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ADVICE, HOUSE INSULATION

FACTS AND MYTHS ABOUT POLYURETHANE FOAM INSULATIONS.

March 8, 20170

HOUSE INSULATION – GUIDANCE

Facts and myths about polyurethane foam insulations.

Why Mr. John Smith from DIY Shop Will Advice Against Polyurethane Foam Insulation?

In building insulation technology polyurethane foam is unmatched. However in Poland there is still some distrust of this new insulation method. Customers are afraid of it, as they would be of any other thing they’d consider unknown and not properly tested. There’s nothing wrong with this attitude, people by principle are afraid of something they don’t know. However, this septic attitude is additionally escalated by construction teams and professionals from DIY stores, who persuade customers to choose mineral wool or other older generation insulation materials. Why would they advise you so? Because of their aim at helping their customers to profit from the choice? NO. They just want to sell their product and charge additionally you for application service. And on the other side of the conflict, you can find such greedy spray crews, that would offer and perform polyurethane foam spray, even when it’s not recommended. It all ads up and slows down foam insulation business in Poland.

Sanberg services of polyurethane foam spray are provided only after the accurate interview with potential customer,  followed by inspection of the spray area. We invite you to read our articles. We hope they’ll bring you closer to the new thermal insulation technology and allow you to make the right choice of insulation method.

 

Myth #1: Polyurethane foam is more expensive than mineral wool.

It can be both, the truth and the myth, depending on the perspective. If we look at the insulation as a the long-term solution, the conclusion is different than when only the short-time perspective is considered. In terms of costs, mineral wool’s sole advantage is the price of the purchase. But when the wool is already installed in your house, it will only generate losses from that moment on, as the insulation parameters get weaker every day.

If you decide for polyurethane foam instead, the savings will appear immediately, and will be generated not only in winter, but also during the summer. The insulation properties of foam are 100% better than those of mineral wool. In addition, foam does not loose its properties with time, and you receive 25 years manufacturer’s guaranty for the foam itself.

 

Myth #2: Foam will push the roof elements out, or will damage them.

This is a complete nonsense. Polyurethane foam expands only in the space where it is applied and enters only the spots where there is no resistance.

 

Myth #3: Mineral wool isolates heat better.

Polyurethane foam is twice as warm than mineral wool, when the thermal conductivity is compared. Thermal conductivity for polyurethane foam is 0,020 -0,025, and for mineral wool it is 0,035-0,050. The lower the thermal conductivity, the better insulation efficiency. This small investment in your house may pay off more quickly than you imagine. Foam reduces risk of fire and roof damage caused by high winds.”

 

Myth #4: Polyurethane foam is a market novelty.

Polyurethane foam has been known as insulation material for years – both in Poland and abroad. It wasn’t so popular, though, because the offer of foam spray reactors was limited and costly. Until recently, the price foam spray reactor was equal to the price of a good car. Sanberg company entered the market with our mid-range reactors and decent prices. The cost of our machines is 50% lower than the cost of comparable devices from other suppliers. The polyurethane foam spray technology comes from the USA and Canada, where it was used in the early 1980s. Severe weather conditions forced the application of more effective technological solutions for thermal insulation of buildings. In America, a large part of buildings has framing construction, usually wooden. Thin walls are well suited for isnulation with polyurethane, which applied in a 20cm thick layer protects effectively against severe frost.

 

Myth #5: You can live in the premises after polyurethane foam application.

Each type of polyurethane foam has its own fragrance, which can be smelled after spraying. It evaporates within 2-7 days, depending on the thickness of the layer that has been applied. Immediately after spray, bubbles are formed in the foam. They are filled with gas that is created during the POLY and ISO binding. The gas is replaced by clean air within few days. You can move into the sprayed preemies only after this period.

 

Myth #6:  Each type of polyurethane foam is applicable for your house insulation.

Depending on what is being insulated, the applicable type of polyurethane foam must be used. You must consider the density of foam per cubic meter. Foams with density of 7-12kg/m3 are used for thermal and acoustic insulations of attics, ceilings and partitions. Foams with a density of 30-37kg/m3 are used for thermal insulation of farms, floors of farm buildings, etc. Foams with density of 37-44 kg / m3 are used for thermal insulation of refrigerated buildings where products are stored at reduced temperatures. Foam with density of 45-56kg/m3 is used to insulate the roofs that can be walked on. The density of foam from 57-70 is used to insulate roofs, where pedestrian traffic is intense.

 

Myth #7: Insects, mice and marten will inhabit the foam.

I have never heard of insects inhabiting the polyurethane foam. Insects cannot hatch in the foam, because it is to hard to penetrate and give shelter. Rodents will not eat the polyurethane away, as it’s distasteful for them. Mouse can dig a hole near the foam but not inside it. Polyurethane foam insulation spray is not simple. Trust the advisers of Sanberg Poland.

