e-Docs

Mold, Dust and Allergens:
Stop Moisture to Stop Mold. IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) and mold experts say the solutions most likely to remedy mold problems are those that control moisture infiltration into a home, as well as condensation and humidity within a home. These include improved mechanical ventilation systems (95%), insulation and air barrier systems (91%) and exterior moisture control systems (88%).

R-Value or Air Tightness:
REM design model results for a 2 Story colonial house in Portland Maine.

R-Value VS infiltration Rate:
The energy usage of a building assembly is related to the R-value of the wall and roof portions as well as the air infiltration rate. Energy standards often specify required R-values for various building assembly sections.

How Foam Insulation Works: Temperature/Dew Point Graphs:
On the following pages you will find two graphs. These graphs were produced in conjunction with a Boston based environmental engineering firm under laboratory conditions. Notice that the first graph is for Open Cell Spray Foam insulation and the second one is for Closed Cell Spray Foam insulation.

Principle of Heat Transfer:
Heat loss or Gain can occur through an element of the building envelope (Wall, Floor, or Roof/Ceiling) by three primary mechanisms. - Conduction - Convection - Radiation.

Unvented Roofs:
Foam insulation for attics spaces. Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation can be used in two common ways to insulate your attic space and protect your home from other weather and moisture related damages.

R-Value alone dose not insure hight Performance:
High Performance = R-value + U-value R-value is only 1/2 the equation, Air infiltration is the other 1/2

Moisture in the Building Envelope:
Moisture in the building envelope can cause the following problems. Mold & mildew | Corrosion | Rot  | Insects | Staining | Freeze-thaw damage | Delamination & adhesion loss | Loss of thermal resistance.

Open cell spray foam insulation and Vapor Barriers:
Moisture problems in walls and ceilings are caused by air leakage, which delivers a large quantity of water vapor through gaps in air barriers and through insulation to condense on a cold surface. Abundant literature has documented that condensation due to water vapor diffusion is the source of only 1% of moisture transfer, while airborne transfer usually accounts for 99% of moisture migration-and moisture problems.

Foam Selection: Closed Cell or Open Cell Foam?:
Closed cell foam (2lbs.) products include the following: foam board (blue,grey,pink), foam board with foil coatings, some foam boards with plywood support (ISP), some insulated concrete forms (ICF) and spray in place foam.

Insulating Unvented Attics with Spray Foam:
As a general contractor, I was taught that attic and cathedral ceiling assemblies should always be vented. Since then, how- ever, studies have shown that properly designed and installed un- vented attic assemblies outperform vented assemblies. They reduce energy loss and protect against rot and mold by preventing moisture from passing through the insulation and condensing on cold surfaces.

Mold - Causes, Health Effects and Clean-Up:
Mold requires water. No water, no mold. Mold is the result of a water problem. Fix the water problem. Clean up the mold. And you have fixed the mold problem. To avoid mold problems, avoid water problems. Design and build in a manner that reduces water problems.

Out, Out Dammed Ice!:
Ice dams cause millions of dollars of structural damage to houses every year, including water damage from roof leaks. There are many ways to treat the symptoms, but proper air sealing, insulation, and attic venting are the best ways to eliminate the problem.