Spray Foam Insulation Before & After Photos

This Sterling VA attic received several steps and services to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of the home, one of which was having the HVAC ducts running through the attic encapsulated with spray foam.  The metal ducts had been susceptible to temperature issues when the attic would heat up or cool down depending on the time of year and weather outside.  When the attic was hot and cold air was passing through the ducts, the conditioned and cooled air would not reach the rooms it was intended to before safely.  When it was cold and there was heated air passing through, the cold ducts would work to reduce the heat of that air.  Encapsulating the HVAC ducts with spray foam keeps the air inside safe and helps to reduce the energy cost to create more heated or cooled air.  

Closed cell spray foam being used on a garage ceiling to keep the rooms above warmer in the winter.

This wise homeowner in Herndon, VA chose to use closed cell spray foam insulation in the walls of their new home. This is a wise investment for comfort and efficiency.  Closed cell spray foam not only insulates better than fiberglass batts, it creates a great vapor barrier on the exterior walls.

The finished side of this space on the other side of this attic wall is some ones room.  Uninsulated, it was being impacted by the temperatures in the otherwise uncontrolled attic.  This would lead to that room being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.  After applying spray foam insulation and then air sealing and insulating the rest of the attic space, there would no longer be an impact on the living areas and bedrooms caused by the attic temperatures. 

Part of this Herndon VA attic project included spray foam insulating the HVAC ducts running through the space.  Attic temperatures can fluctuate heavily depending on the season.  In the hotter months of the year, cold air trying to be delivered through HVAC ducts can be impacted by the hot temperatures in the attic.  In the colder months of the year, hot air can have the same effect from a cold attic.  This can all cause the HVAC system in a home to run more often than it should and raise energy costs.  Insulating these ducts with spray foam protects the air inside and reduces the amount of time the HVAC system has to run.