Spray Foam Insulation

Insulation is the phenomenon of producing the resistance to heat, electricity or sound. Insulation is mainly used in the house to prevent heat gain and heat loss from the surroundings. Most electric appliances like Heaters, refrigerators and Freezers use insulation technology. For better effectiveness, Insulation should be installed in the barriers between heated and non heated parts of the house. The idea is to reduce the flow of heat and air between the heated and non heated space.

One of the main applications of insulation is house insulation. An insulated home is more energy efficient, requires less maintenance and is more comfortable as the temperature remains uniform over weather changes. Insulation at home helps in saving energy and reducing utility and repair bills. It makes the house more comfortable. It prevents damage from leaking water and provides a good thermal resistance. An insulated house is worth the money spent on insulation.

There are many types of home insulation available in the market these days. All insulations have their advantages and disadvantages. They are mainly differentiated based on the material used for the insulation. They can be distinguished into Plastic foam, rigid board, reflective, loose fill, batts and blankets and blown in insulation etc. The type of insulation preferred should be based on budget, the requirements and the weather condition of the surroundings where the house is situated.

Spray Foam insulation is useful in insulating the basement, walls and ceilings of your home. Spray foam insulation helps in keeping the house warmer during winter and cool in summer. Spray Foam insulation is performed with a material known as polyurethane. The liquid Polyurethane is pumped up in the holes and cavities with the help of high pressure containers. It expands after spraying filling all the gaps tightly. Spray foam insulation cannot be performed by homeowner and requires a team of professionals.

There are two kinds of spray foam insulation available in the market. One is Open cell that is installed with Isocyanurate and another is closed cell performed with the help of Polyurethane. The closed cell foam provides a higher R value than open cell foam insulation. R value is an Insulation measurement term used to measure the Spray Foam insulation.

This type of insulation is neat and gets sprayed in all the small holes and cavities in the house. It is highly thermal-resistant and insect-resistant. It makes the house air tight resulting in low utility bills and a cleaner house. It reduces the cost spent on heating and cooling equipments. Spray Foam insulation helps in moisture condensation.

Spray Foam Insulation is a bit more expensive than Fiber glass insulation but it would last longer than the latter. Also, it would not keep falling off the wall like fiber glass insulation. A person would not even find the insulation particles floating in the air like fiber glass insulation. Spray Foam insulation is better to be performed while constructing the house rather than in already built structures. Most spray foams do not cause any environmental concern. But Some Spray foams contain hazardous chemicals that can cause skin related problems and lung cancer. Therefore, spray foam should be installed with proper precautions.

Spray foam insulation is polyurethane foam pumped into the home to insulate walls, ceilings and everywhere else one would expect insulation. As a result, it helps to keep the heat inside during the cold months and the hot air outside when it's warm. While regular fiberglass insulation can be easily installed by the homeowner, spray foam insulation isn't a do-it-yourself project. A professional will need to be called in.

Like any insulation, there are pros and cons to spray foam. Because it needs to be professionally installed, spray foam insulation is expensive, about twenty percent more expensive than fiberglass insulation. The process isn't neat, and the homeowner can expect to see foam places other than the intended target. If too much insulation is sprayed in, the walls can buckle as the foam expands. Your professional should know just how much to apply.

Cost and cleanliness aside, there are clear benefits to using spray foam insulation. Because it's a spray and not a long piece of pink fiberglass, spray foam insulation gets into all of the tiny nooks and crannies, providing better insulation. Drafts are filled and the house is warmer in the winter. No cold air can escape in the summer either. In light of these facts, the homeowner with spray foam insulation can expect lower utility bills.

Because spray foam insulation fills every little crack and crevice, vermin and bugs have a harder time getting into the home, saving on extermination bills. Plus, it's such a great adherent, it can stick to a floor and insulate from underneath.

Most homes insulated with spray foam have a higher resale value, especially newer homes. There are environmental advantages as well; most notably, there aren't any fiberglass particles floating around in the air.

Spray foam insulation also seems to last longer. It sticks to the walls and won't fall off like fiberglass. An extra bonus is that it doesn't cause itching when touched, unlike fiberglass foam, and it inhibits mold because it doesn't absorb water.

The do-it-yourselfer can also purchase small cans of foam at the home improvement store. These are perfect for sealing cracks around doors and windows as well as gaps around pipes and fixtures. For bigger insulation projects, however, it's in your best interest to call in a professional.

While it's more expensive to install spray foam insulation than fiberglass, it pays for itself with the money saved on utility and repair bills. When it comes to deciding which insulation is best for the home, spray foam insulation is the hands-down winner.