Spray Foam Insulation Kits Offer Great Versatility

Spray foam insulation kits come in a variety of brands and types. Since it is estimated that 40% of our energy losses are due to inefficient building structures leaking expensively conditioned air, these products are very useful to home owners and home builders. Spray foam products apply as liquid and firm as they dry, rapidly expanding and filling cavities and sealing any space available. These products are ideal for sealing wall studs, sheathing, conduit and plumbing and electrical boxes. Voids and gaps are completely eliminated, blocking air flow and sealing leaks. The foam insulation in these products creates both permeable and non-permeable vapor barriers according to the particular product brand.

Let?s list the characteristics of spray foam insulation kits that make this material the choice for versatility and efficiency:

Better permeability rating than conventional plastic sheeting vapor barriers
Reduced moisture residues discouraging the growth of mold
Fills cavities in finished walls without destruction
Works well in tight spaces like between joist and rafters
Provides acoustical insulation
Increases structural integrity, providing excellent resistance to air penetration
Cementatious foam is fire proo.

If spray foam insulation allows water vapor to penetrate it is considered open-cell insulation. Open-cell insulation is soft when it has cured. Closed-cell foam insulation is non-porous and not penetrable to moisture. Closed-cell insulation provides a good vapor barrier. Closed-cell insulation also carries a higher R-value per square inch than does the open-cell insulation. Closed-cell insulation is structurally strong and reinforces the insulated area.

Let?s take a brief look at some brands of insulation used in spray foam insulation kits:

Froth Pak polyurethane spray foam from Dow Chemicals is available for portable applications, making it ideal for sealing hard to reach areas.

Great Stuff is a product of Dow Chemical which comes in a can. This is slated for small projects, yet it can be useful in larger areas also. Great Stuff is polyurethane foam used for sealing and insulating. There are five Great Stuff products: Great Stuff- Gaps and Cracks; Great Stuff- Window & Door; Great Stuff- Big Gap Filler; Great Stuff- Pond and Stone and Great Stuff- Fireblock.

Foam It Green Spray Foam Insulation is another brand of spray foam insulation kits that is available. One inch of this product delivers an R-7 insulating factor. This product is applied by spray-on application, expanding to one inch thick upon drying. This closed-cell polyurethane spray foam insulation is usable where outside sources of air-pressure and electricity are inaccessible.

Air Krete is cementitious foam with an R-3.9 rating. It claims to be the only foam not restricted to a specific depth. It is fireproof and non-hazardous and is noted for its sound deadening properties. This product consists of magnesium oxide which is extracted from sea-water. Some of its other advantages are it is mold proof; non-toxic and it is insoluble in water. The consistency at the time of application is like shaving cream. It hardens in a short time, providing long-lasting insulation value.