Residential and Commercial Climate Protection Solutions
Climate protection has to become a central investment for our collective well-being. Empirically, the science is daunting and, even more real are the extreme, frequent, and impactful weather events across New England that are too close to home. Solutions are in the form of cumulative, critical and sustained action steps that can move humanity towards a healthier and sustainable co-existence. Cozy Home / Foam USA can help on the tangible home/building front with guidance and solutions for much needed energy conservation and thermal/climate controls that will protect home and planet. Call today!
Retrofit Insulation Applications: Existing Homes
Stop the Stack Effect! And do not settle for only state BASIC WEATHERIZATION improvements. Damage can be done with the states limited one method application audits and installations. You have choices. INVEST in more robust energy efficient and climate protection solutions with advance spray foam technology and retrofit insulation services by Cozy Home / Foam USA. For 20 years we have been evolving and strengthening our professional knowledge and skills to service the great variety of New England building stock. And one thing is true: the critical starting point for advanced thermal envelope improvements is at the TOP! A complete air/vapor barrier seal at the top of the building is crucial for reducing uncontrolled Stack Effect induced air leakage/moisture penetration. Keep the winter conditioned heat IN and keep OUT the intense summer solar heat gain. Unfortunately, the weather and temperature extremes will become more sever and unpredictable in the seasons to come so best to strategize,prepare and mitigate now.
Instead of retrofitting existing attic flat thermal boundary, sometimes it can be best to invest in insulating the underside of the roof deck with closed cell foam. This is the most effective way to reduce solar heat gain and make an air-tight cap. Plus, this allows for the potential of usable space and protects duct distribution/forced air systems. No attic ventilation required.
old rotten attic flat insulation, thermal performance?
Attic Roof Deck
A great time to upgrade thermal performance of cathedral ceiling spaces is when the roof requires replacement. We interface with the roof GC and install closed cell foam in the rafter bays from the exterior during roof upgrade. Fantastic process with many immediate positive benefits. Roof can be vented or unvented depending cavity depth.
old cathedral fiberglass
Cathedral Roof Foam
Consider removing/vacuuming out existing old rotten insulation and then insulating with either all closed cell foam or a combination of closed cell with cellulose if budget is limited. Great way to secure old lathe/plaster ceilings! Attic must be well ventilated with soffit/gable/ roof ridge venting. If attic roof has a low pitch / shallow roof then roof foam is best for performance and durability.
Attic Flat with Coffered ceiling – Closed Cell Foam Retrofit
Empty walls can be a positive! Meaning they are prime to become fully insulated with dense pack cellulose or injection open cell spray foam.
Injection Open Cell Foam
IR Image of wall injection foam
Garage Closed Cell foam
Many variables: Water pipes/HVAC/moisture/accessibility. 4″ closed cell foam, R30, either in floor joist bays or outside walls.
Foundation close cell spray foam
Retrofit Foundation Foam Closed Cell Foam
Seal out cold, rodents, soil gases! And keep ducts and water pipes protected. Clean and easy to access. Ground vapor a barrier control a must.
Associated with old Cape style construction and often a tremendous weak spot for thermal performance and ice damming issues. Overhaul these areas with closed cell foam in the rafter slopes! A game changer! Provides usable space and nullifies chronic ice damming and critter entry.
Attic kneewall foam protection
Classic cape kneewall roof slope foam insulation
New Construction / Renovations Applications:
Understand the base energy codes and which insulation material is ideally suited for the project and assembly. For new construction current prescriptive base code is R60 in attics/cathedral roof decks and R30 in exterior wall cavity for new construction. Performance based pathways with a HERS Rater allow for calculated trades offs/options to achieve a stringent HERS score. Regardless of pathway, the most advanced insulation material is closed cell foam because it provides ALL thermal boundary control layers in one seamless material, along with very High R-Value!
When viable Cozy Home Performance installs fiber insulation materials such as: cellulose / fiberglass / wood fiber. These fiber-based materials are lower in R-value and require specific air and moisture/vapor barrier control layer considerations to be effective and safe for long term energy performance and building durability. We often install dense pack cellulose in 12″ deep staggered stud framed walls which requires a smart vapor membrane layer and vapor open exterior WRB details.
Attic Roof Insulation = 8.5″ closed cell foam / R60. Best for comfortable storage/work space and enhancing efficiency performance for Heat/AC ducting, air handler. Tremendous summer cooling benefit and protection from wind damage. Excellent for low pitched roof sections that will not vent adequately. Great for retrofit applications and creating more usable space.
Unvented roof slope Closed Cell Foam to the peak!
Vaulted ceiling with unvented attic/roof Close Cell. Dense pack cellulose exterior walls Foam
Requires robust low to high venting strategy to be effective. Insulation can be closed cell foam, and, or loose blown cellulose. Best if no HVAC present. If usable storage then, closed cell spray foam takes ups less space, has no dust, and adds tremendous strength. Great for retrofit application against lathe/plaster ceilings. 18″ loose blown cellulose achieves R60 code mandate or only 8.5″ closed cell foam.
Soffit vented attic flat with 18″ Cellulose, R60.
Traditonal attic flat, vented. Timber HP wood fiber insulation
8.5″ / R60 closed cell foam in rafter bays. Un-vented or Vented options available pending rafter depth/roof material. Never vapor permeable open cell foam against cold substrates. Code mandates R20 vapor impermeable insulation against roof deck in climate 5.
Cathedral Roof Foam – Unvented
Barn Gambrel roof closed cell foam. Venting not an option!
R30 wall cavity performance = 4″ closed cell foam, fully vapor and air tight. One and done! We install 12″ dense pack cellulose in double stud framed walls when appropriately designed with smart vapor and air barrier controls by the GC/Architect. Details matter.
Wall Dense pack cellulose and Roof Foam. Vermont.
Commercial garage high performance roof/wall foam – one and done!
3″ closed cell foam, R21. Recommend 4″/R30 in rim band. Very durable. May require additional intumescent thermal barrier coating.
Foundation foam vapor tight, dry & clean! White thermal barrier coating
Classic foundation closed cell foam. To be covered with sheetrock
4″ closed cell foam, R30. Mice proof! No fiberglass nesting!
Boat House on Ct river. Cantilever floor foam.
Garage ceiling closed cell foam.
Past Climate Champion Projects
Click an image below to enlarge
The best floor insulation – closed cell foam
Limited space but super R40 closed cell foam. Hatfield, MA
Bus Retrofit – made cozy with foam!
Repurpose old coach line bus into mobile home with foam. Charlotte, MA
Chemical tank protection with closed cell foam.
Sensitive chemicals require stable environment with help of super R value with durable closed cell spray foam.
Slab foam insulation! Integrity builders / CozyHome
No seams, no overlapping; just 3" /R21 closed cell foam slab super insulation
Ceiling Sound Proofing Open Cell Foam
Sound Proofing with open cell spray foam. Easthampton, MA. Keystone building.
Barn turned play space, heated!
Durable closed cell foam provides thermal boundary to keep space warm! Granby
Quonset garage made quiet and cozy!
Climate controlled workshop fully insulated, protected with closed cell foam.
Garage storage made comfortable
A great space made perfect with closed cell spray foam. No more wind rattle!