 

Myth #8: Foam is flammable

Polyurethane foam is one the best insulation materials considering flammability. There are several confirmed cases in Poland that the attic secured with polyurethane foam kept the fire inside and prevented it from getting to the wooden structure before the arrival of the fire brigade. Of course, polyurethane foam will not resent the fire for a long time, but it is often long enough to call for the fire brigade and save your property.

You can watch the foam flammability tests on YouTube or read the test results on manufacturers’ websites. It is recommended to spray polyurethane foam of fire class E because of its self-extinguishing properties. Class E tells us that the foam is classified as combustible. The foam does not smolder,  drip or melt in contact with fire. Comparing polyurethane and mineral wool, polyurethane foam is the better option considering flammability.

 

Myth #9: Polyurethane foam has no flaws.

It’s a myth. Polyurethane foam has one flaw, important for many investors – cost of application service. Prices start form 48PLN/m2. Is it then worthwhile to invest in new technology? Of course it is. Assuming that the foam will bring us savings of 30-50% per year compared to other insulation methods, the investment will pay off after 18 months only.

ADVICE, HOUSE INSULATION

Advantages of the Polyurethane Foam in Comparison To Other Isolation Materials

March 8, 20170

Advantages of the polyurethane foam in comparison to other isolation materials

What to use for single-family house insulation? Only polyurethane foam.

Choosing of the insulation methods is very important when you build a new house or renovate the existing one. This choice decides whether in the future you will enjoy the warmth of your home and receive low bills for heating, or if the money you spent turn out to be WASTED. Currently there is no better insulation method than polyurethane foam. By choosing our company’s foam spray service you will save about 50% of money that you normally spend on heating. Producer gives 25 years warranty for the polyurethane foam, and guarantees that its insulation properties will not change during that time, and that your house will be well protected from cold and heat.

Sanberg Europe is not only a distributor of polyurethane foam spray reactors, but also a Certified Polyurethane Foam Insulation Contractor. In the early phase of our activity, we gained experience on the Western European market. We learned how to provide an excellent customer service and it is now our best advertisement. Working for foreign customers in Germany and Ireland is very challenging considering the quality of service. If Polish company is to receive a job in Germany, their performance must be perfect – just as Sanberg’s. Nearly 70% of our services is provided for German customers. So ask yourself, why we don’t have to advertise on the Internet or in the industry press, while other companies do? The answer is very simple – we already have a lot of customers in Germany and Poland and we perform services on their recommendation.

Below I present comparison of different materials and their thermal insulation properties. It shows that 5cm of foam provides the same level of insulation as a 170cm thick wall. 5cm of foam equals 8cm of mineral wool, in therms of insulation performance. The advantage of polyurethane foam is an optimal heating with a minimum layer.

 

There are many thermal insulation methods available on the market – polyurethane foam, Styrofoam, cellulose, various types of mineral and glass wool. What is the best for your house, family members and your wallet? Only polyurethane foam! Here are some of the advantages of polyurethane foam, which show you that Polyurethane Foam is the best way to isolate your house.

  • One of the most important assets of polyurethane foam is the quick return of money incurred on insulation. Every year you save around 30-50% more money compared to savings resulting form traditional insulation methods.
  • Insulation with polyurethane foam brings benefits not only in winter. During the summer the foam protects you from the heat. If you have the air conditioning in your home, you will appreciate the benefits of polyurethane foam as an insulator very soon. The air conditioner will not turn on so often, so you will also save money on room cooling. Thanks to foam isolation you will enjoy a pleasant coolness on hot days. The advantages of polyurethane foam will be appreciated strongly by those who have attic bedrooms and on hot summer nights they can not sleep because the attic feels like a heated oven.

 

What really counts in our lives? Only the health of our family.

  • Health is the basis of a happy life. Polyurethane foam is indifferent to the environment and to your health. It doesn’t generate dust, harmful gases or vapors. No microbes, parasites, insects, molds and fungi propagate in the foam.
  • Polyurethane foam isn’t dusty, unlike mineral wool or glass wool. It means that there are no harmful particles floating in the air that could enter our lungs and cause respiratory diseases.
  • By choosing polyurethane foam you avoid factors that cause allergies. No bird nests or rodent lairs will be found in the foam. Animals do not like the foam because they can’t eat it or chew it. They do not feel comfortable in its surroundings because it’s not soft or cozy for them. For example, in the mineral wool, martens are nesting, and that’s not healthy as they carry the mites. Also, birds do not make nests in the foam layer because it is a synthetic material and it is not tasty for them.
  • Polyurethane foam can be sprayed on various materials – wood and wood-based panels, sheet metal, steel, pap, polystyrene, tile, plastic, mineral wool and glass wool.
  • Foam is a perfect acoustic isolation. By choosing foam spray for insulation, you gain quieter house as well. It is especially important for premises located near communication nodes, bus or train stations, airports or noisy workplaces and factories.
  • Polyurethane basic form is liquid – it expands when sprayed, reaching all the accessible spaces it is required to fill. Other insulation methods don’t have this ability.

