ICING ON THE UNDERSIDE

We've been toying with a number of solutions for insulating our metal sheet roof. We've thought of polyester fibre rolls, blown in cellulose, and polystyrene. But all these options create problems in terms of difficulty of installation and continuity of thermal break. We finally settled on polyurethane foam spray. We found a local installer, PFC-Sprayfoam, and two days later, they were on site and working away. The whole job only took a few hours.

Basically, they arrive with a van containing the equipment, and a generator on a trailer behind. In simple terms, the spray foam is applied by mixing two chemical compounds, which react with each other and the atmosphere and begin expanding to many times their original volume. This applied foam hardens to an extremely effective closed cell insulating layer which is also completely watertight. It also [very importantly] renders the roof and its connections to the walls effectively airtight, eliminating drafts and associated heat loss/gain, something very critical to thermal performance which is often overlooked in roof structures.

The van, trailer, and heated pipe carrying the foam insulation

The generator, and the two drums of chemicals which make up the foam

The reactor which prepares and pumps the chemicals

 The van contains the 2 drums of chemical product, as well as a reactor which prepares the chemicals at the correct temperature. From here they were pumped separately along a 60m long heated hose into the house. The chemicals are only mixed in the spray nozzle as they are applied to the surface. The insulation as applied to the underside of our roof has made a massive impact on regulating the interior temperature of the house already. We intend to apply the polyurethane spray foam to the exterior surface of our brick walls as well, before they receive their cladding, in order to create a super-insulated house with a high internal thermal mass.

Application of the sprayfoam insulation begins

The finished product

We recommend this product without any reservations. It is the perfect solution for insulation your house's roof, while at the same time rendering it air and watertight. Contact Koos from PFC-Sprayfoam on +27(0)83 234 8978 for a quote. This product means you don't even need a membrane under you metal sheet or concrete tiled roof. The spray foam is applied and adheres directly to the underside of the roofing material, sealing every nook and cranny. Your roof space will become completely dust proof and air tight. Elegantly simple.

Since our last update we have also has the electricity finally connected up, with a pre-paid electicity meter installed by the utility, Eskom.

The start of the distribution board...

This is what our pre-paid electicity meter looks like

PS. The satellite dish has also gone up. Rather than a boring, generic eyesore in a prominent location, we decided to decorate the dish and spread a little sunshine to passers by. Hope you like it!

Smile!

Happy dish