Spray Foam Manufacturer Oversees Home Weatherization

Home Weatherization is a household name in the insulation business these days. People have never cared more for the environment as they do today. Energy efficiency is at the top of political debate lists. Government rewards programs, in turn, are handing out rebates right and left for homeowners that perform energy improvements.

Fomo Products, Inc. took advantage of the market opportunity and was at the front line to oversee a home weatherization using their product. “We want to be sure that our product is applied correctly and properly serves its purpose as a quality insulator,” said Tim Shoemaker.

Shoemaker is a Technical Support Field Manager for Fomo Products, Inc., as well as a BPI Certified Building Analyst. Basically, he is a hands-on guy. Shoemaker travels around the world, supporting Fomo Products within the distribution network and participating in particular jobs to oversee the process and assure proper usage of Fomo products.

This particular job was on a 1,475 sq. ft. colonial home in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The house, built in 1912, had an existing insulation system consisting of corrugated cardboard and fiberglass batt insulation in the attic. “It was just a big, leaky, box,” said Shoemaker.

First, Shoemaker and other BPI Certified Building Analysts conducted a blower test, revealing an hourly air exchange of 13.7 ACH50. A smoke pencil and infrared camera were used to locate specific points of air infiltration. Shoemaker cited rim joists as a major “bottom-up” point of entry into the house.

Next, Fomo Products’ Handi-Foam® Spray Foam was applied to the attic floor, in the rim joists and under the bay window to stop air infiltration. R-42 loose cellulose was also added over the top of the spray foam in the attic.

The end result? A 22 percent reduction in hourly air exchanges, leaving the home with a rate of 10.6 ACH50.

Shoemaker said that home weatherization is an important part of the Fomo Products, Inc. industry focus. “Once you have control of the building envelope, every other aspect of insulation will fall into place with more ease,” he said.