Does Old Insulation Have to be Removed Prior to Spray Foam Insulation?

If you ask us, the answer is always YES. Removing old insulation is an industry-best practice for three top reasons:

1. Fiberglass is the perfect medium for individual spray foam droplets/molecules to land on which causes them to remain uncured. What does this mean? The droplets and molecules are blocked from bonding with their catalyst which then causes consistency issues in the spray foam application.

2. Leaving the old insulation in place creates a secondary thermal plane*, which we do not want to happen. When spray foam insulation is applied, we’re moving your building envelope from the floor of your attic to the roofline overhead. This allows your HVACC units to live on the inside of the building envelope and run more efficiently.

3. It’s pretty common for squirrels, mice, and other small animals to take up temporary residence inside your attic. Not surprisingly, these same “guests” leave behind unwanted droppings which can get stuck in the old insulation. Because the building envelope is currently on the floor of your attic, odors from the droppings and other stale smells are able to go up and out of your attic by escaping through the soffits. If you were to leave that old insulation and encapsulate your attic then those smells are extremely likely to drive into your living space.

Take note, some other companies may leave old insulation behind, but it is mandatory for Epic Spray Foam to remove the old insulation to keep with industry best practices and for the reasons we detailed above.

Curious what improvements can be made to your attic? Contact us today to discuss your insulation options and request a FREE estimate.

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*Thermal Plane = potential condensation point. In vaulted rooms and those with peak areas, look for a water line on the inside of the living space approximately 1-2’ from the top. You may see the water line and be tempted to call your roofer for repair, but these water lines are commonly caused by a buildup of condensation between the two planes. Give us a call if you notice one!