For business owners, decisions and demands pile up so fast that you feel forced to choose what to address based on how it impacts your company. There’s so little time to revamp, regroup, or re-anything.
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The IDI Difference
Working with IDI is more than just clocking in every day – it’s being part of a family. Not only do we have a close-knit team within the company, but we also work alongside a group of long-term, loyal customers and vendors who we’re fortunate to consider friends.
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Make Sure Your Workplace Accident Procedure Is Ready for The New Year
Operating a business can be demanding and stressful, even when everything is going as planned. Unfortunately, workplace injuries happen, but they are not something you want to be unprepared for.


Using Your Spray Foam Trailer Setup For The 1ST Time: Expert-tested Guidelines
Use this guide and step-by-step video to learn how to safely use a new spray foam trailer for the first time. Then, learn crucial SPF trailer best practices that could mean the difference between a long-lasting rig (and ROI on your investment) and costly errors.


Tips to Apply Spray Foam Insulation in Cold Temperatures + Winter Weather
With temperatures dipping down below freezing for weeks at a time through most of the country, spraying foam insulation in winter is a lot tougher than in the warmer months.


Can your Customers Actually Make Money By Letting You Fix Their Buildings? – Yes!
If you insulate and air seal commercial buildings of any size, the 179D program can not only cover the cost of the upgrade for your customers, but in some cases, they actually come out ahead.


Open Cell or Closed Cell – What are the Benefits of DIfferent Types of Spray Foam Insulation?
Have you, or your customers wondered what benefits come with each different type of spray foam insulation? The different forms of this insulation are used to insulate, air seal, strengthen, protect, provide buoyancy and prevent moisture drive in both residential and commercial buildings


How Contractors Choose the Best Spray Foam Rigs
If you want your insulation business to grow, diversifying your services and investing in a spray foam rig is crucial. Spray foam insulation is constantly growing in popularity due to it’s favorable characteristics such as its resistance to heat transfer and better air sealing capabilities.


Considerations When Choosing a Spray Foam Box Truck
A spray foam box truck is so much more than a work vehicle. It’s a base camp for your team and a mobile plant to create high-quality spray foam insulation. When outfitting your truck, any of your decisions could impact installation efficiency, the health of your team or the quality of your product. That’s why it’s important to know what to consider when choosing a spray foam box truck.


What is a Spray Foam Rig Setup and Why Should You Have One?
A spray foam rig is a mobile manufacturing plant that doubles as a workstation, while being able to be pulled right up to your work site. Functioning as a base for your workers and a mobile plant for mixing spray foam, a rig can skyrocket your work efficiency if done right.


Spray Foam, Fiberglass, Water Leaks, and Sharing the Blame
Over the years, even though the insulators didn’t build the roof, hang the siding, design the mechanical, or put plumbing in an outside wall, I’ve been surprised how often insulators are called to be part of the “fix”. Even worse, in many cases they are being asked to participate in this “pro bono” because someone else tried to attribute part of the cause to them.


The Rules are Changing – Fire Sprinkler Pipe Tenting & NFS Compliance
Sometimes you hear things and think, “Why do I need to do that?”; other times you are told to do things differently and it just makes sense.


Hazardous Smoke Concerns: How to Keep Wildfire Smoke Out of Your House
Right now, the northern US is having an air quality crisis. Regardless of where you live, there are specific measures we should be taking to make homes safer during an air quality event or emergency.


Installing Fiberglass Batts to Grade One – The Fast Way
Anyone who’s looked at a newly framed home with fiberglass batts knows there’s a wide range of quality when it comes to how they are installed. Insulation performs a big job and how it’s installed affects the comfort, energy use, and longevity of the structure.


Mastering SPF Heat Adjustments: Essential Tech Tips From TJ Miller
As SPF applicators, we constantly change temperature settings, thanks to ever-changing substrate temps. I’ve been there. I’m from Michigan where it can go from winter to summer on the same day!


How Long Does Fiberglass Insulation Last? A Contractor's Guide
With how many options for insulation there are, your clients likely have plenty of questions, including what the lifespan of fiberglass insulation is. We’ll outline the answer for you and provide signs of wear and tear so you can best advise your clients.


Small Business Incentives for the Inflation Reduction Act With Kara Saul Rinalda
The Inflation Reduction Act may have already passed but there are still lots of questions about the credits, incentives and rebates contained within.


