Spray foam is one of the more popular means of insulation in home renovations and construction. Many people love using it, and there are a number of reasons why they appreciate it. Before you go out and get your home insulated this way, however, it is important to understand a few facts around it.
History Of Effectiveness
Spray foam has been used for a long time and has been seen as an effective method of insulation. The technology of modern spray foams that are still utilized today has been around since the 1980s. It has been used for many years and remains a constant staple in building construction as an effective way to insulate walls and surface areas. Its popularity is fairly strong, being recommended and used on many home improvement shows and renovations.
R-Value
What is R-value? R-value refers to the effectiveness of insulation and how well it does keeping heat from escaping or entering a sealed environment. Spray foam has a good R-value. It does a great job of blocking air transfer, and guarantees increased energy efficiency. Some other insulations allow for drafts and air currents to flow through them, even with similar R-value, whereas spray foam shuts that down.
Moisture Resistance
Insulation is important for multiple reasons. Spray foam is effective as it is efficient at blocking water vapor. Foam is a solid sealant that prevents water vapor infiltration into your structures but also helps prevent condensation from building up. This is key as the different areas, and structures in your house can result in heat transfers from room to room that cause condensation. In a cold climate or winter weather, condensation will freeze and increase as more condensation builds up. Once the weather begins to warm up, you will have trouble with leaks and water damage seeping into other rooms.
Chemical Makeup
Spray foam insulation requires a mixture of two different chemicals. The reaction will allow the foam to formulate and expand. Because of the way the foam is formulated, oftentimes, multiple layers must be applied onto the surface. With a chemical reaction being formed, it is also in the best interest of families having their home insulated in this manner to be away for a period of time, with 24 hours being the recommendation to be away from your home and the chemicals. Professionals at asifoam.com recommend that you ensure the company that is applying your foam insulation to be certified. This is to make sure that those that are handling the foam and applying it in your home are mixing the chemicals correctly as failure to do so could have reactions that are detrimental to your health.
Protective
Spray foam for insulation applied correctly also prevents the chances of mold build up in your home. This is due to the fact that it creates a seal that does not allow for the transfer and, ultimately, the build-up of water. This will help save your house from damages down the road and having to deal with repairs and mold removal, which also saves you time and money.
Cost-Effective
The fact that spray foam is a one time job means you won’t be spending money having to upgrade or add any additional insulation over the years. This helps you also keep a peace of mind that you won’t have to worry about maintenance. You save money on your heating and cooling costs and bills due to the effectiveness of its insulation. This will depend on what rooms you have insulated and how large your home or house is. This will work with your HVAC systems and the seals around your house, including doors and windows, and not just the insulation of your flooring and walls.
Some Different Types Of Spray Foam
There are some other types and purposes of foam that you can use in smaller packaging from your local shops. These typically come in spray cans and act as seals or for small jobs instead of industrial foam and professional work.
● Filler Foam
Utilized for additions or repair projects. There are also different sizes for gap fillers, depending on the size of the cracks or holes that you need to fill.
● Windows And Doors
Utilized for filling gaps in frames, but won’t expand out aggressively to block out and create problems in your frame.
● Pest block
Used to prevent pests like mice from getting in through cracks and holes. This spray foam’s effectiveness is in the chemical formula that has ingredients to deter mice and other problems as they dislike its smell.
There are many reasons to consider spray foam in your house but always keep in mind issues and concerns. Have the right people to apply it as they will have the experience and understanding to do the job right and ensure that you only see the benefits without any of the hassles.
