Water Testing Spray Foam Insulation 

I use to be an applicator as I had my own employees and equipment when I was a new home builder to apply the closed cell foam. One thing you MUST know if you have a conscience and or have loved ones benefiting from the great insulation is that in the case of a house fire, even though the foam has or should have fire retardants , in the presence of flame the foam puts off cyanide gas. CYANIDE POISON gas. One breath of this stuff and you are incapacitated unlike regular smoky wood buildings. If you doubt me the chemical name for the cured foam is Poly-ISO-Cyanurate. Do you see the cyanide component ? That is one reason why all building codes require fire barriers covering all foam in areas that are inhabited. My family and relatives have saved many thousands of dollars in utility costs over the twenty years since I built their homes and they enjoy stupendous savings in heating and cooling as I went a little overboard in thickness since it was my own house and I was the wholesale applicator for myself. ie 2x6 exterior walls filled and 2x10s roof members filled in addition to R-25 batts above the ceiling and R 8 batts between floors as sound insulation. So be very very careful to not do stupid things that the insurance companies say cause 80 percent of all fires like Storing gas in garages with water heaters and burning candles and using cheap chimneys. BTW, the entire marine and boating industry uses closed cell poly-iso-cyanurate ( poly-urethane ) foams as floatation in boats and floats because it will NOT soak up water. Further there are off-gases immediately after spraying while curing that is VERY TOXIC so make absolutely sure you have large fans blowing for ventilation and you must vacate the house for at least 24 hours after spraying and be sure to provide plenty of ventilation. I had an applicator that inhaled too much of the off-gas and he had to go to hospital intensive care for 2 days because of suffering pulmonary edema. ( swelling around lungs and heart that prevents breathing and intake of oxygen from the air.) This seems like a lot of negative but this foam is absolutely magic when it comes to saving money... Your dwelling can become futuristic thermal spaceships if properly taken advantage of. I just wanted to fill in with some important missed but critical details.

Nice to see honest and humble people still exist. 👌 nice video and thanks for the info found it helpful.

I'm converting a portable building into a home, and after the wiring is done, insulation is next. Of course, everyone swears by whatever their preference happens to be. Most people I talk to say spray-in foam is the way to go, but I'm not sold. This demonstration was most educational - thank you.

Love these tests. Thank you for educating the community.

We just had litigation in my town in regarding a closed cell foam improperly installed. The installers filled 2x8 rafters completely full with foam. They installed it in the winter and now the summer heat has caused to foam to off gas and the house is uninhabitable. The foam company came back and removed the entirety of the foam and reinstalled the foam, but this time they sprayed in 3 rounds at 2” at a time and allowed off gassing at the thinner depth. The house has since been completed. Thanks to a ethical company the home owner wasn’t stuck with a house they couldn’t live in.

Glad I came across this video. Thank you for comparing and sharing.

Quite revealing. Great information. I was under the impression as well that open cell would allow you to detect roof leaks.

Really enjoy these in-depth videos with demonstrations. I would be interested in seeing more focused versus videos like this one.

Thank you Matt, pros and cons to all insulation!

Great test Mat. Very thorough. Great work.

Excellent scientific test you've done ✔. Great work on proving the point.

I am a spray foam contractor in North Alabama and I agree with everything you said in this video. Well done. My only reservation is that maybe the foam and water would act differently with sheathing on one side as in a true application.

Thank you Scott. That is good information to know.

Great stuff to know. Thank you for sharing.

Great videos Matt, thank you.

Finally the answer I was looking for, thank you 😊

Very informative for me, thank you!

Thank you Matt . . . another good one

On the build show!! That was a cool video. I am still wondering about foam because it seems like there are a lot of negative potentials and its very expensive. But its always good to learn more about it. Thanks Matt!

Very helpful video! Much appreciated

Very informative. Thank you.

They told me the same thing when I used it in the ceiling rafters but come to find out you're never going to find a leak through the open cell or the closed cell so I recommend using closed-cell all the way at least you get the structural strength from it

Very interesting for me to see this video. Kind of at a good time also. What would you do if your 'attic' area was also going to be sheet'ed over? Would you even risk foaming? Or use foam boards instead?

Great demo. Trying to decide how to insulate a camper van conversion.

Great video! Thanks for the demo.

Why am I watching this I don’t even own a house

Wow, thank you Matt

Very educational and points for rockin’ a SOG Twitch

Can you do any vids on residential geothermal systems and if you have radiant heat in concrete floors does it (over time) make the concrete more susceptible to cracking due to the heat speeding up curing?

Great video! You should be on TV!

Great demo

Good approach. I would suggest to dip both the foams in coloured liquid for 24 hrs and slice it laterally to understand the seepage characterics.

Great job, this is probably the most useful video I have ever seen about polyurethane waterproof properties. Could you please make a video about the acoustic isolation properties? I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Hi Matt, I love all your videos and watch them often since I’ll be starting a new build in Spring. I live in the SW corner of Colorado, at about 7800 ft elevation. Are you familiar with the product called Icynene? It is a newer spray foam that has a castor oil plant base. I would like to know your opinion on it if you are familiar. Also, when doing spray foam in the attic, can the spray foam be put on the attic floor vs. the rafters? If so, what other precautions would need to be done?

