Great Price, Bad Chemicals

In our article “When a Completed Project Comes Back to haunt you” we shared important information surrounding selecting a spray foam installer. Specifically, why price should not be the bottom line! In speaking with many of you about this article, most asked the same question! What causes the issues in the pictures?

Though many factors play into what causes these types of problems the number one bad practice is bad chemicals

Bad Chemicals

Spray Foam Insulation NOT installed by Chicago Green Insulation

Bad chemicals come in two forms: expired and not properly tested.

Many spray foam installers will use chemicals that have passed expiration. Just like the milk in your fridge, spray foam has an expiration date. Once the chemicals are expired they are sold by distributors at a much cheaper cost. I know because they call me all the time trying to get me to buy them. Much like I will not buy food at the grocery store that is expired, I will not buy expired chemicals.

We could go down a long scientific explanation surrounding the changes in both the Iso and Resin chemicals post-expiration, but we won’t. For all my science buffs, when it comes to expired spray foam the catalyst dissipates, the density of the materials increases and the yield decreases. If the past couple of sentences sounded like Greek, basically the chemical compounds change and in turn how they react with one another changes.

One of the major challenges that occur with expired chemicals is shrinkage. If you have shrinkage air and moisture will get through the gaps. Shrinkage with expired chemicals does not always happen immediately. It can happen months after the job is completed. Just because the application looks good when it was completed, does not guarantee that you are in the

This leads to the other two questions you should be asking about your spray foam materials. Who is the manufacture? Can you provide me ESR Documentation?

Spray foam is not cheap and you should be asking questions when it comes to the materials your installer is using. Ask your installer, do you use expired chemicals?

Don’t cut corners when installing spray foam!

This leads to the other two questions you should be asking about your spray foam materials. Who is the manufacture? Can you provide me ESR Documentation?

Aside from expired materials being sold, there are also chemicals being sold that are not. Spray foam chemicals that are not backed by ESR Documentation have not been properly tested. Yes, they are cheaper. However, they are not guaranteed to perform.

Most people price shop when evaluating their installers. While you are doing this ask the questions you need to ask to protect your investment.

Here are our Answers:

Do we use expired chemicals? No

Who manufactures our foam and is it backed by ESR Documentation? We use Demilec Foams. Yes, Demilec is backed by ESR Documentation that we can provide you based on the type of Demilec Foam we use on your specific project.

Here at Chicago Green Insulation, we are not the cheapest. We aren’t just selling you a product we are selling our expertise and years of experience in construction and design. If you want quality spray foam, you want Chicago Green Insulation. If you do not go with us, you definitely want an installer that will answer the questions above without hesitation.

As I always say “Comfort is only a Foam Call away!” Call us today at (847) 987-3626

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About the Author, Tom Decker

With ten years of experience selling spray foam insulation in Chicago, Tom Decker is THE person to call and the Chicago Green Insulation is the organization to hire when you are looking for top notch quality and performance as well as someone who can deal with the needs of code officials, home owners and general contractors. Call the others in Chicago, if you are interested in the cheapest price, call Chicago Green Insulation if you are interested in using your dollars to make Chicago a better city for all of us!