Tips for Cold Weather Spray Foam Insulation

With more customers requesting insulation installs for their residences and businesses, contractors are increasingly interested in learning about cold weather spray foam applications. Many customers have realized the benefits of spray foam insulation for cold weather as the frigid temperatures set in, resulting in calls to contractors who need to figure out how to maintain their foam product in temperatures not conducive to its operation and storage.

If you’re beginning to see an uptick in customers requesting spray foam insulation, you might be looking for some tips about applying spray foam in cold weather, including ones focused on spray foam cure time in cold weather, and how to preserve the product in its optimal and effective state. Failure to take the necessary measures could end up proving costly in terms of product loss and lost time while you scramble to find an alternative solution.

Can You Apply Spray Foam in Cold Weather?

When ambient temperatures, material temperatures, or substrate temperatures are too low, cold weather spray foam does not rise or bond to the substrate enough to produce the desired result. Warming material to the specified manufacturer SDS temperatures is vital to proper application. Likewise, if the foam itself is not stored at proper temperatures before application, it will experience lower viscosity and will not yield a product that can effectively serve its intended purpose either.

Temperatures that are too low for application causes the material to peel away, resulting in the spray foam being wasted or having reduced effectiveness.  

While cold weather insulation projects are not ideal for successful spray foam application, projects don’t need to be shut down during cold weather. When it comes to applying spray foam in cold weather, it’s important to ensure certain measures are taken to maintain the foam’s temperature, as well as the substrate, to avoid issues such as extended spray foam cure time in cold weather.

Cold Weather Insulation: Winterproofing Benefits of Spray Foam

While applying spray foam in cold weather requires extra care, it also brings several winterproofing benefits.

Some winterproofing benefits of cold weather insulation include:

• Preventing heat loss in cold weather – An airtight seal can help retain indoor warmth by preventing drafts and minimizing heat loss.
• Improving winter energy efficiency – Superior thermal resistance can provide reduced heating costs during winter months by keeping heat inside.
• Sealing against winter moisture – Effective insulation protects against moisture buildup and condensation, which can lead to mold or mildew in the colder months.
• Reducing ice damming – You can prevent ice dams from forming when warm air escapes through the roof during winter.
• Maintaining consistent indoor temperature – Insulation helps to maintain a stable, comfortable temperature inside even during extreme winter temperatures.

Key Features to Look for in Cold Weather Spray Foam Machines

High Delta T Ratings

When working in cold weather, selecting a spray foam machine with a high Delta T rating is crucial to ensure smooth material application and reduce the impact of slower spray foam cure times in cold weather.

Delta T refers to the temperature difference between your drum and spray gun, which regulates the flow of the material. In colder conditions, a higher Delta T helps the foam maintain optimal temperatures, allowing it to perform effectively even when temperatures drop.

What Type of Materials Should I Use for Cold Weather Insulation?

The ideal spray foam to use in cold weather is closed-cell foam. While open-cell foam is a great choice because its expansive nature can fill many nooks and crannies that are hard to reach – thereby effectively heat proofing and even soundproofing walls – it is less friendly to the rigors of cold temperatures. That means that it would take a lot more work and effort to keep open-cell foams at the ideal temperature for usage, where areas the closed-cell foam can be more readily formulated into cold weather bonds, and stand up to lower temps.  

What Is the Best Way to Heat My Spray Foam?

 Drum Heaters

Generally, drum temperatures need to keep material between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, to keep the product stable and ready for optimal use. The SDS for the material manufacturer can provide more exact guidance for the required temperatures. 

To get the most out of cold weather spray foam, the material itself can be warmed with drum heaters. A drum heater can keep a perpetual warming temperature on the material inside the barrel, assuring that it is heated at every point. A 55-gallon drum heater can be pre-installed in your rig, and can help you maintain the needed temperatures, or regulate based on how much heat the drum needs. 

Band Heaters

Traditionally, band heaters have been utilized by contractors seeking to preserve foam temperatures at a low cost. The problem with band heaters is that they heat only a portion of the drum. This means that the heat is too concentrated on one particular portion of the foam, making some of the foam potentially too hot while keeping other parts too cold. Insulation blankets are not the best drum heaters either, as they allow for certain areas to remain cooler than others, with the problem of cold material not being solved. 

To apply spray foam in cold weather and assure substantive, distributed heating, some contractors try using space heaters or bullet heaters. However, these are not particularly safe or overly effective methods. There are other more effective drum heating solutions.

Barrel Blazers and More

Barrel Blazers and barrel blankets are a good option when it comes to more uniform coverage of drums. They retain heat and keep the warmth of the foam evenly distributed, mitigating the possibility of cold spots. Heated hoses are an ideal addition to drum heaters – while material in the drum is staying warm, heated hoses keep material temperatures regulated until it reaches the spray gun. 

Of course, there are supplemental solutions that include keeping your spray hose in good condition and keeping the hose and the drum elevated off of cold floors or snow, so that warm air can enter underneath.

Using a drum heater to warm the foam before starting the work is essential, but slowing down the dispense rate on the gun’s nozzle can also allow the process to work more efficiently. When running a hose from your rig, it is also a good idea to only pull it through a small opening, as larger openings make for an easy way to lose heat. 

When Should I Not Spray Foam in Cold Weather?

Do not start spraying foam insulation for cold weather if the foam has not been maintained at the manufacturer-mandated temperatures. It’s also important to avoid spraying onto a cold weather insulation substrate that is too cold. Spraying cold substrates will result in poor foam bonding (or no bonding at all), causing it to peel away from the surface and lead to wasted material.

Additionally, be mindful of spray foam cure time in cold weather, as lower temperatures can extend the curing process and impact the foam’s effectiveness. As a final reminder, keep these points in mind when working with spray foam in cooler temperatures:

• Open-cell spray foam should not be exposed to weather elements and is designed for indoor use.
• Closed-cell spray foam can be used indoors or in outdoor applications where it may be exposed to the elements.

Contact SprayWorks Equipment for Cold Weather Insulation Materials