There are several materials you can use to insulate your home, and spray foam is certainly one you should be considering.
If you’re just hearing about spray foam insulation for the first time, we’ll explain it to you in this article. It’s among the materials we install here at St. Louis Installers. If you’re still unsure if it’s the right option for you after reading, you can always reach out for an expert opinion.
For now, we’ll let you know what it is and how it works.
You might also find this type of insulation referred to as spray polyurethane foam (SPF). It’s the same thing.
As you’ve possibly gathered from the name, it’s a form of insulation that involves spraying liquid into position, where it’s left to set into the insulating layer.
Although spray foam insulation has been in use for more than 30 years, it’s only now that it’s becoming popular as an effective form of insulation. And one of the reasons why homeowners are increasingly favoring it is its ability to stop air leakage.
As an insulation material, spray foam is highly versatile. Professional installers can apply it to your roof, walls, floor, and more.
There are two types of SPF:
This type sets into a rigid solid after spraying. As opposed to open-cell spray foam which we explain just below, the closed-cell kind contains pockets of gas after it sets. These slow down the transfer of heat, lending the insulation greater effectiveness.
The density of closed-cell spray foam makes it impervious to moisture, something that’s highly important for you if you’ve had problems with mold growth in the past.
Open-cell spray foam is less dense than closed-cell, meaning you need more of it to achieve an equal insulating effect. But it carries the advantage that it can also double as sound insulation since it’s capable of blocking and reducing airflow.
Open-cell spray foam’s light composition makes it very expansive, so it provides high levels of insulation in small gaps and crevices that are typically troublesome when using other materials.
SPF has a few advantages that may make it the right material for your home.
First, closed-cell spray foam’s rigidity, once it sets, can help to support the structure of your home. This is something you definitely need if your roof is beginning to show nail fatigue. And the reinforcement is also helpful if you have cavity walls, particularly where the wall tiles are no longer holding together.
Second, as mentioned earlier, open-cell spray foam prevents airflow. That doesn’t just make it highly effective as an insulator, but the soundproofing capabilities are certainly welcome if you’ve been struggling with a noise problem.
Lastly, spray foam is simply an effective insulator that will do a great job of maintaining warmth in your home. In fact, you’d need significantly more of another material like mineral wool to achieve the same level of insulation as you would with spray foam. And spray foam makes for one of the longest-lasting forms of insulation you can get.
Plus, its effectiveness means that in addition to experiencing greater warmth and comfort in your home, you also save on your energy bills.
If you’re now convinced that spray foam insulation installation is the right choice for your home, or if you’d still like to learn more from a professional, St. Louis Installers is here to help you. We operate in Missouri, providing insulation and other services to homeowners in St. Louis, Edwardsville, and St. Peters.
Book an appointment with us today.