This small investment in your house may pay off more quickly than you imagine. Foam reduces risk of fire and roof damage caused by high winds.

  • In recent years we observe a lot of weather anomalies. Winds break roofs or damage their structures. Polyurethane foam joins the elements of the roof structure, creating a compact body. Thanks to low mass it does not weigh the roof structure.
  • Polyurethane foam may save your house from being consumed by the fire. As the foam is not flammable and the fire goes out on it, it may turn out to be your lifework saver.
  • Polyurethane foam spray gives a consistent thermal insulation throughout the entire roof surface. There are no thermal bridges. Other types of insulation do not provide this consistency, and therefore your precious heat escapes into the atmosphere through the gaps. And with the heat, your money goes as well.
  • And now a small portion of numbers and foam data. The foam thermal conductivity is 0.020-0.038. For mineral wool the thermal conductivity is 0.032 to 0.042. Polyurethane foam will not change shape over the years and will keep its insulation properties. For mineral wool, however, the insulation properties will deteriorate over time. (różnica w stosunku do punktu “Myth #3: Mineral wool isolates heat better.”)
  • Air escapes easily through the wool. Our money is blown into the atmosphere. Polyurethane foam transmits air too, but not as much as other insulating materials.
  • If you spray foam onto the wooden construction, it will not cause its rotting. Even if the wood is damp at some places, the foam will let the steam excape. Metal sheet does not rust under the foam.
  • Applying foam onto the metal sheet provides considerable protection of the latter from atmospheric conditions.
  • Once the wool gets damp it clumps together and its insulating properties are lowered. The wool starts to sag and the thermal bridges expand systematically. This doesn’t happen with the foam. The foam sticks to the foundation and remains stiff and does not sag like mineral wool. Open-cell polyurethane foam will absorb water only a little, and will also give it away. That is the reason we say that the foam breathes.

Our polyurethane foam spray service takes one working day. Do not wait for the construction crew and don’t waste your nerve, time and money. We will do everything for you.

We perform spray service promptly and swiftly, so that it actually saves your time and money. It’s not uncommon that availability of professionals during the season is very limited, and you’re forced to wait for somebody to install the mineral wool you already purchased. When after several weeks the professionals finally arrive, they perform their service throughout several days. Additional costs can surprise you in the process, for example for installing the mineral wool with binding, for nails, etc. In contrary to rockwool, polyurethane foam is installed in a 250m2 attic in only one working day. The crew starts their work in the morning, and leaves at 5 o’clock, the job finished. Customer is satisfied with a new, expertly applied insulation, and the company is free to send their professionals for another job.

ADVICE, HOUSE INSULATION

How to Choose a Good Supplier of Polyurethane Foam Insulation. Typical Mistakes Made During the Polyurethane Foam Application

March 3, 20170

 How to choose a good supplier of polyurethane foam insulation.

Typical mistakes made during the polyurethane foam application.

House insulation guidance

A Good Supplier of the Polyurethane Foam Spray Insulation. Sanberg Europe.

Choose a reliable and solid supplier of the spray isolation. It will pay off in future.

Deciding which one of the companies offering polyurethane foam spray service to choose, people take a lot of things into consideration, above all the cost of spray per meter. But will the choice based on the price give you what you want? How will you know if the contractor is concerned not only about their profit and not really caring to perform the service properly? Foam spray seems easy, but from the point of someone from the inside, I know what things must be considered to make your investment profitable,  rather than being a waste of your hard earned money. Incorrect foam spray results in lack of proper insulation. Mistakes made during the foam choosing, can cause a failure of the whole project.

Serious mistakes made by investors and spray companies:

  • Choosing the foam from unknown suppliers. Such foams are often produced outside of Poland and their properties tend to be different than declared by the distributor. In some cases shelf life of the foam is 6 months. It’s important that the foam is fresh and not past its sale-by date. If the distributor imports the foam from, for example, China, then the transport itself often takes about 3 months. We don’t know how long the foam was stored before the spray. I have seen cases where the spray crew was tempted to buy cheep polyurethane foam and when the time for spray arrived, instead of the foam some strange, gelatinous substance fell out of the spray gun and it stiffened without expanding. Sanberg Company recommends Polish Polyurethane Foams, that are available at hand from the factory. I cannot name any specific company as it is not a sponsored article and it is not written to favor anybody.
  • No vapor-permeable film in the attic.
  • Spray of an inappropriate type of foam, i.e application of closed cell foam in areas, where the open-cell foam applies, and other way around.
  • It often happens, that the customer decides for the expensive foam, technical parameters of which are slightly better then those of cheaper foams. Numbers used in the catalogs to specify those parameters, are the numbers supported by the laboratory tests. Often company data on foam parameters do not coincide with what we actually receive. It’s like with a car catalog data. The manufacturer writes that the fuel consumption is 6l/100km, and in fact the car uses 8l/100km.
  • Spraying foam on the leaking roofs. Foam is designed for thermal insulation, not for patching holes in the roof.
  • Wrong settings of the polyurethane foam spray reactor and incorrect temperature of the foam. Inaccurate proportions of ingredients can also contribute to improper spray. The foam may become brittle and fragile. Such isolation will not do its job.

