Spray Foam Insulation: Learn About Its Features and Benefits

Spray Foam Insulation : Industries have decided to bring the best quality products and the most affordable insulation to home-owners across the county. Traditional materials made from fiberglass or cellulose can insulate the house but can damage the environment. Many such industries have decided to create quality products with the highest renewable resource content to encourage homeowners to purchase a product that protects the environment.

The Benefits of Spray Foam

Many contractors are using spray-on insulation, made of polyurethane froth, which is the same kind of appliance that manufacturers have used in refrigerators and water heaters. It can be used as an insulating and air sealing product for residential wall and ceiling cavities. The insulation is sprayed onto the wall cavities thereby expanding it. The liquid is sprayed through a nozzle into wall, ceiling, and floor cavities where it expands to fill every nook and cranny. Because it expands into tight areas, and its froth is ideal for insulating steel framing and outlets. This product can seal and fill tiny unseen cracks and seams, eliminating energy-wasting air filtration. Excess froth is scraped off the sides to form a uniform wall cavity. It makes it easy to completely fill wall cavities with insulation and to also perform air sealing. It is applied as a liquid which contains a polymer and a foaming agent.

The foam product also helps control moisture condensation because it does not shrink or settle. It is fire resistant and reduces heating and cooling costs significantly and its thermal seal keeps cold air in and unwanted air out. Spray on insulation has also been known to improve indoor air quality, thereby decreasing the likelihood of allergies. It also has high quality sound control, and significantly reduces dust, mold and mildew accumulation. Most importantly, the froth from the spray has been known to help the economy and the environment by using recycled materials in the froth. The containers are usually also recycled. Those who use this product are committed to providing quality renewable resource based building materials.

The Costs of Spray Foam Insulation

If an individual decides to get spray foam product, they must understand that the initial product costs may be higher than with traditional devices. But this foam product is not a do-it-yourself project and therefore homeowners will have to hire a contractor certified in applying this new technology. Since this is a fairly new product, there may not be many contractors in the area who can apply insulation. This is also a complicated and messy process, so it may be easier and more effective in new construction rather than existing homes. Furthermore, froth insulation in sidewalls may cause difficulties to contractors who are not familiar with its properties. The initial cost of using this foam product is about three times more than traditional materials. Even though it is more expensive, the insulation could lower your utility bill by as much as 30 percent, paying back the cost difference in energy savings in a few years from now.