Comfenergy Case Studies: Spray Foam Insulation in Sterling, VA
Challenge
Insulation is like a blanket you would use outside in the winter. If you were standing outside in the winter and I gave you a blanket to stay warm, would you wrap it tightly against your body or would you loosely hold it over yourself?
Insulation is only good if it is touching the surface you are trying to keep warm or cold! Same theory as the blanket in the winter. Look at this series of pictures of this Sterling, VA home. Notice the gap between the floors of the rooms above the garage and the fiberglass batts laying on the drywall about 2-3 feet below the floor. See how cold/hot air can get between the two and make the floors above uncomfortably cold/hot?
Solution
After a full comfort evaluation by Comfenergy, we decided the best course of action was to open the drywall in the garage ceiling to access this area of air gap. We used a closed cell foam spray to make sure the insulation would "stick" to the floors above. This would give several inches of air tight insulation on the floors to keep the cold/hot air away.
The existing fiberglass was then installed up against the foam spray to add a little more separation between the floors above and the cold or hot air in the garage ceiling.
The rooms above the garage are now nice and cozy! Think about this the next time you grab a blanket to get warm this winter!
Project Summary
Evaluator: Scott Beers
