“half the job is clearing a path. And yeah, spray foam is the devil for cleanup.”
That’s the truth—by the time you’ve crawled around moving boxes and dodging spiderwebs, you’re already wiped. My last attic project, I spent more hours shifting old holiday decorations than actually sealing leaks. One trick: keep a cheap painter’s suit handy for spray foam days. It won’t save your jeans, but it’ll spare your arms from that sticky mess. And yeah, cobbling together scraps and leftovers gets the job done—perfection’s overrated if you’re sealing up drafts.
You nailed it about the painter’s suit—those things are a lifesaver, especially when you’re wedged between rafters and realize you’ve just leaned into a fresh bead of foam. I’ve ruined more shirts than I care to admit. And yeah, the prep always takes longer than you think. Last time I did my crawlspace, I spent half a Saturday just dragging out old lumber and mystery bins before I even touched the insulation.
I do think there’s something to be said for not getting too hung up on making it look perfect, like you mentioned. As long as you’re sealing up the gaps and not leaving big voids, it’s going to make a difference. Sometimes I’ll use whatever scraps I have left from other jobs—doesn’t look pretty, but it works. The real win is when you come back in winter and notice the house actually holds heat better. That’s when all the crawling and sweating feels worth it.
I hear you on the painter’s suit—learned that lesson the hard way after getting foam in my hair once. I’m curious, though: do you think it’s worth paying for pro spray foam in tricky spots, or is DIY good enough if you’re just trying to boost efficiency? I’ve got a couple rentals with old crawlspaces and always debate if it’s worth the extra cost for a cleaner job.
If you’re dealing with crawlspaces, I’d lean toward pros, honestly. Those tight, awkward spots are magnets for missed gaps and weird foam blobs if you’re not used to it. I tried DIY once under my own place—let’s just say the raccoons weren’t the only ones making a mess down there. For wide open walls, DIY’s fine, but for tricky spots, the pros just get it cleaner and more airtight. Worth the extra bucks if you want to avoid headaches later.
“Those tight, awkward spots are magnets for missed gaps and weird foam blobs if you’re not used to it.”
That’s a fair point, though I’ve found older homes can throw you curveballs even in open areas—odd framing, hidden pipes, who knows what behind the lath and plaster. I tried tackling my attic insulation myself and it took the better part of two weekends, mostly because I kept running into surprises. Crawlspaces would probably take longer, especially if you’re not used to working in cramped quarters. If time’s a factor, pros can knock it out in a day or two, but DIY can really drag on if you hit snags.