Fall is upon us, and soon winter will be knocking at the door. Where on earth did the summer go?! It seems like only last week we were complaining about having to mow the lawn every week. Now the grass has gone into its cold weather hibernation and it's time to get the patio furniture into storage. During the warm months of the year it is very easy to forget all those annoying little drafts around the house. We fail to recall the pain and shock of opening that first winter utilities bill. The realization that the home is not thermally efficient hit like a ton of bricks, but by the end of the dog days of summer it was all forgotten. All those vehement declarations to better insulate the house during the summer fell to the wayside, along with Aunt Martha's Christmas fruitcake.
The choice has already been made; closed-cell polyurethane insulation is the solution of choice in making the house more energy efficient. All the research and ready was completed, and you learned a lot. One such lesson was the importance of surface and tank temperature during application. The best temperature range for the most optimal end product is 60-80F (15-26C). Now that the average temperature outside is somewhere in the area of 50F (10C) and dropping each week, the prospect of getting those cold spots plugged up with SPF seems impossible. However, believe it or not, it is possible to successfully apply spray foam insulation in cold weather. It just takes a bit of extra preparation.
First of all, prepare the area to be foamed just the same as you would for a warm weather application. Make sure it is dry and free of debris or dust. Remove furniture, draperies, art; basically anything you do not want to scrub SPF off of. Now assess the surface temperature. The best way is in using a digital thermometer reader, the user points the device at a surface and the temperature of the surface is measured. Even in using a reader, be sure to obtain the temperature of the actual surface, not the air around it.
If the reader shows the wall, floor or ceiling to be too cold, there are a few options for increasing the temperature. Depending on the size of the space, a portable heater strategically placed will help. A bullet heater for targeted areas is quite useful. Even a hair dryer set to hot will do a good job of heating up the surfaces in a small crevice, window frame or door jamb. One other strategy for warming a cold surface is applying a very thin flash coat of foam. As the SPF cures, it gives off heat. That heat is enough to warm the application surface and make it ready for the 'real' layer of SPF.
Aside from the surfaces meant to be foamed, the tanks containing the chemical components must also be warm. They will perform ideally between 60-80F (15-26C). Some manufacturers even include a liquid crystal temperature strip on the tanks so that users will know, at a glance, how prepared the tanks are. If they have been stored in a cold space, such as the garage or shed, then bring them in to a warm space at least 24 hours before you plan to use them. However, the best way to store SPF tanks is by always keeping them in a warm place.
A warm water bath for cold tanks is quite effective, as is their placement near a heater (not the fireplace or source of gas). Keep in mind when checking the liquid crystal strip; steel warms much faster than the chemicals in side. Hence, the 12 to 24 hour period required to ensure the tanks are warm through to the core. While the tanks are warming, be sure to give them a good shake every once in a while, as it helps to keep the chemicals an even temperature.
Once the surface areas and tanks are hovering between 60F and 80F, it is time to don the personal protection equipment and get started. Remember, if during your application you need to stop for half a minute or more, replace the mixing nozzle. This is very important for preventing clogs. Once the project is complete, check to see how much material is left in the tanks. If it is minimal, drain the remaining SPF into a garbage can and release all pressure in the tanks. They are now ready for disposal or recycling. If there is still material left in the tanks and you wish to use it at a later date, then follow the instructions above for storage. Keep the tanks in a warm place.
Now there are no excuses. Applying SPF in cold weather is possible and is effective. Book off next Saturday and get to the job of making your home an energy efficient building.
Mark Munns is a representative of Spray Foam Direct. We supply quick and easy do-it-yourself foam insulation kits which will save you money and energy. For more information about our products please visit us online today!