You are doing some research on spray foam insulation kits to insulate small areas of your home, and now you are curious about how much Do-It-Yourself spray foam insulation kits cost.
The amount of foam the kit makes is one of the main factors that determines its price. If you’re insulating a very small area, then a smaller two-component spray foam kit could do the job. When insulating a larger space, you may need to buy more than one of the larger two-component kits.
In these cases, size matters.
RetroFoam of Michigan has more than 20 years of experience insulating thousands of homes across the Mitten and greater Toledo area. While we don’t sell or use DIY spray foam kits, we know about all things foam insulation because it’s all we do.
In an effort to continue to educate homeowners, we have gathered information on the cost of DIY spray foam insulation kits from some of the most popular spray foam kit manufacturers like Dow and Tiger Foam.
The cost to insulate a home varies depending on the size of the area to be insulated.
Here is a look at the spray foam kits available and their cost from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Tiger Foam. When looking at the coverage available, it is good to note that 1 board foot is equal to 1 square foot of coverage at 1 inch. In most cases, a minimum of 2- to 3-inches of spray foam is required to provide a proper air seal.
The above prices don’t include the cost of other materials such as coveralls or a hooded suit, eye protection, gloves, and masks.
You'll also need to make sure you buy plastic and tape for prepping to ensure the spray foam doesn't get where you don't want it. Other costs include getting rid of your old insulation at a dump, buying garbage bags, and the cost of your own time to do the work, as well as the time it's going to take to learn exactly how to use the do-it-yourself foam insulation kit.
Most of the kits come with additional hoses and guns, but those items clog easily. Buying replacements is another added expense.
Spray foam insulation kits can be used in any area of the home that is open.
These areas include the attic, open wall cavities, crawl space, and rim joist. Also, around the windows, doors, and to patch existing insulation.
What you will want to keep in mind is the area's size to be insulated, along with the proper thickness in inches of foam needed. The prices above are for one kit only, so insulating larger areas or multiple spaces could get costly.
The prices listed above cover just the spray foam kits if you decide to do the job yourself.
If the project seems too big for your abilities, you may decide to hire a contractor instead.
Hiring a contractor would be more expensive, but that extra cost comes with peace of mind that the job will be done correctly. It’s also important to note that you will have to buy not only enough product to finish the job, but also enough to cover any wasted product lost while learning how to use it.
Also, keep in mind that insulation contractors usually have a minimum job cost. In some cases, spray foam kits work really well for small projects, so it wouldn’t make sense to hire a contractor. However, when you crunch the numbers for a job, even as little as a rim joist, and factor in your time and wasted material, it will probably be cheaper to hire a contractor. This is especially true if they offer a warranty.
Hiring an experienced contractor is advised to save yourself the headache of a mishap, wasted materials, and to avoid damage to your home. A good contractor doesn’t use foam insulation kits. This is because they’re challenging to use and are often times inferior to the high-pressure spray foam products used by professionals.
You’ve learned how much the DIY spray foam kits cost, so now you may be looking to learn even more about foam insulation benefits.
From making your home more energy-efficient and comfortable to reducing outside noise from getting into the house, spray foam has a lot to offer.
If you’d like to learn about all things foam insulation, check out the Learning Center on our website.
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