My project was applying foam for insulation and vapor barrier in an uninsulated garage wall that abuts the heated and cooled interior living space on our fabulous 50's brick veneer ranch style house. The wall was mildewing significantly in the garage during the summer months while we were running the A/C. My supposition was that the wall in the garage was able to reach dew point during the hot summer (I'm in Southwest Louisiana-a hot and very humid environment).

I popped the paneling off the interior of the garage wall exposing the guts of the wall which had no apparent vapor barrier and no insulation. I caulked everything I could find that was a junction of unlike materials (i.e. wood to concrete) and then I blew in the foam. I was expecting a lot more mess than it made, and the foam went in fairly smoothly for my first time to use it. It would have been a lot easier if I was still in my 20's, but then almost everything would be. I had to go without my glasses which made it interesting...spraying blind!

So far, the results of the insulation project are yet to be seen since I had to do the project during the winter to be able to be in the application correct temperature range. I can say that the hall inside the house that the garage wall abuts has a "deader" sound quality, and the slate floor in the hall is warmer to the touch. The true test will be this summer when the temps are in the high 90's and the humidity is above 90%. If the wall in the garage stays dry and mildew free, we'll declare victory. If we see any decrease in our electric bill, we'll declare a miracle! I can't wait to see if we end up with either result.

My wife and I lived in a raised cottage on piers prior to living in this house on a slab, and we had a commercial company spray closed cell foam underneath that house, and the difference was amazing. Street noise, which had been a problem, was cut dramatically, and the floors were warmer. The house heated more easily; we were sold on closed cell foam. We thought about calling the same company to do the wall in our current home, but I decided that I'd rather do it as I'd have control over who was in my garage, and I'd be able to mask off anything I didn't want foam bits stuck to. Also, I was suspicious that this size job wouldn't be something that the larger company with their huge foam system could do cost effectively. I was also curious to see if it was going to be really difficult to spray this stuff up, which it really wasn't. The worst part was the mask and goggles, but I wasn't about to fool with this stuff without them. I had plenty of spray tips and I have several left over. Somewhat to my surprise, I accurately computed how much foam the project would take, so that all worked out just right! It really was a fun little project. If it works as I expect it will be a really fun project. I'm ready to paint the garage.

Patrick W.
OK