A good Polyurethane Foam Spray Company. Saving on the spray company does not pay off.

  • Company makes savings on the sprayed material. I often observe that the spray company does not cover the rafters with foam. If it’s possible, the wooden elements of the roof should be covered with foam as well. Wood can also let the cold inside.
  • Cutting off the foam close to the rafter, when it’s not necessary. If the plasterboards are on the rack, it’s not necessary to cut off the surplus of the foam. The coating forms on the surface of the sprayed foam and it is an additional protection from heat and moisture.
  • Spraying the foam on the dirty surface. Spraying crews are very busy during the construction season, as it is limited and doesn’t last the whole year. Unqualified team, due to the lack of time, will not clean the sprayed area from dust, dirt, rust, splotches of oil or of other petroleum derivatives. Foam sprayed on such surfaces will come unstuck with time. A good polyurethane foam spray company will never perform the service if there are no appropriate conditions.
  • If the air temperature is too low, polyurethane should not be sprayed. Foam must not be sprayed also on the surfaces covered with frost or ice. The market offers so-called winter polyurethane foams that are applicable for the spray in temperatures reaching up to 0C. Pseudoexpert can persuade the client to spray the inappropriate foam during the winter, but it is not a good choice.
  • It’s not advisable to apply polyurethane foam when the air moisture is high.
  • Spraying the foam on restricted items, such as electrical and splitter boxes or light elements. For a very important reason the appropriate distance from the light sources must always be kept. Bulbs and other light sources generate heat that with prolonged illumination can accumulate and cause overheating of the light elements in the lamps, and damage them. A Good Polyurethane Foam Spray Company employs professionals who will not let any element of the job to be done inappropriately, and will make sure to provide the perfect service with regard to each important detail.

 

If you have any doubts regarding the polyurethane insulation, you can always contact with the producer or distributor of the polyurethane foam to clarify all you concerns.

ADVICE, HOUSE INSULATION

Which Polyurethane Foam Spray Reactor to Choose Without Spending a Fortune

March 1, 20170

What Polyurethane Foam spray reactor to choose without spending a fortune

Foam Spray Machine. Which one to choose?

Every businessman who wants to start providing the polyurethane foam spray services asks himself that question. Choice of the polyurethane foam spray reactor is very important, as the prices for these machines range from tens of thousands to even hundreds of thousands. If you make the wrong choice, you may have to bear large costs of exploatation and servicing, which may turn to be a significant part of the overall profit from the spray services that you’ll manage to make. So what to choose? The answer is very simple, like the machine that is supposed to perform the work for your company. The best are the machines built with standardized parts, which are available in the Sanberg shop. The parts must be standardized and in metrical sizes. Such parts are cheap and easily accessible. Most of the elements of the polyurethane foam spray machines can be ordered from abroad. However the transport costs can sometimes exceed the price of the part itself. Spare parts available in our shop are cheaper than those from abroad. Why to bear the unnecessary costs?

You spend your hard earned money. Do it well, and they will come back to you.

Buying the polyurethane foam spray machine is like buying a car. At the very beginning we choose the exclusive brand, but then we check the price of the car and of its parts and our choice turns towards the car that can be repaired cheaply with parts available in our local store. If we just want to have a vehicle to drive us around and be cheap, we will choose a mid-shelf car. That is the range of products represented by Sanberg for the polyurethane foam spray machine branch. Some people will choose the exclusive machine, but often without realizing the costs it will generate in future.

Why us?

Sanberg polyurethane foam spray reactors are the alternative for the expensive machines, as our products are available in decent prices and are affordable for any company. They are dispatched from Poland within and hour from the order. The package with parts is delivered to the customer in 24 hours. We have 90% of all our machines’ spare parts on stock. What speaks in favor of choosing the Sanberg machines? The price for our devices is one of the lowest on the market considering this type of machinery, and low costs pay off quickly. Also the prices for the spare pats are no burden to any company’s budget and that increases profits even more. Our machine will pay off in short time and that seems to be the point of any business investment, isn’t it? Sanberg stands for the best mid-range polyurethane foam spray reactors.