3 Ways Wholesale Spray Foam Insulation Kits Improve Your Bottom Line
A disposable commercial spray foam insulation kit is one of the most versatile (and important) products for commercial and residential insulation projects.


Vented Attics, Unvented Attics and Shingles. What's Good, What's Bad?
Not a month has gone by in the last thirteen years, that I wasn’t asked about attic venting. Should they be foamed, if you do should you use open cell or closed cell, shingles and foam, how far apart baffles should be placed?


The Most Underused Contractor Tax Credits: Understanding 179D Benefits With Bill Harbeson
The Inflation Reduction Act came with a lot of changes to the ways contractors and their clients handle tax credits, manage money and build their businesses. The IRA bill includes not only new programs, but also adjustments to regulations and extensions around existing benefits like the 179D. Knowing what’s new, what’s changed and what it all means for your business is critical for any contractor wanting to make the most of their money.


Getting Rebate Ready: Making Marketing Improvements for the Inflation Reduction Act
For contractors and consumers, 2023 is the “year of the rebate” due to the Inflation Reduction Act. Potential customers are starting to learn how they can utilize these rebates to start new projects. This raises the question: what improvements can you make for your marketing in order to capture the business of prospects wanting to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act?


Tips for Loading Blown-In Fiberglass in an Insulation Blowing Machine
Blown-in insulation is becoming more and more densely packed when it comes from the manufacturer. Good news: that makes it easier to carry more and complete jobs faster.


The Truth About Buying Used Spray Foam Insulation Equipment
As a leading spray foam insulation distributor, we often hear contractors discuss the topic of buying used spray foam equipment they have found for sale.


Best Practices for Foam Guns
One of the most troublesome insulation and air sealing tools is the Foam Gun, but they don’t have to be. Here are some tips to get the most for your investment.


An In-Depth Comparison of the Best Cellulose Insulation Blowing Machines
Choosing an insulation blowing machine is a lot like choosing bathing suits. “One size fits all” really isn’t the best approach.


SPF Rigs Education Video & Blog Mini-Series
The insulation industry is growing and changing rapidly, and with that, the number of new companies getting into the industry is increasing.


Getting the Most Out of the 25C Tax Credit
Consumer online searches have already started trending upward on how to take advantage of the 25C tax credit, as well as other tax incentives and federal rebates.


What Contractors Should Know About Hiring Undocumented Workers: A Conversation With Immigration Attorney Jorge Molina
To say nothing gets built without labor is an understatement, and this is particularly true as we watch the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) come into play. Since the IRA provides credits and rebates for families and businesses looking to lower their property’s energy use, we’re going to see an increase in demand for construction and the labor contractors will need to get the job done — particularly in industries such as insulation.


Inflation Reduction Act: Improving Your Insulation Workforce & Working With State Energy Offices
The Inflation Reduction Act is set to provide a lot of subsidies and other resources to insulation contractors and their workforce. But unless you know the details, you may not be able to maximize them for your business. That’s why we’ve invited Xavier Walter on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They explain how you can access Inflation Reduction Act benefits and how those in the insulation industry can best utilize them to hire and retain the best talent in their workforce.


Avoid New Year Headaches With These Year-End Equipment Maintenance Tips
As 2022 comes to an end, you need to get ready for 2023 and maintain your equipment. It’s even more important this year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act programs kicking off in 2023 and its ultimate impact on the insulation industry.


When is a Vapor Retarder (Barrier) for Insulation Needed?
It’s well-known that when it comes to buildings, even a little water can create big problems when it gets into the building materials.


The Inflation Reduction Act's Impact on the Insulation Industry
Regardless of whether you are into retrofit or new construction, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a major windfall to the insulation industry. The incentives really don’t start until 2023, but it is already gaining consumer recognition both online and in the news. But what does the Inflation Reduction Act include?


How to Manage the Shoulder Months
Warm weather is right around the corner. This time of year, often referred to as ‘shoulder months’, is when it’s not warm enough to fully switch over to summer foam, and not cold enough to just use winter foam.


The Best Way to Save Money While Performing a Chemical Changeover
Switching from open-cell spray foam to closed-cell spray foam can be a headache. More importantly, it gets expensive when done incorrectly.


Fiberglass Insulation Truck Set Up
Setting up your insulation truck the right way can help avoid frustration and increase production on the job. When setting up a fiberglass blow truck, keep in mind how much material and what tools needs to fit on the truck.