I am glad that you helped the people in texas

Thank you for the knowledge.

A great practical demonstration that should cause concern for anyone considering spray foam under their roof deck. It appears that both open and closed foam can trap and hold water against the roof deck for an extended period. Obviously this raises the potential for wood rot. And with both materials the location of any trapped water may or may not be easily detected. As a result of this video, I am reconsidering the use of open cell foam against the roof deck for my upcoming house build.

I love that SOG Twitch. Great knife, they used to carry them at Lowe’s.

I had open cell foam sprayed under my sheathing and 14 years later when I reroofed my house (asphalt shingle roof was failing) I found some rot and there was no sign of water in the attic under those areas. I wanted to never have to reroof again so I personally installed a customized stainless steel roof.

Great demonstration of what REALLY happens. I've heard horror stories about water penetration with both types of spray foam. Now I know what to watch out for and some mitigation ideas. Thx so much.

Love your videos Matt. As a student of construction management, these videos often teach me more information than the classes I have to take at school. Love to know what I am talking about on the jobsite. Thanks

What noise dampening characteristics do these products have?

Does anyone have information about the polyurethane foam іnsulation after many years of operation?

Picture framing stud bays with spray foam to close air gaps and using rockwool as the main insulation is the way to go. Or go with SIPs.

@Matt Risinger what are your thoughts on this spray foam nightmare video news coverage? Makes me leery of going anywhere near the stuff?

Great video and tutorial on the difference between open and close cell foam. #greatjob

Brilliant experiment, really helpful Thank you 🙏🏻

Thanks Matt, your information presented and the comments from readers tends to lead me to use Roxul insulation tried and trusted for my barn rafters? I am sure spray foam open or closed is beneficial when applied properly but not in my rafters.

Matt Good tech on water characteristics of spray foam. Are you still using open cell in attic rafters w Carlisle 300HT underlayment for metal roof WRB in TX? BTW you would make a good Aggie by using a dead sawzall to cut through materials. Gig'em

I've always been curious, how does spray foam handle building settling for new construction? Will cracks appear, and you just have to go back and fill it with expanding foam in a can after a few years, or is it flexible enough that it will hold the air seal even with some building settling?

Great video, exactly what I was looking for!

hi love your vids...thanks for that..im wondering what your thoughts would be for spray foam for adding extra insulation for my mobile home??...im thinking of using this for my skirting but maybe also to add extra to my under belly??..i live in canada and sometimes gets to -40 c....also im wondering if i spray my water lines could that cause issues if i have a leak??...just wondering and would like your thoughts...thanks for your time...p.

The burning question I have is just that. What type of toxic fumes come off this stuff when it's burned? Is it deadly? Would you die faster in a fire if your house was insulated with it?

Great info, thanks. Any thoughts on application on metal roof, south Texas???

Hello Matt, I am very skeptical about "24 hour" tests on foam. I have been around fiberglass boats since the late fifties and I can tell you that most were advertised (and still are) as close celled, much looked like isocyanurate while other colors and makes also were used. Bear in mind that these are sandwiched between layers of fiberglass being in theory fully adhered. Every single one stored in the water or in outside weather had varying degrees of water absorption. Some were literally soaked through. Water entered through mounting holes and sometimes at the 'shoe box' meeting of the deck and hull. To me that is quite an indictment for it to migrate so far from such small openings. This applies to above waterline structures as well as the hull below. The intrusion begins immediately and can reach full saturation in a few years. It will have to be seen in the long term (ten, twenty and more--how long do you want your house to last?) whether it actually performs as well as you say. I am a bit conservative when it comes to enclosing things in walls and would have to stay with mineral wool or fiberglass as of now and most especially so when it comes to price point (in low population rural areas it can get very very expensive!). Good topic for discussion. Take care. Doug

So should you spray waterproofing onto all your framing before applying closed cell spray foam? Would that prevent water from soaking through the wood joints, or should you apply caulking between every wood joint? Would closed cell foam stick to waterproofed wood surfaces? How about placing a sheet of clear plastic on your studs and joists, then nailing on your sheathing, then applying self-adhesive weather blocking? Would that be overkill?

Because of poisonous gas in the event of a fire, what is your opinion on AirKrete? I believe it's 3.9/in and expensive, but I like the benefits.

I plan to spray foam my attic, I’ve heard use open (different video). Seeing this demo, I like the close cell foam. Which one should I use? I live in the southwest.

Is the open cell damaged or will it dry out and be back too good?

Good info. Thanks.

It seems that you could use the open cell for maximum coverage if you could find some kind of water proofing to top it off with.

I was doing electrical work at a house that had just gotten open cell insulation and it started leaking when it rained

Great video.

What is the side effect for using spray foam insulation can and long term

Useful information.

Thanks foe the video. Question. Were you speaking just about exterior? Would open cell be ok to use below grade for the interior?

