Spray Foam Insulation

Spray Foam Insulation, like most innovative ideas, stemmed from the military. The armed forces developed foam back during World War II to be used on airplanes. But it wasn't until the 1970's that it began to be used as a home insulator.
During the 1970's, and the energy crisis, environmental and cost concerns came to the forefront in the home building industry. Spray foam insulation became a no-brainer. It was energy efficient, easy to apply, and saved a lot of money.
Basically, Polyuerthane is the main form of spray foam. It is comprised of different chemicals that are combined once spray. It comes out as a liquid, but quickly expands into a foam.

A great article explains more about the chemical composition of spray foam, so I won't bore you here with all that information. It is a good read, so I highly recommend you check it out: spray foam insulation

It is important to understand that Spray Foam Insulation comes in a couple different flavors. Each holds benefits, and choosing one over the other is usually based upon what your budget is for your home building or remodeling project, and the type of application it is being used in.

The first type of Spray Foam Insulation is called open cell foam insulation. This type is used to insulate the inner walls inside the home. It is also used a lot for vaulted ceilings. It is a less expensive alternative of spray foam because it uses less chemicals. The biggest attribute of open cell is that it is very puffy, cloud like. The reason is that it has more bubble in it.

Open cell spray foam insulation is often used as a sound barrier, due to its soft texture and ability to absorb sound. It is also a great air barrier. One drawback to this type of foam insulation is that it is not a great water vapor barrier. So don't use it for roofing or any exterior applications.

Closed cell spray foam insulation is the better alternative for that. It is a much more dense type of spray foam that is compact, almost brick like. This is a much more expensive version of foam insulation because it uses a lot more chemicals.

You wil often find it being used for roofs, exterior walls, in the basement. It has a great r-value, double that of open cell foam. It is also a great insulation choice for stopping water vapor from getting into the home. Which also helps with mold and mildew issues.

Spray foam insulation has several benefits over other types of insulation.

• Very Good Insulation - Spray foam insulation expands and fills every nook and cranny, creating a tight seal


• Fast application - Foam can be spray quickly, saving labor cost


• Energy Efficient - Keeps conditioned air in the house, not escaping through cracks and holes


• Lower Energy Bills - You can save upwards of 30% on home energy bills.

Spray Foam Insulation Kits are a great way to insulate a home where you have a small area to do. There are several foam insulation kit types to choose from, but they all come with everything you need for your home project. I would not recommend using this type of foam insulation if you have a large area to do in your home because that would be very expensive and labor intensive. Hire a certifies installer for that.