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Why choose Biofoam? - Back to Top
Biofoam's earth-friendly products and systems help improve indoor air quality, reduce utility bills up to 50%, are made to last, and are better for the environment.

What does “earth-friendly” mean? - Back to Top
Biofoam’s products are “earth-friendly” because they make use of renewable agricultural resources. Plus, Biofoam’s roofing materials may never need to be torn off and carted to special toxic landfills. Biofoam’s superior thermal performance also reduces your carbon footprint by helping to lower your energy consumption. Biofoam is better for the environment—inside and out.

How can Biofoam reduce my utility bills? - Back to Top
Biofoam insulation, roofing, waterproofing and coating solutions all create what we call a Sealed System™ in and around your structure. This provides a highly efficient thermal seal against air leakage, the number one cause of energy loss—making your home more energy efficient while reducing your utility bills up to 50%. Conventional products like fiberglass and cellulose are settling materials, which by design cannot create this kind of seal, and they lack the durability to maintain effectiveness over time.

How does Biofoam increase indoor air quality and comfort? - Back to Top
By creating the proper air and moisture barriers, your building or structure will be shielded from toxic fumes, dust, pollen, allergens, mold, and mildew-causing humidity. This also works to prevent air from escaping—and taking your heat with it. Your indoor air will remain warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

How does foam insulation compare to other insulation? - Back to Top
There is no better insulation than foam. Foam insulation prevents air leakage and retains its effective aged R-value better than any other insulation. Biofoam uses a spray-in-place polyurethane foam that applies as a liquid, and quickly expands up to 100 times its original size. As it expands, it conforms and fills each wall space and roof gap—creating an airtight environment. Other types of insulation can take up to 30 days to dry and set, but Biofoam installations dry in seconds so there are far fewer delays in building and remodeling projects.

Is Biofoam more expensive than other insulation, roofing, waterproofing and coatings? - Back to Top
Biofoam's designed systems may pay for themselves in as little as 3-5 years by dramatically reducing your energy consumption—and therefore lowering your heating and cooling costs by up to 50% (depending on your actual heating and cooling preferences and building size). Biofoam requires virtually no maintenance; our insulation never settles or deteriorates, and our roofs can warranted for up to 15 years, after which time they only require re-applications of the outer coating that may have oxidized and blown away. You may never need to tear off a Biofoam roof or re-install our insulation.

What is a Biofoam “system”? - Back to Top
Biofoam looks at every home, building, or structure as an individual holistic system of interdependent parts that make up a well-engineered indoor environment. This helps you achieve maximum energy savings, and minimum environmental impact. Most structures are not designed and built with this perspective. Therefore, you typically have architects and engineers working separately from the HVAC, insulation, and roofing contractors. Since a problem in one area can affect the performance of the entire structure, Biofoam strives to work with EVERYONE involved with your project from the very beginning, to make sure the entire structure performs as one.

Are Biofoam products sold at retail stores, and can I install them myself? - Back to Top
No. Biofoam products and solutions are designed specifically for each job we perform. Our products are made and installed by specially trained and highly-qualified installation professionals with state of the art equipment.

Does Biofoam qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.) credits? - Back to Top
Yes! For more information on how Biofoam can help your building qualify for L.E.E.D. credits, please call 1-866-356-FOAM and speak to one of Biofoam’s technical consultants.

How can you tell if your insulation is inefficient or needs to be replaced? - Back to Top
Oftentimes you can see problems like mold forming on the insulation itself, frost forming on the underside of your roof, and rotting studs in an attic or basement. Another thing to look for are the formation of excess icicles. Icicles can be an indication of an air leak or gap in your roof or exterior walls, causing melting and re-freezing from where the heat is escaping. Changes in your heating and cooling bills are another indication there may be a problem. The best way to know if you have the right insulation is to have your building examined by a Biofoam professional.

Is more insulation, or thicker foam, always better? - Back to Top
Yes and No. More insulation and thicker insulation will always provide more protection from air transfer and heat loss, but at some point you will fail to gain an adequate return on your investment. Economically, the goal of insulation is to lower your heating and cooling bills, but the cost of excessive insulation will far outweigh the savings to be gained by doing the job properly. Biofoam will ONLY recommend what is necessary for our customers to benefit from a positive return on their investment.