Shortages Open the Doors to Alternatives...and Upgrades
Material shortages are affecting every insulation contractor. Has the time come to consider installing products that are more readily available? One thing that does seem to be more obtainable is blown-in fiberglass. Blown fiberglass is tremendous because of its performance and versatility.


Maintenance You Should Do On Your Spray Foam Rig at the Start of the Year
2022 has arrived and now’s the best time to get your spray foam rig ready for another big year. Even if you’re in a market that doesn’t have a winter lull, it’s good to set aside a day or two and go through your rig to make sure everything’s 100%. If you are in the frozen states… don’t forget the heater.


Great Crawl Spaces Require Great Crawl Space Liners. All Solutions are not Equal
For most crawl space solutions, labor is the biggest cost. The process of cleaning out, leveling the ground, and installing the liner takes lots of time. That’s why the last thing you want to do is put in all that effort and then install a liner that won’t stand the test of time.


Do I have to Remove the Old Insulation When I Spray Foam my Attic?
Whether you call it a conditioned attic, a spray foamed attic, a closed attic assembly, or spray foaming a roof deck, the short answer is yes. I would do it 100% of the time, and I believe there are very compelling reasons why.


When it Comes to Equipment, Fiberglass and Cellulose are not the Same
While we may use the same machines for blowing fiberglass and cellulose insulation, few installers realize these two materials actually require different machine settings and maintenance.


What in the Blazes is Heat Training and Why Does it Matter?
Few people will ever work in spaces as hot as attics in July, where the highest recorded temperatures hit over 180°. Yet, insulation and spray foam contractors work in these spaces wearing hooded suits making them sweat even more.


Spray Foam Insulation Contractors, Don't Throw Money Out with Your Empty Drums
Nobody likes throwing cash away, but I’ve seen a lot of spray foam installers fail to get the remaining chemical out of the drums, which is basically the same thing.


The Importance of Having a Preventative Maintenance Plan for Your Insulation Equipment
I was once on a job site and noticed a decal on their blowing machine which read “This machine pays your salary, take care of it!” The crew leader said he puts this decal on every piece of equipment.


Easy SPF Gun Cleaning Tech Tips from Aaron Meissner
Over the last 8.5 years as a Technical Service Rep for IDI, Aaron Meissner has seen hundreds of fluid heads with small scratches in them. This causes countless hours of downtime and only happens when scraping foam out with sharp picks or tools.


The Benefits of Using Global Specialty Products
One of the biggest investments of your spray foam company is the equipment you operate with. Your equipment running efficiently will reduce downtime and increase your profits — solvents and cleaning solutions will make these accomplishments easier.


The Opportunities That Lie in Sealing Home Air Leaks
Lots of people give bids on blowing in insulation, but few of them emphasize the need for home air sealing and bid it as a separate line item.


Choosing the Best Spray Foam Rig Equipment With the Best ROI
As is the case so often in life, the mantra “you get what you pay for” is accurate when it comes to spray foam equipment. Low-quality equipment, including most entry-level equipment, is liable to need repairs often or break down completely when used consistently. To minimize maintenance costs and job downtime, invest in the highest quality equipment you can reasonably afford.


Purchasing SPF Trailers: How to Choose a Spray Foam Generator and Auxiliary Equipment
As you can probably guess — choosing a power source for your spray foam rig is extremely important. If you do not properly size your generator to your spray equipment, you could have major issues.


Purchasing SPF Trailers: Is Your Air Pressure Equipment Sized for Optimal Performance?
When choosing your spray foam rig, you need to make sure your compressor is large enough to provide sufficient air to all your equipment.


Purchasing SPF Rigs or Trailers: How to Choose the Right Spray Foam Rig Air FIltration System
Fresh air systems on your spray foam rig are crucial to its longevity (not to mention they’re required!). If there is one thing I would preach over anything else, it would be breathing air systems. Money can replace most things, but not your quality of life.


Purchasing SPF Trailers: Important SPF Rig Weight and Capacity Considerations
Below are things to take into consideration when choosing a spray foam rig. This is extremely important because if your rig is not built to industry standards, you could have issues down the road and lose your costly investment far too soon.


Crawl Space Insulation: the Opportunity Down Below
Grow your expertise on crawl space insulation, vapor barriers, air quality, and dehumidifiers for crawl spaces, and see how these capabilities could grow your business and bottom line.


R-Value Basics: Can Insulation be Used in Lieu of Fire Sprinklers?
Can insulation be used in lieu of sprinklers? If so, does it make sense to do it?