Hey Matt, timely video! I am going to be doing some spray foaming in the coming month and was unsure to go with open or closed. Now I am sure that the closed is the way to go. One product that I am using is called insofast. I know you don't do basements, but I'd be curious about your thoughts on this product. Might be worthy of a vid.

MATT!!!! Two hands on the saw!! My friend used a saw the same way you did and it jumped up out of the groove and cut his hand real bad. great video btw. thanks for sharing.

Would it be better to use open cell under roof deck in pa where I live to allow for breathing out condensation

In the south, with the high humidity, if spraying roof raters with open cell, do you need to spray a vapor barrier after the foam installation?

So, proper application is key to closed cell foam, especially at the corners.

Hey Matt. What are your thoughts about off-gassing from spray foam?

This is why in my research for SIPS I have found that very few of the companies offer SIPS with closed cell foam.

very informative video :)

Love your channel....I live in NYC and if I use closed cell for rim joists, do I run the same risk of wood rot if any leaking?

My house is on a stilt foundation. The bottom of the house sits about 8 feet off the ground. You said closed cell would be better for the underside of a house but in my circumstance, would open cell be ok?

What would happen if you had a foundation leak with closed cell? Would the water just run down the wall? How would you get to the leak to fix it?

Cool video man

Question ??? I'm planning to do a closing cell on the ceiling of a bus , can I plaster over closing cell foam?? If yes , what is the best plaster material ? Thanks 😊

Matt, please note that the open cell foam was cut and the cellular structure of the insulation exposed to the water. Would closed cel foam react the same way if it was cut in a similar fashion?

thank u so much〜

I have a duplex that doesn't have a sound barrier between units. Could foam insulation be used spraying thru holes between studs? Would it do any good?

They used to use open cell in boats for flotation. Now its closed cell only. Leave those outside for 10 years, and it will be night and day. If they had a recall on boats with open cell foam, the industry would have been sunk.⛵

Would you recommend closed or open for northern Tennessee? In between Knoxville and Nashville.

I have not seen much about synthetic stucco and sealing rim joists. Based on your comments at the end of the video it sounds like open cell would be fine in this situation. Since in the sand hills of North Carolina it is humid and I am double checking.

Interesting video thank you. Very practical method of demonstrating your point. In closed cell foam isn’t it vapor barrier? And open cell still requires a vapor barrier? I wonder why you aren’t putting two by four’s on top of the roof deck and spraying closed cell foam then putting a second decking over the top with ice and water shield the insulation will be on the outside your insurance company won’t be able to deny coverage for not being able to see the roof rafters and you still have the benefit of the insulation. Do you have any insurance questions about spray foam on the underside of the roof deck?

How difficult is this to remove in water damage situations? I work in water mitigation, but I haven’t come across foam insulation yet.

At an area close to atalanta . Working on a bonus room. It is a really pitched roof . Can I use foam on rafters and fiber glass on floor joists and what I saw you said to use open cell on rafters ?

What kind of hose was used in that attic space video section? It looked very agile.

When you put it in a closed box it'll squeeze the cell's from open to semi closed could be why it takes so long to soak in

I was advised to have closed cell spray foam sprayed directly onto my poured concrete basement walls (no studs)to concerve energy costs. My concrete walls occasionally leak in a few spots only when a heavy rain or a lot of snow melts. The worst spot is where an old cistern used to be. What will happen at those leak spots after the spray foam application is done? Is there any chance that mold will grow there?

My Brother put open cell in a boat that had holes in it and the foam took in water many years later he checked the foam it still was soaked through.

You just made up my mind to spend the 10k for the closed cell in my 30x60x12 ALL metal building. Thanks Matt !

I live in S Florida and have a 1971 built concrete house - block walls and 6" slab decks and slab roof with elastomeric white roof coating. Zero Insulation. I have solar panels on stanchions and they are trapping heat between the panel and the roof, and the heat is passing through the roof. I've thought about laying tpo under the solar panels, but the time to cut/fit around all the stanchions, wiring, etc. is daunting. I'm wondering if a layer of spray foam insulation, topped with elastomeric roof paint might offer a solution. Any insight, experience, comments, welcomed.

good video ... ? i have a antique boat all aluminum the frame work under floor is built roughly 12 in by 12 in.squares and rivets leak i filled 1 square with foam not knowing i was open cell and yes its a sponge ? is how well do you think the closed cell will bond to the aluminum frame work ........thank you for your time

My question is hand balm that you see at the Lowe's and depots 3 + $5 is that open cell or closed cell foam I've been told by a certain store two different things I'd like to know the professional answer on this

I would have liked to know a little more about the vapor or air difference between the two types of foam.

Thanks

Is it ok to apply spray foam insulation when the attic is 110 degrees? Will it fully cure? Or will it off gas forever?

Would close cell foam work as a subwoofer enclosure ? I'm wanting to put a subwoofer behind a rear panel in my land cruiser . There is not a lot of room and its a odd shape so I was think foam could fill in the space and I could cut out the inside of the foam once it set up to get the correct amount of air space .