FAQ

There are two reasons spray foam works so well: it is fully adhered to the substrate and it stops air movement through the insulated assembly.

Fully Adhered: Spray foam is applied as a liquid and instantly expands to be foam. In this process the foam becomes a “glue” and is bonded to the sprayed surface. You may have noticed this type of effect when wearing skin-tight thermals as compared to a loose fitting garment. There is a dramatic improvement when your insulation is perfectly formed and adhered.

Air Impermeable: The millions of tiny bubbles that make foam impede and stop air movement inside the foam insulation and through the insulation. The most dramatic practical demonstration of this effect is a tight fitting rain coat or plastic bag. Just by stopping air movement a sheet of plastic can instantly make a difference.

Yes. Spray foam is an established and safe construction material. Like many other materials things can go wrong with the installation or production and it is vital for spray foam to be installed by a qualified contractor. In the past there have been installations that have attracted media attention and, rightly so, have raised awareness to the need for quality spray foam installations.

There are several reasons to trust 951 Construction with your spray foam installation:

• Our equipment constantly monitors the chemical ratio and stops if something is not right.
• Our applicators are experienced and know how to operate the equipment.
• Spray foam is what we do every day. We don’t do other types of insulation.
• Our equipment stays busy and is constantly maintained.

951 Construction is based in Wildomar, CA. We service all Southern California: anywhere between San Diego and Lancaster or between Blythe and Ventura--Greater Los Angeles, the mountains, the deserts, and the valleys.

Closed cell spray foam is a plastic insulation formed by a chemical reaction which makes plastic at the the exact same time an expanding gas creates tiny bubbles inside the plastic. The material sets within seconds locking the microscopic bubbles in place. The foam is called closed cell because each microscopic bubble is sealed or “closed.”

Closed cell foam is the highest performing insulation available in construction. It is rated to be an air barrier or air impermeable insulation and is also rated as a vapor barrier.

Closed cell spray foam typically performs at thermal resistance of R7 per inch of thickness. An application of 3 inches would provide a thermal resistance of R21, having an efficiency factor of 95%

Open cell spray foam is a plastic insulation formed just like closed cell foam except the expanding agent is much more volatile and expansive. This makes a thicker, lighter, and softer foam. It is called open cell foam because the cell structure is ruptured and the individual cells are much larger.

Open cell foam is a high performing insulation that may be more affordable than closed cell foam and is often attractive for that reason. It does provide an effective air barrier at thicknesses greater than five inches. It is not a vapor barrier.

Spray foam is not a fire retardant. To our knowledge there is not a spray foam product on the market which acts as a fire retardant. There are foam caulking products used in fire-stopping but that is not spray foam insulation.

Yes. Like other plastics, there are specific code requirements ensure a safe foam installation. Spray foam insulation must be separated from an occupied space by at least 1/2 inch of drywall or an equivalent.

Installations where spray foam insulation will be left exposed (like in a garage or warehouse) require a specific fire retardant paint which is equivalent to 1/2 inch of drywall.

Spray foam insulation installed in an attic must be “Appendix X” approved or be coated with an ignition barrier.

Closed cell foam specifically meets the California code requirements for vaulted ceilings as unvented roof assemblies. Closed cell spray foam is the only “air impermeable insulation” that is “fully-adhered” and thereby satisfies the code requirement. Typically we apply 4.5” of closed cell spray foam which is equivalent to R30. This makes it possible for 2x6 framing to meet the insulation requirements.

These terms generally refer to closed cell foam and open cell foam and describe the density of the foam as a weight per cubic foot. Closed cell foam insulation typically weighs 2 lbs per cubic foot. Open cell foam insulation typically weighs 0.5 lbs per cubic foot. There are other foam weights: 2.5 lb - 3 lb foam is typically used for spray foam roofs. Geotechnical foam ranges from 4 lbs to 9 lbs.

There are DIY kits available and we recommend caution using them. Aside from the personal safety concerns, spray foam needs to be mixed at an exact 1:1 ratio. Foam kits may achieve this under perfect conditions and there is also a very real possibility the foam can be off ratio. This is because the thickness (viscosity) of the two materials are very different (think mixing water and honey). That is why professional spray foam equipment heats the liquids to a point where their viscosity is even and then meters exact portions of each side.