Yeah, it’s wild how sneaky water can be. I’ve seen folks replace drywall and think they’re in the clear, but that insulation just holds onto moisture forever. Curious—has anyone tried those spray foam insulations after a leak? I’ve heard they don’t soak up water the same way, but I’m not sure if that’s actually true or just marketing. Seems like it could save a lot of headaches, but maybe there’s a downside I’m missing...
I’ve actually looked into spray foam after a small leak in my basement last year. From what I found, closed-cell spray foam is supposed to be pretty water-resistant, but open-cell can still absorb moisture. The tricky part is, if water does get behind the foam, it’s not always obvious—no soggy insulation to tip you off, and it can trap moisture against the studs. That could mean hidden mold issues down the line.
I get why people like it for energy efficiency, but I’m not totally sold on it as a fix for water-prone areas. Anyone ever had to demo spray foam after a leak? Wondering if it’s a nightmare to remove compared to fiberglass or if that’s just another thing contractors say to upsell...
I’ve had to tear out closed-cell spray foam after a pipe burst in one of my rentals, and honestly, it was way tougher than dealing with fiberglass. Took forever to scrape off the studs, and I still worry about what might be hiding behind it. Like you said,
Did you end up finding any mold when you opened up your basement? Or did you catch it early enough? Curious if anyone’s had luck with those moisture sensors behind foam, or if that’s just wishful thinking...“it can trap moisture against the studs. That could mean hidden mold issues down the line.”
Closed-cell foam is a beast to remove, right? I’ve had to chisel that stuff out after a leak, and it’s like trying to peel a sticker that just keeps shredding. As for mold, in my experience, if the foam’s been wet for more than a day or two, you’re probably going to find at least some mildew on the studs. It’s sneaky because the foam hides everything, so you don’t always spot it until you’re knee-deep in demo.
About those moisture sensors—mixed bag, honestly. The ones that claim to work through foam aren’t super reliable, at least not in my hands. If you’re really worried, nothing beats popping off a section and checking by hand (yeah, it’s a pain). I get why folks use foam for insulation, but when water gets in, it’s like a black box. I’d rather deal with soggy fiberglass any day... at least you can see what you’re up against.
Yeah, totally get where you’re coming from—closed-cell is a nightmare once it gets wet. I’ve had to pull out sections after a pinhole leak and it’s just stubborn, like it’s glued itself to the studs for good. You’re right about the mold too. The foam hides everything and you don’t know what’s going on behind there until you’re halfway through tearing stuff out.
I’ve never trusted those moisture sensors much either, especially through foam. They just seem like wishful thinking when you really need to know what’s happening inside the wall. At least with fiberglass, you can see and feel the damage right away, even if it’s messy.
Honestly, dealing with water behind foam just feels like rolling the dice—sometimes you win, but most times it’s a headache. Props for sticking with it though... not everyone has the patience to chisel that stuff out.
