Reaching New Heights

As the community of female SPF installers steadily grows, Spray Foam Magazine spoke with a BAWoSF (Bad Ass Women of Spray Foam) member to discuss a recent project that showcased her ingenuity and serves as an inspiration to many.

Denise Frakes started spraying foam four years ago and is currently employed at Gunner Insulation & Roofing LLC, which is owned by Dain Korth and Bill Dwyer. Her motto is, “Always work smarter, not harder,” so she actively seeks ways to make her work more efficient without sacrificing quality. One example of this is she has learned to use stilts to access difficult areas.

Along with her husband, Donald Duncan, who has ten years of experience as an SPF applicator, the couple worked together to install foam in a remodeling project for a recurring client. The homeowner was impressed by the benefits that spray foam offered, believing it provided the best energy efficiency, structural reinforcement, and overall value for the cost compared to other options.

The scope of the construction was 1,800 sq. ft, including approximately 800 sq. ft. of roof, 600 sq. ft. of porch floor, and 400 sq. ft. of walls. On the first day of the project, they began by prepping the site, using canned foam to seal every double plate and penetration leading to the outside. They then secured poly to the floor and set up their scaffolding. Working from opposite ends, they taped the studs. According to Denise, “This method works best for us because it keeps the studs clean and conserves time and energy at the end of a long day of spraying.”

Next, they covered all the windows and doors and sealed off any entry points into the client’s living space to prevent smells or messes from entering. For the porch floor area, they secured poly to the floor joists around the entire perimeter. After draping it down, Denise secured a piece of plastic to the walls, creating a fully contained spraying area. With most of the prep work complete, Denise and Donald teamed up to pull the hoses into the house. The setup involved two reactors, one connected to 270 feet of hose, and the other to 210 feet, ensuring they had the reach necessary for the job.

They informed the homeowner and other contractors that they would start spraying shortly, and that no one would be allowed in the area during that time. The couple set up a large exhaust fan to vent outside, promoting healthy airflow. When it was time to start spraying, Denise conducted a test spray with their foam of choice, Huntsman’s Heat-lock HFO closed-cell foam, onto cardboard to ensure everything was on ratio and prepared for application.

Denise learned to spray on stilts to maximize efficiency. Five and a half inches ofHuntsman Heat-lock HFO foam was applied to the porch by Denise and her husband Donald Duncan.

Denise then climbed onto the scaffolding and sprayed the highest points on the walls, applying three inches of Heat-lock foam in the 2x6 walls. Once she completed the upper areas, she transitioned to the ground or used a four-foot ladder to finish the remainder of the walls. Meanwhile, Donald used the scaffolding to apply six and a half inches of closed-cell foam to the roof decking. He began at the farthest point where the old roof met the new addition, then moved to the peak and followed down the slopes.

On the second day, Donald continued working on the roof while Denise turned her attention to the porch. She began by prepping the porch floor, then moved on to spraying the overhang. To reach the required depth of five and a half inches, Denise started on stilts, applying an initial three-inch layer across the entire overhang substrate. Inspired by Donald’s stilt work, she explained, “I saw how much more efficiently the job progressed that way. I was used to relying on a ladder for anything overhead, but that only lets you work within your arm’s reach before you have to climb down and reposition it.”

Because the addition was located in a rocky backyard area with several steps, using a lift or scaffolding wasn’t practical. Stilts, or a ladder, were the most feasible options, and in this case, the stilts worked perfectly.

After finishing the first pass, Denise stepped down from the stilts and took a break, allowing the foam’s core temperature to cool. She then returned to apply an additional two and a half inches from ground level, completing the full five and a half inches of foam. The roughly 18-inch distance from the spray gun to the substrate helped produce a smooth, glossy finish.

After the spray job, Denise easily peeled the tape off the studs with minimal need for scraping or scarfing. She then took down the poly walls, folded everything neatly into a single secure bundle, and loaded it into the truck for disposal. Once finished, she headed back upstairs to help Donald with cleanup. Working together, they removed the remaining tape from the studs and made sure all surfaces were scraped clean and ready for sheetrock. As before, they gathered all the debris into one large bundle for removal.

Denise is an incredible inspiration. She and her husband completed this project in just 16 hours, a remarkable feat, and she consistently demonstrates a passion for learning new skills to elevate her craft.

Congratulations, Denise, from all of us at Spray Foam Magazine!