3 Important National Safety Month Tips to Use All Year Round
Operating a business can be demanding and stressful, even when everything is going as planned. Unfortunately, workplace injuries happen, but they are not something you want to be unprepared for.


How to Get Your Insulation Vacuum Ready for Removal & Reinsulating Season
Use this guide and step-by-step video to learn how to safely use a new spray foam trailer for the first time. Then, learn crucial SPF trailer best practices that could mean the difference between a long-lasting rig (and ROI on your investment) and costly errors.


7 Winter Construction Safety Tips to Help Protect Your People & Your Profit
Good people are hard to come by. Without them, maintaining a thriving business is almost impossible. No doubt many of you would love to go keep your crews healthy and injury-free year-round — but this is construction.


The Most Common SPF Issues & Errors Our Techs See (And How To Avoid Them)
As a spray foam technician, I see spray foam contractors struggling all the time. It may be in the form of breakdowns, loss of yield, not being able to get the job done on time, or perhaps just bleeding money.


Protecting Your Health With Safety Masks: Spray Foam PPE Requirements
Most of us want to live long enough to spend time with our grandchildren and still enjoy a few years of good health. I’m talking about the years after we are done hanging out in attics or crawl spaces and subjecting our bodies to all the dust, biologicals, and chemicals we try to protect ourselves from.


New DC315 Coverage Rates Will Positively Impact Your Bottom Line
Good news becomes great news when it benefits everyone involved financially. Most of the time, product innovations are small changes that make life easier, give you back time, or provide financial benefits like savings.


The IDI Net Zero / Zero Energy Ready Home Project: Energy Efficient Wall Design Overview
What’s the big deal with net zero energy (NZE) homes or Zero Energy-Ready homes (ZERH)? Are they really worth it?


Flash and Batt Insulation: Avoid Cold Climate Condensation Problems [Video]
Actually, both answers are true. Flash and batt can be a great application — when done correctly. When it is not, problems have often occurred. Sometimes those problems are big ones.


Why You Should Rely on Genuine Graco Parts Over Cheap Imitations [Blog + Video Series]
IDI is proud to be an authorized distributor of genuine Graco parts and equipment. Graco is one of the top manufacturers in the country with a nearly 100-year history of quality products, and as a provider of the best in the industry for our customers, we stand behind them and their product line.


Continuous Insulation: Why You Should Add it to Your Service Offerings
As more and more states adopt the 2012, 2015, and soon to be 2018 building codes, builders are faced with the codes’ requirements for exterior insulation for colder climate zones. This means it’s a good time to look at whether the codes and your company are going in the same direction.


What You Need to Know About Blower Door Testing & Certification
Did you know that most utility programs and the majority of state codes now require testing the air leakage of a home? As a contractor, looking for new ways to increase your bottom line and maintain a competitive edge in the industry is always a priority.


The Benefits of Formaldehyde Free Mineral Wool Insulation
As we strive to build healthier buildings, one of the main chemicals we have tried to eliminate from construction products has been formaldehyde. Green builders have certainly expressed their concerns with it.


How Safety Code AC456 Protects Consumers and Contractors
Testing and verification of products play a critical role in consumer safety. From vehicles to medicine, to spray foam, everyone wants to be confident that the product they get is the same as the one that met all of the safety and performance testing when the product was approved for use.


Equipment Shopping: A Buyer's Guide to the Best Spray Foam Equipment Suppliers
There have been many changes in SPF suppliers and equipment in the last few years; many manufacturers are surfacing with different options, colors, functionalities, services, and more. As IDI’s Spray Foam Equipment Manager, I’ve helped several people find the right rig and equipment for their businesses.


DC315 Tips: Cold Weather & Year Round Intumescent Coating Best Practices
When installing intumescent coatings, it is crucial to spray them effectively and accurately. With the help of Paint to Protect, IDI put together this handy guide for ease of application along with some cold weather DC315 tips to get you through the winter months.


The Basics of Spray Foam Certification
Spray foam insulation has been steadily becoming an important piece of the modern insulation industry, leading to a growth in both installers and knowledge. While anyone can open a spray foam insulation business or add spray foam to their existing insulation offerings, those who are serious about success take training and certification opportunities seriously.


Read This Before You Add Attic Insulation
When you get a call about adding more insulation to the attic of an existing home, how often does it require you to unzip the attic tent or remove the insulated cover in order to get into the space?