Spray On Foam Insulation Can Be an Excellent Choice for Home or Office Insulation

Spray On Foam Insulation is another option in residential insulation. It is used in walls, ceilings, floors, and small or irregular spaces where batting might not be an option. Window jambs, stud bays, rim joist areas, electrical boxes and wiring can be difficult to insulate around, but the spray on foam is an ideal product, where fiberglass batting can be difficult to cut and fit just right.

Spray foam insulation requires special spray foam equipment for installation. It is installed as a liquid that contains a polymer, such as polyurethane or modified urethane, and a foaming agent. This foaming agent expands to fill every nook, cranny, gap, or crack. It can be an attractive option because it will fill wall cavities without taking them apart, as is required with fiberglass batting. Like dry cellulose insulation, you make a hole in the finished or enclosed wall, insert the nozzle of the spray foam insulation equipment, and fill the cavity to full capacity. The expandable foam insulation provides resistance to air flow, heat penetration, and can also act as a sound barrier. For open wall cavities, like dampened cellulose insulation, the foam is sprayed evenly to fill the entire cavity. The excess that protrudes past the width of the joists is scraped off, or screed, until it is smooth and flat so that the wall, ceiling or floor can be finished off and covered. It is recommended that a professional fulfill these tasks as it is very difficult to completely fill the cavity without spraying too much excess foam.

There are two types of spray on foam insulation: open-cell (isocyanurate foam insulation) and closed cell foam insulation (polyurethane foam insulation). In almost every aspect, closed cell foam insulation is far superior to open-cell foam. In open-cell foam the cells are open, obviously, and air fills the space inside the material. This makes the foam weaker and the texture is much softer than closed cell foam. In closed cell foam insulation the cells are closed, obviously, and packed tightly together. The cells are filled with gas which is what makes it expand and also makes it a good insulator.

Open cell spray foam is porous therefore water vapor is easily absorbed into the insulation. Closed cell foam insulation is non-porous therefore making it an effective vapor barrier. The R-value of spray on foam insulation is typically measured according to weight. Open cell foams weigh in at .4 to .5 lb./cu.ft, and closed cell foams weigh in at 1.7 lb/cu. to 2.0 lb./cu ft. In other words, open cell spray foam has R-values of 3 to 4 inches, while closed cell foam insulation has R-values of 5 to 8 inches. This makes closed cell spray foam more effective and efficient for tight spaces.

You might ask yourself why anyone would bother to buy open cell spray foam when closed cell spray foam is stronger, has a higher R-value, and has a greater resistance to air leakage and water vapor. One disadvantage of closed cell foam insulation is that it is denser, therefore it necessitates more material, and is ultimately more expensive. But often spray on foam insulation is used in such small quantities and spaces that cost isn't as much of an issue.

Spray foam can be more costly than fiberglass batting, but when all the elements of both insulations are considered, spray foam can often be the better option, or at least economically comparable to fiberglass. The process of installing expanding foam insulation is basically onestep, whereas fiberglass batt insulation requires multiple steps such as caulking, installing housewrap and vapor barrier, and taping the joints. In the end, time is reduced, there is less need for professional help, and less money was spent.

A fantastic, easy, time efficient, and cost effective alternative to both fiberglass batting and spray on foam insulation is reflective insulation. Therma-Comfort has designed an amazing system of insulation made of layers of heat-sealed bubbles encased in a 99% pure aluminum foil outer surface.This unique combination of heat sealed bubbles and aluminum delivers a high performance insulation product suitable for all construction and home renovating projects.

Radiant heat is the largest source of energy loss or gain in your home or office making it the largest waste of money on your monthly utility bills. Therma-Comfort reflective insulation, or radiant barrier, is a brilliant technology created to reflect 97% of all radiant heat. Therma-Comfort also acts as an excellent vapor barrier, unlike fiberglass and open cell spray foam that absorbs moisture and water vapor. When the water is absorbed it acts as a heat conductor which greatly reduces the R-value and causes mold, fungus, and rust.

Therma-Comfort is also very easy to install. The materials are lightweight, clean, and non-toxic. If you want to install it yourself you simply need a measuring device, scissors or a knife, and staples or tape.

We have worked hard to design and create Therma-Comfort, one of the most efficient and effective methods of reflective insulation on the market. We stand behind our research and products. We realize that the issue of home insulation is important especially in these days when utility and energy bills are eating up our ever precious incomes. Please call us with any questions or concerns about spray on foam insulation and reflective insulation at (951) 675-1207. We are more than happy to share our experience and expertise with you.