A Little About Spray Foam

Adding spray foam to our repertoire of services was another harmonious blend of performance and technology. As spray foam insulation began making advances in application and popularity, we saw that it had tremendous benefits for improving the thermal envelope of a home. We also began to see that as more and more contractors jumped on the proverbial "band wagon" and began spraying various products without properly understanding the effect foam can have on a home, problems were arising. Improper ventilation, over-sizing of air conditioning systems, moisture problems and various a sundry health and comfort issues are some of the consequences of misunderstanding the benefits of the spray foam products. We determined to learn all we could and in the process found that phenomenal results can be achieved in energy efficiency and indoor comfort when a quality foam product is professionally applied, a thorough caulk and seal package is performed, an accurate Manual J load calculation is done to determine the correct sizing of the HVAC system and an air conditioning system is properly installed according to the Manual J criteria. We have successfully applied our knowledge and expertise to dozens of new construction projects and home renovations throughout central Texas with tremendous success.

The Product We Have Chosen

SEALECTION ™ 500 is a spray applied polyurethane which seals cracks, gaps and voids by expanding 120
times its volume into a semi rigid insulation and air seal. The combination of the water blown expanding foam with the inherent adhesive property of the polyurethane plastic sets this insulation apart from the others.
High air permeability of traditional insulations allows air to easily pass through walls where the gaps and seams exist. Temperature differences between the inside and outside of buildings create convection air currents within the wall cavities. Air infiltrations and convection currents in the walls and ceiling is what reduces the thermal performance of traditional insulations.

Sealed Attic Assemblies

Converting attics into a semi-conditioned space in hot climates by closing soffits, gable and ridge vents is a positive design approach in reducing the moisture loads in houses and buildings. This can be achieved by moving the insulation from the floor of the attic and applying SEALECTION ™ 500 to the underside of the roof deck to seal all the vents. This design prevents the moisture laden outside air from entering the attic and subsequently into the houses and buildings.

Noise

Today's hotels, condos, homes and apartments have a lot more to
contend with than just noisy neighbors. New technology presents building designers with an even bigger challenge when it comes to noise prevention.
Because of this, it is neccessary to rethink the original STC 30-34 standards. By raising the transmission loss between rooms an additional 20dB, residents can get the peace and quiet once attained with the original STC 30-34 standard. Current research shows that an STC rating of 50 is a desirable noise level for condo type construction. Because people's noise perception doubles every 10dB, it takes a 10dB reduction to make a building 50% quieter and a 20dB reduction to make it 75% quieter.
The designer with peace and quiet in mind should use SealectionTM 500 spray foam for quiet comfort in any situation.
With a STC rating of 50, our walls don't talk. Ceilings and walls were meant to absorb sound, not make it. This is exactly what SealectionTM 500 spray foam does. Versatile enough to use in both standard and nonstandard geometric designs like curved walls and odd-sized wall cavities, SealectionTM 500 is quiet design built right in.

Codes

To help improve building performances during hurricanes, the Florida Hurricane Advisory Committee has changed building codes to support the use of unvented attics. Why? Because during Hurricane Charlie, wind-driven rain through soffits and gable vents was the second highest cause of property damage in the area (FEMA Research Study 490).
In October 2005, the ICC adopted unvented attic assembly for the 2006 IRC building code based on the conclusion that using low air permeable insulation on the underside of a roof deck is a positive way to improve building performance.
SEALECTION ™ 500 applied directly to the roof deck creates a tight bond between the roof sheathing and the roof joist structure while increasing the home's overall energy efficiency.