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WV_Bill
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2019 20:26 - Edited by: WV_Bill
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First time builder here constructing a 13’x23′ shed roof cabin with my dad in central West Virginia. Three weeks ago I had 2″ of closed cell spray foam installed in the walls/floor and 3″ in the ceiling. Walls are 2×6 and floor joists/roof rafters 2×10. I keep the place open as much as possible to allow for ventilation.
I recently started spending more time inside with a electric heater running and notice a slight paint/chemical smell. If inside for 30-60 minutes I can feel it in my throat/lungs, like when you use a strong cleaner without good ventilation.
The installer came out said the mix looks good and cannot detect any odor but wants to put 6 mil poly on the walls and ceiling. No core samples were taken. He thinks I'm just sensitive to the foam.
A couple questions:
– Will the odor go away with time? Even if it would take a year or so to go away I could put up with it. But I do not want it around forever.
– Will plastic sheating block the odor?
– Will adding this plastic cause any problems with moisture getting trapped in the walls? I plan on adding a mini split but will not continually condition the space.
Thanks for any help!
Bill
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Steve961
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2019 21:13
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I had spray foam insulation applied to my shipping container cabin. Being nearly airtight when closed up, the smell was pretty bad at first when I would open up the cabin for a weekend visit. It did eventually go away, definitely in less than a year, but I did need to have good ventilation in there for many months.
As for adding plastic sheating, I would recommend against it. I would never want an air space between two impermeable barriers. If any moisture ever got in there, there would be no way for it to get out. The most the plastic sheating would do anyway would be to just slow the release of the VOC's into the living space - basically extending the amount of time until the odors completely went away.
Just keep the windows open as much as you can and the smell will go away.
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WV_Bill
Member
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2019 00:16
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Thanks for the advice. I plan on keeping windows open and a fan running as much as possible.
Good to hear it might go away eventually.
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monkeydeck
Member
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2019 01:25
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i might get a second opinion from another insulation guy, its hazardous if mixed wrong and would be a nightmare to remove
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sparky30_06
Member
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2019 06:44
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Spray foam makes buildings extremely tight!! and you need to add ventilation, power ventilation preferably.
I had my shop spray foamed and after parking wet vehicles in there we started having mold issues due to no air movement.
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2019 16:36
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We have propane heat, batts in walls and foam in roof. Shipplap sidding that is stain but not polyed. I noticed the same type thing after getting cabin up to 60+ deg. I was thinking it was the stain off gassing. I have been keeping a window open 1/4 inch when there. I wolks and does not change inside temps much
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2019 07:19
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Mj a ventless propane or vented?
I wouldn't use poly sheet inside foam either.
Have you thought about keeping a few buckets of charcoal in the building? It can soak up a lot of smells.
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:04 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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It should not be smelling now.
Before we had spray foam done in our cabin, I did a lot of research.
I found out that if the foam is not mixed property it will off gas forever making the area inhabitable. If it is mixed up correctly but sprayed on too thick, you will have odor because it has to dry/cure between coats before more is applied.
There was a video I believe from the CBC that I also watched about a family that had to move out of their home because they got sick from the odor.
It took our guy three long days to do our spray foam.
I spoke to him about everything I had learned in my research beforehand. His answers gave me the assurance that he was the correct person for the job.
He did our ceiling and floor. There is no odor. The cabin smells the same as before the foam.
I should add that he did the foam before we were retired. We spent three weeks at the cabin that summer. We did not stay in our cabin. We stayed in our trailer. We did not go near the cabin while he was spraying and did not go inside to check the work for three days. After the third day, there was a slight odor. A few days later none.
Even though there was no odor, we decided to stay in our trailer because I just thought it would be better for our health.
The following summer was the first year of retirement spent time at the cabin into the fall with two feet of snow and the cabin shut up with the heat on, no odor.
Hopefully the odor will disappear. It is not healthy to be inside if it is smelling so bad it’s making you ill. You could end up with long term health problems.
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WV_Bill
Member
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2019 13:43
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Good idea with the charcoal. I just ordered some and will hang it up. I'll try anything that will help
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WV_Bill
Member
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2019 13:50
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Thanks
I have also read it should not be smelly now. But then many people said they had odors that lasted months or more before it went away.
I do see areas that are 4-5" thick and wonder if it was applied there all at once and may not be cured properly.
I'm going to stay out until after the new year. I'll then heat it up and see if the odor is still present.
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2019 08:49
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It is ventless heater. I thought in might be the heater, but our other cabins that don't have stain on the wall yet do not have the smell. I does seem to be getting better with time/ use of cabin
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2019 10:42
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I guess I will be using foam board and/or fiberglass in my build.
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Peewee86
Member
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# Posted: 19 Dec 2019 21:57
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This is an extreme example of what can go wrong. Here is the video that silverwaterlady referred to:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hh5MYv7lWc
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WV_Bill
Member
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# Posted: 19 Dec 2019 23:19
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Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try good ventilation for a couple months and if that doesn't work this foam is coming out.
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2019 18:22
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Hi Peewee86. Thank You for finding the video and posting.
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