Spray on insulation - any good?

Hi everybody, first post. I tried searching for this, but didn't see anything specifically addressing my question. I'm about to start converting a detached 2 car garage into a tracking room. The exterior wall is plywood, there's an "A" roof, no drywall or insulation in place as of right now. Electrical is running all over the place and looks to be installed properly, has it's own breaker box, I think it was used as a workshop before. I'm wondering about the spray on foam insulation I've seen. I'm not looking for the outer insulation layer to contribute to my transmission loss, I know bwtter than that. I have to insulate for creature comfort, it gets pretty hot in the south. I'm wondering if, all other factors being equal, the spray on expanding foam insulation would give me a SLIGHT improvement in transmission loss as it would seal any cracks or openings in the exterior wall that aren't easily visible. The product I'm looking at claims to be waterproof when dry. It also looks MUCH easier to install than Owens Corning or the like. So has anyone used this stuff? Any advice?

uh...anybody home? Is this thing on?

Isolation could actually get a lot worse at the low end since you'd be fusing the leaves together with unbreatheable foam.

What if I left an air gap?

Sorry... In my haste to get you an answer to your question, I kind of missed the point of it. For some reason I assumed the garage already had interior wall surface (drywall), so I assumed the "spray-on" insulation was actually "spray-in." I don't imagine that the insulation in andof itself would be a bad thing, acoustically or comfort-wise. Where it might bite you later is hurting your opportunity to "beef up" the outer leaf from the inside if you pursue a two leaf system later... Although with a plywood exterior, you could always add to the outside... Not too much info to go on here, so that's my take. If more information is provided, I might revise my position. --Keith :mrgreen:

Sorry... In my haste to get you an answer to your question, I kind of missed the point of it. For some reason I assumed the garage already had interior wall surface (drywall), so I assumed the "spray-on" insulation was actually "spray-in." I don't imagine that the insulation in andof itself would be a bad thing, acoustically or comfort-wise. Where it might bite you later is hurting your opportunity to "beef up" the outer leaf from the inside if you pursue a two leaf system later... Although with a plywood exterior, you could always add to the outside... Not too much info to go on here, so that's my take. If more information is provided, I might revise my position. --Keith :mrgreen:

Hey guys, first post...thanks for the opportunity to better understand doing what we do.

all other factors being equal, the spray on expanding foam insulation would give me a SLIGHT improvement in transmission loss as it would seal any cracks or openings in the exterior wall that aren't easily visible.

Spray on(if I am with you on this...) yields the highest R-value, shows to be more dense then loose blown-in or kraft papered batt type insulation. Reference 1:click here Reference 2:click here Because of the rigidness of the cured product this type of insulation will actually add to the structural rigidity of the dwelling. We in the South look for these types of building material improvements, as I am certain you know:) Yes it will close/seal up holes and minor cracks. It is also the most expensive. All things being equal, if the money presented issue, using Great stuff hand held spray in foam at holes, around exposed window/door casings, just anywhere you can get to and then build using a double leaf wall system is a good option for you in mho. If money never presents an issue, you could foam out the exterior walls, frame up the inner wall/leaf and batt insulate that. Now that can ward off this miserable heat we have been having. What kind of headroom do you have or do you even perceive the ceiling to present an issue? Thanks, Brien

I haven't measured yet, but it's an "A" roof that looks to be about 15 feet or so. There's framing in place for a ceiling, but I'm leaving it open (got to have those big drum sounds). I'm guessing about 6 months to finish the buildout, so it will probably take at least 9.