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Spray foam retrofit is designed for existing homes where the goal is to move the insulation and air barrier from the attic floor to the underside of the roof deck, when the home is a good candidate. This creates an indirectly conditioned attic and puts the attic environment much closer to the conditions inside the home.

Why Homeowners Choose Spray Foam Retrofit

• The potential to reduce heating and cooling costs depends on the home, HVAC system, existing conditions, and other factors.
• Dramatically reduce uncontrolled air movement between the attic and living space.
• Improve indoor comfort and help improve indoor air quality by reducing attic air infiltration.
• Reduce the extreme heat load placed on HVAC ductwork located in the attic.
• Place attic ductwork and qualifying HVAC equipment in a much more controlled environment.
• Create a more consistent thermal and air barrier at the roofline

Spray foam retrofit is not the right solution for every home. ISO evaluates the existing attic, HVAC system, appliances, ventilation, and overall home configuration before recommending a retrofit.

• Full-electric homes
• Homes with geothermal heating and cooling
• Homes with high-efficiency HVAC equipment
• Homes with the furnace located in a properly configured interior closet
• Homes with significant attic air leakage
• Homeowners looking for improved comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality

Fuel-Burning Appliances Matter

A low-efficiency, naturally drafted, or Other open-combustion furnace or fuel-burning appliance located in the attic can make a spray foam retrofit inappropriate. These appliances rely on surrounding air for combustion. Changing the attic's air movement and pressure can create combustion-safety concerns, including the potential for backdrafting.

For that reason, ISO does not recommend enclosing an attic around an unsuitable combustion appliance. If a fuel-burning appliance is present, the system should be evaluated by a qualified HVAC professional before the retrofit is considered. The goal is to make sure the home has an appropriate, properly vented system before the attic is converted.

Existing Insulation Must Be Removed

Spray foam retrofit is not an insulation add-on. Before spray foam is installed, all existing attic insulation must be removed. This gives our crew access to the roof deck and allows the attic to be properly prepared for the new insulation system.

Removing the existing insulation also allows the attic to be inspected for problems that need to be addressed before the roof deck is sprayed. The new spray foam is then installed directly to the appropriate surfaces to create the new insulation and air-barrier system.

Conditioning the Attic

One of the primary reasons for a spray foam retrofit is to convert the attic into an indirectly conditioned space by moving the insulation and air barrier to the underside of the roof deck.

Attic areas over porches, garages, and living space cannot simply be treated as one continuous space. Where required, ISO will build demising walls to separate these areas so the spray foam system is installed only where it is intended and the attic is properly divided between the IIVing space and non-conditioned areas.

The Home Must Be Vacant During Installation

Because spray foam is installed using chemical components and the installation process requires ventilation, the home cannot be occupied during the installation. All people and pets must be out of the home while the work is being performed and during the required initial ventilation period.

ISO will provide the homeowner with specific instructions regarding when it is safe to return to the home. This requirement is part of completing the installation properly and safely.

Attic temperatures in Oklahoma can become extremely high. When ductwork is exposed to that environment, the HVAC system has to overcome that heat load while moving conditioned air through the attic. By insulating at the roofline, spray foam retrofit helps bring the ductwork into a much more controlled environment and reduces the extreme heat load surrounding the system.

The appropriate spray foam system depends on the home, roof assembly, available space, and project requirements. ISO can evaluate the existing structure and determine which foam system is appropriate for the application.

The right answer depends on the home's construction, HVAC system, attic layout, existing insulation, and combustion appliances. ISO will evaluate those conditions before recommending a retrofit.

Schedule an attic evaluation with Insulation Systems Of Oklahoma to determine whether Spray foam retrofit is the right solution for your home.