How does spray polyurethane foam (SPF) reduce energy use in buildings? - Back to Top

	SPF provides a continuous air barrier.
	SPF prevents moisture infiltration through air leakage.
	SPF minimizes dew point problems and condensation.
	SPF avoids thermal bridging.
	SPF resists heat movement in all directions.
	SPF provides reliable performance under varying conditions.

What is the difference between a vented and unvented attic? - Back to Top
Unvented (conditioned) attics use air-impermeable insulation as a barrier to prevent moisture condensation on the underside of roof decks. Vented attics minimize condensation by allowing the escape of moisture to the exterior by air flow.

If you spray the underside of a roof deck with SPF insulation, should you vent the attic? - Back to Top
No. The application of SPF insulation to the underside of the roof deck minimizes the potential for condensation. The SPF insulation develops a thermal and moisture gradient that avoids the development of dew point conditions in the attic. Because of this, moisture won't condense or accumulate and, therefore, does not need to be vented to the exterior.

Do you need a vapor retarder or a vapor barrier with SPF insulation? - Back to Top
It depends of the use of the building, the climate and the materials of construction. Extremes of climate and building use may require vapor retarders/barriers. Call for specific recommendations.

Is SPF a good soundproofing material? - Back to Top
Both low (1/2 lb/cubic/ft) and medium (2lb/cubic/ft) density SPF effectively reduce noise from outside sources by sealing cracks and gaps that allow sound to travel through the walls, floors and ceilings into the building. They are less effective against noise caused by vibration.

What is the difference between low density, open cell SPF and medium density closed cell SPF?

Roofing

How long does a spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roof last?
The oldest performing SPF roofs are over 30 years old. Because the physical properties of the SPF change little with age, how long the SPF roof system lasts depends primarily on the original application and long term maintenance.

How do you maintain a SPF roof system? - Back to Top
SPF roof systems, as with other roofing systems, should be inspected semi-annually and after events that could cause physical damage. Small (less than 3" diameter) dents, cracks, punctures from dropped tools, wind driven debris can be repaired with an elastomeric sealant compatible with the SPF and coating system. More extensive damage can be repaired by reapplying SPF.

Typically SPF roof systems are re-coated every 10 - 15 years, depending on the type and thickness of coating used and factors specific to the roof (such as wind erosion effects, hail, foot traffic, abuse, etc.) Recoating extends the service life of the SPF roof system.

Where can I use a SPF roofing system? - Back to Top
SPF has excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates including, BUR, clay and concrete tile, shingles, metal, wood and concrete. Since they add little weight and can be applied in varying thickness to add slope and fill in low areas. SPF roofing systems are often used as recover system over existing roof coverings.

SPF roofing systems excel where:

	Additional insulation is desired.
	The roof substrate has many penetrations.
	The roof deck is an unusual shape or configuration.
	The roof is in a severe weather environment (hurricanes, hail, etc)
	Lightweight materials are required.
	Slope must be added to provide positive drainage.
	It is desirable to keep existing roof covering.

What are the environmental limitations of installing SPF roofing systems? - Back to Top
As with other roofing systems, SPF can be applied in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for ambient conditions. The SPF and protective coating should not be installed when there is ice, frost, surface moisture or visible dampness present on the surface to be covered. Barriers may be necessary if wind conditions can affect the foam quality or create over-spray problems.

How do SPF roof systems compare in cost to other roof systems? - Back to Top
SPF roofing systems are cost competitive with other systems. Life Cycle Cost Analysis performed by Michelsen Technologies demonstrated that over a 30 year life span, SPF roof systems cost between 10% and 50% less on average than comparably insulated membrane roof systems. (Averages were based on SPF roof system recoats of every 6, 10 and 15 years. A copy of the Life Cycle report is available from SPFA.)

General

Why do you need coatings or coverings over SPF? - Back to Top
SPF is water resistant without other coverings, however, the surface of SPF can deteriorate under the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Typically, elastomeric coatings or aggregate coverings are used to protect the SPF against UV radiation.(note include other coating benefits.) In addition coverings can be of aesthetic value with a range of colors to choose from. Coatings can also add to a roofs reflectivity anc cool roof performance.

How long has SPF been around? - Back to Top
Spray polyurethane foam was first used commercially in the US in the 1960s for cold storage and industrial insulation projects. SPF roofing systems evolved from exterior applications to tanks and pipes in the late 60s to early 70s.