It was an interesting day.
Exhausting, but interesting. It was a day where words were tossed around, words with deep meaning, words that lead one down a road where there is no turning back.
Academic tomfoolery. Ballyhoo. Cries of mutiny!
Fortunately, I was able to leave work early - at 3 pm I needed to meet with the prospective HVAC consultant on the house. Yes, I find it hard to believe too, but my silly little house-on-paper has an HVAC consultant.
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This was the first time this guy had come out to 'the site'. He is pushing - and I mean pushing - geothermal, so a ground source for heating and cooling. He is also beyond fond of a certain type of insulation, Icynene, which I've got to admit seems too good to be true. (Can one fall in love, deeply, with insulation?). Here is a bit about the product from the Icynene website:
Icynene®, the leading soft foam insulation and air barrier system, is becoming the industry standard for providing maximum building envelope performance. Icynene's pour and spray formulations represent a breakthrough in the science of moisture and thermal management.
Icynene® is the leading 100% water-blown foam insulation that minimizes air leakage for increased energy efficiency, creates a healthier indoor environment, reduces airborne sounds and offers greater design freedom. Icynene® maintains its performance with no loss of R-value over time. It does not shrink, sag or settle. Icynene® adheres to most construction materials and is the perfect insulation for walls, attics, ceilings and floors.Spray Formula
Applied as a liquid, Icynene® expands to 100 times its volume in seconds to fill every crack and crevice while remaining flexible so that the integrity of the building envelope seal remains intact over time. Icynene's spray formula has an R-value of 3.6 per inch. It acts as a complete insulation and air barrier to minimize air leakage and seal the building envelope for optimal airtightness.
Now, I'm not advertising for this stuff - but everything that I have read really does suggest it is the way to go. My HVAC guy says that if you are considering energy efficiency - that this product is probably the #1 thing you can do to help yourself out. Plus, in our humid climate, it handles moisture better than other products of it's kind. As is generally the case, it's expensive - quite a bit more than the average insulation. So - as is the case with everything now - it's weighing the advantages with the cost and the house's overall budget and aesthetic.
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I swear - one day there will be a house. And it's likely that I will know way more about it than I ever dreamed I would.
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What does all of this really mean?
It means that I was home early, with plenty of light, and had time to wander the garden with the new wild dog and Stan - time to inspect the beds for signs of life, tiny movements, growth - and I found myself spending quite a bit of time staring at the buds of the star magnolia - Magnolia stellata - somehow thinking that if I stared hard enough, and long enough, that perhaps the buds would start to swell, and that perhaps the white petals of the flowers would start to emerge. Well, as you might have guessed, they didn't. So I came inside, and baked a cake for my favorite 87 year-old camellia gardener, who I hope to sneak away and visit tomorrow. But tonight, as cool winds that are blowing across the midwest finally reach us here along the coast - a gale builds - and behind these winds are warm days.
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There is no mutiny in the garden. There is never a need there for such foolishness. I'm glad that the garden is not real life.
I think it just might be possible to fall in love with insulation ... this does sound like an incredible product (just as long as it doesn't give off toxic fumes or the like). I do care about insulation these days since my house is old and there are some drafty corners ...
I envy you the Magnolia stellata with its buds. I can only dream of one that I had which opened a pale pink. It was in my first garden in a different, less harsh climate.
So, what kind of cake did you bake? I hope you'll write about your visit.
Posted by: kate | 01 February 2008 at 01:54 AM
Applied as a liquid, Icynene expands to 100 times its volume in seconds to fill every crack and crevice while remaining flexible so that the integrity of the building envelope seal remains intact over time. Icynene's spray formula has an R-value of 3.6 per inch.
I don't know Icynene from what. But I will say that the R-30 Batts of Johns Manville Formaldehyde-Free I just installed are each about 8.5 inches thick... good for stapling between 2 X 10 Joists.
R-30 / 8.5 inches = 3.529 per inch.
The R-19 Batts (6.5 inches thick for 2 X 6 walls (I know, it
doesn't make sense (call it 6)) comes to:
R-19 / 6 inches = 3.16 per inch.
So... 3.6 is better. No doubt. Seems cool.
-
I think I looked at this foam and found it to be very, very expensive (especially for a remodel) and so I elected to go another way. But of course, it is also a seal.
I don't know.
I googled 'icynene pro con' and got some interesting stuff. This one contrasts icynene (an open cell foam) with closed
celled foams. Bubble Wraps
This one, Eileen Gets a Window (a renovation blog), brings up the toxicity of the material when burned. I don't know.
There is an interesting case study here.
There is an interesting exchange here. It seems that some of these guys consider Icynene to be 4X to cost of Fiberglass (but that number isn't real because you can't go apples-to-apples). But apparently the payback is good.
In MY case I had to evaluate costs versus benefits. So I didn't get REALLY great insulation.
Two things to consider:
1. I would HATE to remodel a foam sealed house. Criminy. Any change would be a nightmare. But you won't remodel.
2. I can't get my mind around the whole concept of R-value + Seal in 1 = good. I mean. It is EASIER to do, the first time. THAT must be cheaper. But aren't houses wrapped and taped anyway?
Hell, I donno.
You should probably do it. Spend the money.
Posted by: The County Clerk | 01 February 2008 at 04:19 PM
That is one freaky video! All I could think of while watching it was the fact that it closely resembled what has happened to the back of my thighs this winter...Sorry, I know it is not all about me but I didn't sleep well last night! I hope that sounds funny rather than pathetic! LOL
The other thought was about the toxicity if it burns and what foam is made of...I will have to look that up. Fiberglass insulation just seems less synthetic. I know you will make the best decision as you always weigh the pros and cons of everything and you have CC to help! Love the bud with its' furry insulation. If only it were that easy!
Posted by: layanee | 02 February 2008 at 10:00 AM
Kate, a simple almond scented pound cake. It was the only kind of cake I could easily make, since my own cake/tart pans are in storage now. As for toxic fumes, the County Clerk is right - I think the cons with this insulation are when it's burned - I need to read up more on that.
CC: I looked up disadvantages too - it does seem that the big one is connected with burning/fire. I'll read more.
Layanee: Fiberglass has it's pros and cons too (as does, let's face it, everything) - and yes, your comment about the foam made me laugh. Yes - perhaps a gazillion Magnolia stellata buds would insulation my house just fine? (I could never sacrifice them though).
Posted by: Pam | 03 February 2008 at 11:51 AM
Oops ... I should have read your comments before posting a comment on your more recent post.
An almond pound cake sounds good - I must be hungry (although, after reading Layanee's comment, I'm beginning to think less-cake eating on my part might be a good thing!!)
Kate
p.s. I've added your blog to my 'playing in the dirt' links.
Posted by: kate | 03 February 2008 at 01:21 PM