Just as an aside, I got the Code Check book in the mail on Saturday morning on my way out to work on the plumbing and within 10 minutes of going through the plumbing section I noticed a problem with my plan and made a small adjustment. I would have failed my inspection without it. Given what is in this one and how much it helped me I'll probably purchase the larger version to help me through the rest of the process. So thanks to the folks at Taunton Press for producing such a helpful resource.
Anyway, that aside, there have been some less than positive results. While it's not a huge deal, I learned some stuff about concrete. Yes, I know, it cracks. Luckily, even if it cracks, as long as they put a sufficient amount of rebar in it, it's not a huge deal. The other thing I learned about is what I've heard called a "freeze-off" line. That is what happens when they change out trucks and the stuff they have already put into the form hardens to the point where it doesn't mix quite right with the rest of it.
Edit: I followed up with Terry McKinney who poured my walls and he said they actually used a different concrete mix between those lines so the color change is attributed to the difference in concrete mix. Like any good contractor he is going to follow up by coming out to take a look but he was confident that was the problem.
Tomorrow our geothermal contractor, Geostar Mechanical, will be drilling our loop, which should be an interesting thing to watch. Jamie uses a horizontal boring rig to drill the loop which allows him to make sure they are in a nice straight line, no kinking or bending the pipe. Plus, he can get the loop a little deeper than traditional excavation so the ground temperature is a little more predictable.
Thursday we should have our slab insulation delivered from Williams Insulation in Adrian, MI. I'm hoping our pex gets here for the radiant floor by next Monday or sooner so we can get that down and the floor poured early next week. Once that is done, we hand it over to our shell contractor.
Also done this week was to get a quote back from Great Lakes Insulation for Icynene spray foam insulation. Icynene is quite an interesting product. Check out the videos from their website because the expansion factor for this stuff is really incredible. It goes on like paint and expands to the point that you have to cut it off in order to put the drywall on. The R-value is around 3.6, which is not spectacular in and of itself. However, it's strength is in its ability to seal the space with the high R value and not settle.
Here are some pics that round out the work done in August.
Closed Cell vs. Open Cell
ReplyDeleteOpen Cell spray foam is also referred to as 1/2 pound or low density. This foam expands to over 120 times its liquid size, and requires trimming and disposal of the waste. Open Cell foam cures soft and the irregular bubbles which form during the expansion reaction are broken or open. These cells or pockets fill with air, and as such, the R-Value of Open Cell foam is close to that of conventional fiberglass and cellulose insulation because they all use the same principle of trapping dormant air. However, Open Cell foam is more effective than conventional insulation because it is spray applied as a liquid which conforms to fit the wall cavity. Like conventional insulation, Open Cell foam only slows down convection through and within the wall cavity. Open Cell foam is not a Code Approved Vapor Barrier with a permeability rating of over 400 ng and is not an approved air barrier until a 6″ thickness is achieved. Icynene is an example of an Open Cell spray foam.
Closed Cell spray foam is also referred to as 2 pound or medium density. This foam expands 20 to 30 times its liquid size, and seldom requires trimming with little to no waste. Closed Cell foam cures rigid and the millions of microscopic bubbles which form during the expansion reaction remain closed and intact. This traps the reaction gases, and as such, the R-Value of Closed Cell foam is close to that of the reaction gas, around 7 per inch. The Closed Cell structiure is very strong; increasing shear and racking strength by 300%. Closed Cell foam is a Code Approved Vapor Barrier at 2 inches with a permeability rating of under 45 ng, as well as a Code Approved Air Barrier and Thermal Insulation. Closed Cell foam is spray applied as a liquid to create an air-tight seal as it expands as a foam to stop air leakage. Unlike Open Cell foam, Closed Cell foam stops both convection through and within the wall cavity. Foam Lok TM is an example of Closed Cell spray foam.
Icynene actually has an R value of 3.6, the same as blown cellulose without the settling. The air sealing qualities are said to be quite good with Icynene and the fact that is not a vapor barrier can be a good thing, especially in areas that produce a lot of moisture such as bathrooms and so on. With closed cell insulation you also need to be careful that condensation in the walls has a way out. Normally this would escape through the walls but if there is a vapor barrier it is trapped and can lead to mold issues.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, Icynene is a water based product and does not have nearly the same off-gassing qualities as other foams. As someone with somewhat sensitive lungs I didn't want to take the chance of becoming over-sensitized to the insulation and not be able to live in my house. I've read several cases where this has happened to people and it almost made me opt for damp cellulose over foam altogether.