Charlie: Sheraton’s down in Cinco Ranch, and he writes, “I will be building a home in the hill country next year, and I’m considering,” brace yourself Tom, “blowing expandable foam for insulation.” What are the pros and cons of that for Sheraton?
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Tom: Oh, don’t do it in Texas. Foams are just not something you should do. First off, it’s way too expensive, and it’s unnecessary. Even though it’s colder there, we don’t have the weather that really justifies the cost. And then, you get into issues about humidity controls and vapor releasing from the wall cavities, the building envelope. And so basically, stay away from it. Good quality formaldehyde-free fiberglass is the way to go for your initial cost, your savings, and of course, no … there’s no out-gassing or anything. It’s very safe for the family.
Charlie: You make a good point about not just saving money on your home, but the installation, I think, is something that doesn’t get brought up enough, Tom, is how expensive foam is compared to fiberglass.
Tom: Oh, it’s big time. Big time expensive. I can’t even tell you, because I don’t do it, but I know when I get people telling me how much they’re going to charge to do a house and insulate it, it makes no sense at all. It’ll take 30-40 years to get your money back.