Where can spray foam insulation be used in the home?
- The Attic – Attics are a major source of heat transfer. When you insulate your attic using spray foam you prevent hot air from escaping through the roof during the winter months and cold air from intruding. In the summer you prevent hot air from infiltrating and cool air from escaping.
- Exterior Walls – Insulating your exterior walls with spray foam provides the aforementioned air and moisture barriers, prevents water from leaking through cracks during heavy weather events and buttresses the structural integrity of the entire house.
- Basement – Most basements are perpetually damp and cool and a favorite breeding ground for dangerous molds and bacteria. Sealing the walls of the basement using spray foam creates a drier, safer, warmer and healthier basement.
- Interior Walls – Insulating interior walls with spray foam before covering them with drywall not only prevents heat leaking from warmer to cooler rooms it also provides an effective noise barrier. Good news for modern homes and their notoriously thin walls.
Air Barrier
No matter how snugly that roll of fiberglass fits into the space it will always leave some room around the edges and at the seams for air to infiltrate. Not so with spray foam. Spray foam pushes itself into even the tiniest crack or crevice. Air simply has nowhere to go.
Moisture Barrier
While it’s important to seal your home against the wind it’s just as important to seal it against moisture. While most forms of insulation do a poor job of preventing moisture from infiltrating the home spray foam stands tall against moisture. Your entire house will be drier, healthier and more comfortable.
Enhanced Structural Integrity
A house is only as strong as its frame and most forms of insulation do nothing to enhance the ability of the home to stand up to Mother Nature’s wrath. By grabbing hold of walls and floors by expanding into and filling cracks and crevices spray foam essentially becomes one with the surface you spray it on, adding its strength to that of the wall, floor or ceiling.
Reduces Pollen Infiltration
It’s hard to believe but a good portion of the pollen in a given house did not get there through an open window or door. It got there through the walls. By insulating your exterior walls with spray foam insulation you virtually eliminate air leaks and the pollen that they allow in.
Remains Effective Even When Wet
If a pipe bursts or your home is subjected to flooding the insulation in your walls that got wet will need to be ripped out and replaced. Unless it was spray foam. Spray foam insulation is impermeable to water and retains its insulating capabilities regardless of how wet it gets.
Higher R-Values
The bullet list below shows the different types of insulation commonly used in the home and their R-values. Note which material wins the day.
Insulation Type & R-Value per Inch
- Fiberglass: loose – 2.2 – 2.9 R-Value per inch
- Fiberglass: batts – 2.9 – 3.8 R-Value per inch
- Cellulose – 3.1 – 3.8 R-Value per inch
- Mineral Wool: loose – 2.2 – 3.3 R-Value per inch
- Mineral Wool: batts – 3.3 – 4.2 R-Value per inch
- Cotton: batts – 3.0 – 3.7 R-Value per inch
- Spray Foam – 5.6 – 8.0 R-Value per inch