If you're thinking about spraying the flooring of your basement, then read up on the pros and cons before doing so.
Spray Foam Traps Moisture
When applying any type of flooring material, it is important to ensure that the area where the product will be installed is clean and dry. Moisture can cause problems if it gets into the substrate. In addition, it is important to ensure that the surface being sprayed is flat. Any bumps or unevenness will prevent the proper adhesion between the product and the surface.
Spray Foam Traps Mold
A common misconception about spraying insulation into walls is that it kills off any existing molds or fungus. While it may help prevent new growth, it doesn’t actually do anything to eliminate existing molds or fungi. In fact, it can make them worse because they get trapped inside the wall cavity where they continue to live and grow. They also continue to produce spores, which can spread to other parts of your home. For this reason, we recommend having an experienced professional come out and inspect your home before applying any type of insulation. We can then determine what needs to be done to ensure your home is safe and healthy.
Spray Foam is Hard to Remove from Sub-floor
The picture shows the moisture trapped behind the sprayed-on insulation. It may be true that the moisture formed after the insulation was sprayed on, but it's more likely that the insulation was used to hide the water damage. Many crawl space encapsulation contractors who don't know how to remove water from crawl spaces use insulation instead of removing the source of the problem.
If you hired someone who did not know what they were doing, your flooring might be in big trouble. Paint and spray foam can be removed easily if done correctly. Soda blast does work well on paint, but it is not effective on spray foam. If you take the bulk of the spray off, you leave a thin layer of plastic behind. This thin layer still holds moisture and mold.
When to use spray foam insulation for crawl space insulation
When Crawl Spaces Ninja uses spraying foams in the crawl spaces, they are to seal large holes and prevent airflow between the crawl spaces and the house. We do not like any insulation in the floor when wall or foundation insulations can be used, and the crawl spaces are encapsulated. For ventilated crawl spaces, we recommend using batts instead of spraying foams on the floor. However, if you have a sealed crawl space, we recommend installing spraying foams on the floors.
