What is Spray Foam Insulation?
By ProMatcher Staff
Spray Foam Insulation 101
Spray foam insulation expands to fill cracks, eliminate air leaks, and provide additional insulation to many areas of your home. It can be sprayed in attics, floors, and wall cavities. Unlike blown-in insulation, spray foam insulation can be sprayed directly on the roof line and leave attic floors accessible.
This type of insulation is very flexible. It can sprayed around wires and into wall cavities and other hard to reach places. This makes it a popular choice for insulating pre-existing structures.
Typically, this type of insulation is a two-component foam. The chemicals are mixed on-site. When the two components come together, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the foam to expand and then harden.
Types of Spray Insulation
There are two types of spray insulation:
1. Open cell insulation
2. Closed cell insulation
Open Cell Insulation
With open cell insulation, air pockets never fully close. As the foam expands, air becomes trapped. These air pockets then slow down the transfer of heat. The open cells also allow for the absorption of some moisture. Open cell insulation has a lower R-value than closed cell insulation, and as a result, a thicker layer may need to be installed.
Closed Cell Insulation
With closed cell insulation, the spray foam expands and the air pockets close. As a result, this type of insulation is denser than open cell insulation. Water cannot penetrate the tightly packed cells. This type of insulation can actually provide additional strength and durability to walls and ceilings. Due to its higher density, closed cell insulation has a much higher R-value than open cell insulation.
For more information about the cost of installing spray foam insulation, take a look at the ProMatcher Cost Report for insulation installation.
About the Author
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| ProMatcher Staff, ProMatcher
Orlando, FL 32803
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