Welcome back!
Find out about spray foam insulation and the reason you should have it in your own house
Insulating your home is an important operation nowadays because of the cost of energy and the desire to protect our natural resources as much as possible. Not only does insulation prevent heat transfer but also prevents the infiltration of noise, insects and dust. Dust isn’t only an annoying mess but also carries pollen, and in addition to insects can infiltrate a house through small cracks surrounding conduits, water pipes, cables, beams, wall studs, door jambs and window frames. Exterior noise is also reduced, although the largest amount of noise comes through the windows and is best stopped by adding double or triple-pane glass, or better yet, soundproof windows.
Four of the most popular styles of insulation are fiberglass, rock wool, cellulose, and foam (like polyurethane or polystyrene). Fiberglass has the advantages of being cheaper as well as faster and easier to put in, however there are more advantages to using spray foam insulation instead. One of the greatest advantages of foam insulation is the capability to seal off tiny holes and cracks which could be imperceptible to the naked eye, a trait not possessed by either fiberglass or cellulose insulation. This helps prevent insects and dirt from entering the house. The total seal created by means of foam nearly eliminates almost all air infiltration into or out of a home.
One more big advantage of foam insulation is its high R-value, which is the “measuring stick” used to categorize insulation, and the higher the R-value the more effective the product. The R-value is the rating which indicates how effectively insulation inhibits heat transfer from the inside to the outside of the home. It helps stop air flow since residences which are insufficiently insulated are likely to be drafty and experience cold and hot areas. You can obtain a more consistent temperature in any weather condition using foam insulation which eliminates these drafts. Keep in mind that high-quality insulation could also make your home cooler in the summer time as well as warmer in the winter due to a reduced amount of heat movement out or in.
To give you an idea of some common R-values, unpainted concrete usually rates about an R-1 whereas the insulation in the attic of lots of modern residences is often about R-44. Although thicker insulation generally has a higher R-value, this could fluctuate depending on the kind of material used. Materials which have enclosed air pockets most often exhibit higher R-values. You will see how this happens when looking at the various R-values of several insulating materials. Fiberglass has an R-value per inch of 2.2 to 2.7, rock wool is 3.0 to 3.3 per inch, while cellulose is 3.2 to 3.8 per inch. Foam, on the other hand, has R values which go from 4.0 to 8.0. Learn more on closed cell spray foam insulation.
This added R-value per inch allows home builders to use 2×4s for the outside wall construction instead of the usual 2×6 construction which is required for other insulation types. Employing this smaller framing has the benefit of giving the homeowner extra living space, up to 35 square feet in a 1,500 square foot home. This is like realizing an extra linen closet! Other advantages of foam insulation are that it is both fire and insect repellent, helps to limit condensation of moisture, and it won’t shrink or settle.
But the principal advantage is cutting energy costs given that as much as 70% of a house’s consumption is the fault of heating and cooling systems, therefore it makes sense to prevent air gaps. Fiberglass insulation, which is very successful for certain locations, allows gaps next to vents, conduits, window frames and door jambs. Foam insulation blocks these gaps and produces a more effective seal throughout the home than fiberglass could. The bottom line is foam insulation will help to save you money on your heating and cooling costs while adding to the worth of your home. Learn more on excavation equipment and molded concrete.
How does foam insulation work? Polyurethane foam, which has been utilized by appliance makers for many years to insulate water heaters, refrigerators and freezers, is the material used for spray-on insulation. This expanding foam is applied to the surface of the attic or within the walls to make an unbroken solid mass of insulation. This foam is created by means of liquid polyurethane, which is put in using special pressurized spray nozzles.
But, as with most chemical products, there are drawbacks to using foam. One of the biggest drawbacks of foam insulation is that it needs to be put in by a licensed contractor. This is certainly not a task for an amateur. Foam insulation works best when installed during the building phase because it could be especially messy to apply. There could also be problems while working with electrical or plumbing companies which are not comfortable working around the stuff after it is already in the wall.
Saving money and blocking out dust, dirt and insects is the reason using spray foam insulation is the only way to go, and as an extra bonus with the energy savings, foam can eventually pay for itself.
Recent Comments