Masonry Magazine November 2002 Page. 34
The result of those events is a better product and a relationship between the mason and the insulation contractor. In the end, the consumer is gaining the benefits from both.
Equipment should be kept clean so as not to restrict the chemical flow. Material batch numbers should be checked and recorded prior to using product.
The application techniques used on the job will vary, based on the specific job and the individual installer. The three different application techniques are: drill and fill, top fill, and trowel-in-place.
The most commonly used is the "drill and fill" method. The contractor drills a hole in the mortar line so the foam can be pumped into the closed cells. This process is effective when every open cell is drilled a complete fill cannot be assured unless an application hole is drilled in every cell.
The top fill method is normally less expensive because it is less labor intensive. The installer will insert the application hose into
"Brick and Mortar" takes on a whole new meaning
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The new home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks was foamed by Fairweather Masonry in Washington state.
the cavity or cell and withdraw it as the cell is filled. This process is used very often for basement walls during new construction.
The trowel-in-place procedure is used to fill open stud areas on new construction before a vapor barrier is put in place. A trowel is attached to the end of the application hose so the product can be pumped into the cavity area with a level surface. A vapor barrier is always added to minimize shrinkage and to direct the curing process to the exterior side of the wall. This application is normally used for residential construction.
Picking a foam contractor
IN A BUSINESS WHERE the low bidder usually gets the job, it can be hard to determine which foam contractor will do the job right. Who you are dealing with, and how reliable they will be, can make a big difference in job profitability.
First of all, most products are specified by brand name or manufacturer. Make sure the contractor carries some information on the product he or she uses, and make sure the contractor is a manufacturer-trained and -certified installer.
Secondly, ask for some documentation that the contractor or the manufacturer has product liability insurance. Not too many good companies will do business without it.
You should also request copies of any warranties. Many manufacturers will provide a warranty backing up both the contractor and the foam installer.
Is the contractor a local company? It doesn't make sense for a low bidder to travel 200 miles to a job and then have to stay overnight and incur per diem costs. What shortcuts will be taken to keep costs low, and will they affect the job performance?
Finally, take a look at the equipment. How clean is it? Is it in good repair? Are the installers all knowledgeable about what they are doing?
For the past twenty years, foamed-in-place insulation has been filling its niche with masons and the block industry. From high profile jobs like the new Seattle Seahawks football stadium to small local warehouse "retrofit" projects, the product is quickly being accepted as the most contractor-friendly insulation available. It is obvious that the industry has bounced back strong from the adversity it experienced in 1982. The result of those events is a better product and a relationship between the mason and the insulation contractor. In the end, the consumer is gaining the benefits from both.
32 Masonry
November 2002
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