Should You Use Spray Foam Insulation?

If you’re considering using spray foam to insulate your home, it pays to first read about the advantages and disadvantages of this material. It is a high performing material used in the roofs and walls of the most energy-efficient homes of today. 

Spray foam insulation is a lot expensive than other types of insulations, such as blown cellulose and fiberglass batts, which both require professional installation. But why do a lot of homeowners and builders prefer to spray foam insulation? The simple answer is performance. 

Type of Spray Foam Insulation  

The two types of polyurethane foam spray are available these days, and these are closed cell and open cell. Such types fill crevices and cracks in ceilings and walls a lot more effective compared to other types of insulation. It moves through wires and pipes seamlessly to create a very effective air barrier. 

Two chemicals combine to create a spray foam. The two are combined in the spray gun nozzle. It foams as the products are mixed together. Protective respirators and clothing have to be worn by installers when they install spray foam insulation. 

Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation 

Open-cell spray foam is lighter and cheaper than closed-cell insulation. With a value of about R-3.6 for every inch, open-cell weighs around half a pound. Typically, when the foam has healed, installers overfill with the foam and then just trim away all the excess. This allows the cavity to be filled entirely. 

The open cell type of spray foam is a powerful barrier to dust, but it can be vaporized. It ensures that the water vapor will be able to move through the spray foam even when airflow is blocked. This is an important consideration whenever the foam is sprayed under the roof sheathing to build a heated attic in areas where the climate is cold. During winter, the moisture from the attic makes its way through the pray foam and collects on the backside of the sheathing which is a possible decay and mold problem. For these instances, the use of a vapor retarding paint or vapor retarder must be mounted on the foam. 

Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation  

Closed-cell spray foam is an air and vapor barrier. It has a higher R-value than open-cell, which is around R-6.5 per inch. It is also much denser at about 2 pounds. Because it’s waterproof, it creates a solid and dense insulation layer while structurally supporting the cavities in the ceiling and wall. 

The closed-cell type of spray foam is also costlier than the open-cell type. It provides superior thermal performance at a thinner layer than other forms of insulation in a wall or roof where insulation space is small. 

Installers also should be careful during installation, so they won’t spray too much foam in a single pass because the foam produces heat during the curing process. If the spray foam is too dense, it can catch fire. Even if this is uncommon, it has occurred and was blamed for poorly applied spray foam leading to a house fire. If you need help with this, simply contact the experts in spray foam insulation Traverse City MI for further assistance.