Author

Topic:   Icynene install help - 1455 visits (1 today, 2 this week)

Scott Patterson
Member



Posts: 3004
From:Ridgeland (Jackson), MS
Registered: Mar 2001

posted December 19, 2005 03:35 PM            

Boy was I surprised on this inspection. Home was an ICF and completely sealed with Icynene insulation. I have never come across an entire home of Icynene.

Any comments on the following photos would be a big help.
Water heaters:
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This home also had soffits vents and ridge vents, but everything was sealed from the attic with Icynene.

Jeff Pope
Member


Posts: 240
From:Santa Clarita, CA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted December 19, 2005 04:32 PM            

As far as I know, this suff is supposed to be installed like any other insulation - in the walls and ceiling.

I would think you would need some type of thermal barrier installed like you showed.

The furnace vent surely can't be encased in that manner.

From the manufacturer. . .

quote:

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Flammability and Fire-Rating?
IcyneneŽ Insulation contributes no fuel in the event of fire and it will not sustain flame upon removal of the flame source. However, like fiberglass, it will be consumed by flame, and gypsum board or other acceptable thermal barriers are required by applicable building codes.

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Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita, CA

Jerry Peck
Member




Posts: 7925
From:Pembroke Pines, FL
Registered: Feb 2003

posted December 19, 2005 05:52 PM            

Jeff,

Scott's photos of the Icynene sprayed on the underside of the roof sheathing is correct.

However, the insulation SHOULD NOT be in contact with the the Type B Gas Vent.

Scott, is it possible that the Icynene was added? If so, they may have sealed the vents up from inside. I had a home in Coral Gables which had many problems (just a small 10,000 sf house of about $10 mil ) and the engineers solution was to spray Icynene on, closing the vents up from inside with plywood (much too much decorative trim would have had to have been dealt with to close the soffit vents up from outside).

Or they may have just sprayed the Icynene over the vents protected with cardboard (I've seen that too, and, of course, the cardboard has to go).

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Jerry Peck
South Florida

Scott Patterson
Member



Posts: 3004
From:Ridgeland (Jackson), MS
Registered: Mar 2001

posted December 19, 2005 06:06 PM            

This is new construction, 6,500sf. I know the soffit vents were not covered with anything. I found several Icynene dribbles hanging out of them. I felt like I was on the inside of a yellow marshmallow!

Jerry Peck
Member




Posts: 7925
From:Pembroke Pines, FL
Registered: Feb 2003

posted December 19, 2005 07:21 PM            

That stuff is not resistant to wind blowing it into the attic, nor is it sunlight resistant. The vents, then, need to be sealed up from outside.

I also noticed that there was no walkway to, or service platform in front of, the furnace in the attic.

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Jerry Peck
South Florida

Scott Patterson
Member



Posts: 3004
From:Ridgeland (Jackson), MS
Registered: Mar 2001

posted December 19, 2005 08:06 PM            

That furnace is also covered on the backside with the Icynene. It was a mess. The best part of the home was the $100,000+ gunite and tile pool that was being installed. I spent a couple of hours just talking and learning from the pool guy.

Jeff Pope
Member


Posts: 240
From:Santa Clarita, CA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted December 19, 2005 09:11 PM            

I have only seen that stuff on a few rare occasions and it was placed in (what were to be) concealed spaces.

Ugly stuff. . .

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Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita, CA

Denise Canter
New Member


Posts: 13
From:Lexington Park, MD
Registered: Nov 2005

posted December 20, 2005 11:29 AM            

I saw that stuff covering the whole subfloor and portions of the joists in a wet, moldy crawl space. Sure covers up a lot! I don't much like it, can't see a thing. Also, it covered the plumbing and electrical lines. At first glance I thought it was an extensive case of white wood rot...you know how it can get that styro-foamy look to it? But no, it was the insulation.

[This message has been edited by Denise Canter (edited December 20, 2005).]

Martin lehman
Member


Posts: 195
From:SAN DIEGO, CA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted December 28, 2005 10:26 AM            

quote:

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That stuff is not resistant to wind blowing it into the attic, nor is it sunlight resistant. The vents, then, need to be sealed up from outside.

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So you can actually seal up the vents?
Aren't the vents needed to keep the attic dry?
Am I understanding you right Jerry?

Jim Baird
Member


Posts: 55
From:Danielsville, GA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted December 28, 2005 01:43 PM            

Martin,

So what's to vent?

Scott,

What a mess! The framer/boxer was just doing his usual I guess. Insulation guy must be exploring new products.

Don't those roof braces look a little spindly?

Martin lehman
Member


Posts: 195
From:SAN DIEGO, CA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted December 28, 2005 02:29 PM            

quote:

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Martin,
So what's to vent?

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??????? Dont attic spaces need ventilation????
(a bit confused)

Ken Bates
Member


Posts: 197
From:Boston Massachusetts
Registered: Jan 2005

posted December 29, 2005 09:21 PM            

For a long time UFFI was considered a "Miracle" product.

Whenever I discover it i find it has turned into an extemely problematic powder that contaminates the whole house.

http://www.BostonHomeinspector.com
http://www.Aceinspect.com

John Ghent
Member


Posts: 359
From:Trumbull, CT
Registered: Aug 2001

posted December 30, 2005 01:09 PM            

Ken, you must know something I don't. I have been told that UFFI has been around so long the "problem chemicals" have off-gassed to the point where it is no longer a health problem.