screw hole in the poly, up to 1 cup of water per year can enter the house allowing possible mold growth through out the wall cavities, and you can just imagine how much energy is lost through these holes on an annual basis!.

Q) How much does Spray Foam Cost?
A) You can expect to pay 2 to 3 times more for spray foam over fibreglass insulation but you can expect to get 2 to 3 times the energy saving performance from the spray foam. On most jobs, the difference in price is usually paid back approximately five years after installation by the money saved as a result from energy efficiency.

It is hard to put a standard price on every job so it is best to call Northstar to set up a free estimate to see how we can help with your insulation needs.

Q) What is the R-Value of Spray Foam?
A)Most Spray Foams have and approximate initial R-value of 7 per inch thick when first installed, but over time all spray foams release some of their trap inert gases located in the closed cells of the foam reducing its R-value. This is called the Long-Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR). This is the important value when looking for specs on different types of insulation.

Recently, BASF Canada launched its new third version of Walltite Eco (v.3). It not only complies with the new regulations regarding non-ozone depleting materials, but it also has the highest LTTR values ever achieved in Canada for a 2lb closed cell spray foam attaining a R-value of 12.4 at 2” thick or approximately 6.2 per inch!

Q) How long does a job take to spray?
A)Foaming can cut down the time required to insulate a space as it is an all in one insulation and vapour barrier and can seal even the trickiest locations. If you were to use batt insulation you would have to meticulously fill every void, trying not to compress it too much or leave any gaps, then install a poly vapour barrier over top of the batts and try to seal every nook, cranny, and penetration with tuck tape and acoustical caulking (which usually ends up more on the installer then on the wall!).

In the end, every job is different and time depends on the size and complexity of the area that is to be insulated.

Q) Should I spray foam my basement before or after framing it?
A) Though it is easier for us to spray bare foundation walls, we always recommend framing you basement first as this allows you to place the walls that much closer to the foundation and gain all important square footage in the basement. The gap behind the studs depends on the makeup of the foundation. If it is concrete, Walltite Eco only requires 1” of foam to achieve a vapour barrier and thus the studs need only be 1” off the foundation. If it is constructed from wood, approximately 2” is required for a vapour barrier and the studs need to be 2” away from the foundation.

Q) Why is the spray foam Purple in colour?
A) BASF uses purple for their Walltite Eco so that it is easily recognizable for everyone. The colour of spray foam is the main method for determining which manufacturer produced the foam and is also a way for Inspectors to check and see if the spray foam is CCMC (Canadian Construction Material Centre) approved. Any building material including Spray Foam Insulation that is used for habitited applications (ie: residential or commercial buildings) are required to be CCMC approved. If something should happen such as a fire and the Inspector were to recognize and conclude that there was non-CCMC approved foam in the household, any and all insurance could be void on the spot! BASF Walltite Eco conforms to all CCMC regulations and as such, is a recognized CCMC approved Spray Foam Insulation.

Q) What is a vapour barrier?
A) A vapour barrier is essentially an impenetrable wall that stops any and all air movement (humid or dry) from one environment to another (i.e. inside to outside and vise versa). With spray foam, a vapour barrier is created within the foam (at specific thicknesses depending on the substrate). The foam also expands and seals all penetrations creating 99.9% air tight where it is installed. Traditional vapour barriers consist of a 2 or 6 mil poly plastic that is draped infront of batt insulation and then stapled into place and acoustical caulked around its seams. It is often very difficult to get a permanent and air tight seal with this system.

Q) Is Spray foam Flammable?
A)Yes. Spray foam is just as flammable as your couch in the living room, the carpets on the floor, and curtains on your windows. All of these items and everything else in a household are flammable and will produce toxic smoke when they are burning. The only difference is that spray foam has a fire inhibitor built into its chemical make up. This means that the foam will only burn when there is a flame present. Once it is taken away, the foam will self extinguishes.

Any and all foamed plastics require a 15 minute fire barrier which can be achieved by using ½” drywall screwed to the studs or a fire proofing material that can be sprayed on top of the foam for commercial and some residential applications.

Q) Can I use spray foam as a waterproofer?
A) No. Although foam will seal the concrete of a foundation wall, there is still a very small percentage of water absorption though the foam. Whether the foam is sprayed on the inside or outside of the foundation wall, there still needs to be an actual waterproof membrane shield installed between the dirt and building.

Q) Do mice and other rodents like spray foam?
A) No. Mice find it very difficult to chew and break up the foam. The foam has similar results as when using SOS scrub pads to keep them out of entry ways. With spray foams ability to seal virtually all penetrations, it is an ideal choice for cottage country whether it is in the wall cavities or in the crawlspace, it keep the rodents and bugs outside where they belong.

Q) Can mold grow and live on spray foam?
A) No. Mold needs two things to survive, food and water. In spray foam, there are no edible organic materials and since the foam creates an air tight seal and is its own vapour barrier, there is no water present. This creates environmental conditions for which no mold or fugal growth can be supported. This spray foam property makes it ideal for areas such as basements and crawlspaces, especially at the cabin!

Q) What are the limitations for Spray Foam?
A) Only your imagination!