BaySystemsTM helps family whose home was ravaged by Hurricane Ike

Pittsburgh, February 19, 2010 — Steve Villarreal watched in stunned disbelief as Hurricane Ike and its 95-mph winds nearly tore the roof off his home in Texas City, Texas, more than a year ago.

“Damage to my roof was extensive,” Villarreal said. “I’d say 70 percent of the shingles were gone.” Villarreal’s short-term solution was to put blue tarps on his roof and start cleaning up.

Little did he know his fortune was about to change. Robert Guillory, owner of Lake Charles, La.-based Elite Services, and a certified BaySystemsTM contractor, was doing work in the area and noticed Villarreal’s damaged home. Guillory called Lorena Polazzi of BaySystemsTM to ask about the free roof inspections that BaySystemsTM was offering for homeowners affected by Hurricane Ike.

“I remember telling Lorena that we had a lot of devastation down here, and mentioning that there was this young family that had their home badly damaged,” Guillory said. Villarreal, his wife and their three children ages 2, 4 and 16 were eager for the day they could get their roof – and some normalcy – back.

Polazzi, a sales representative for BaySystemsTM, started making calls to coordinate a donation of BaysealTM CC, a closed-cell spray polyurethane foam, to the Villarreals. “By using the BaysealTM spray polyurethane foam, we were able to not only help this family get a roof back over their heads, but also create a more energy efficient building envelope system,” Polazzi said. “Steve couldn’t believe we were going to do it for free.”

Guillory and his team sprayed under the roof deck with BaysealTM CC, helping to eliminate air leaks, provide moisture and wind resistance, and reduce sound transmission. The tarps came down, and the Villarreal family not only got their roof back, but also a healthier, more comfortable home.

“Not only did the BaysealTM CC improve the home’s moisture protection, it also increased energy efficiency, so the Villarreal’s air conditioner won’t have to work as hard,” Guillory said.

And in a climate where the summer heat can be blistering, the comfort provided by BaysealTM CC offered by BaySystemsTM is invaluable. “It’s a great product. I tell everyone about it,” Villarreal said. “I’ve already felt the benefits.”

There are further benefits, as well. Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam is classified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as “highly resistant to floodwater damage,” capable of withstanding direct and prolonged contact with floodwater without sustaining significant damage. Conversely, fiberglass batt is classified as “unacceptable” (FEMA Technical Bulletin 2/ August 2008).

There are a number of other advantages that spray polyurethane foam insulation offers over traditional fiberglass batt insulation, including:

• Ability to expand and fill all cracks when applied, thereby virtually sealing a home from moisture and air leakage.
• Ability to cure within seconds, forming the foundation of a structurally strong, virtually airtight, thermal, sound and condensation barrier.
• Adding structural strength to the building. Independent tests showed spray polyurethane foam provides resistance to shearing and racking events such as hurricanes and other strong wind situations.
• Reducing the chance of mold growth.

“We’re happy that we could lend a hand in helping the Villarreals regain some normalcy in their home, and enjoy the many benefits of our product,” said Renee Zierden, general manager, BaySystems™. “This experience is also an example of our close, direct relationship with contractors, such as Robert Guillory, who are instrumental in helping us meet the needs of homeowners, like the Villarreals.”

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 15,100 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2008 sales of 9.7 billion euros. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries.

Contact:
Sean Kelly, Phone: 412-777-5200
E-mail: sean.kelly@bayerbms.com

For more information about BaySystems™ spray polyurethane insulation, call
1-800-289-8272 or visit www.BaySystemsSpray.com. 

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience materials, call 1-800-662-2927, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

This document may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.