Understanding Spray Foam Insulation

What is Spray Foam Insulation

Installed either as a hard foam board or sprayed onto walls or into hard-to-reach areas where traditional insulation is difficult to install, foam insulation is a quick, effective way to insulate a house.

Spray Foam Insulation

The spray version of foam insulation can be more expensive than batt and roll or blown-in insulation, but it can provide a better solution due to its easy installation and superior insulating properties.

The foam itself is a self-adhering polyurethane that is mixed with water and sprayed out of a pneumatic pump. The closed cell foam conforms to any shape of space and cures very quickly.

The foam expands to fill spaces and seal gaps and cracks, acting as a vapor barrier. As a result, the insulation provides more effective insulation – and air sealing – than many other forms of insulation. Spray foam insulation is impervious to water, insects and vermin. Some forms of foam insulation are also extremely fire resistant.

Efficient and Environmentally Friendly

Spray foam is also a very efficient and environmentally friendly way to insulate a home. New technology has brought about foam that is not only recyclable but manufactured from recycled products.
Foam insulation can also be used in any home, in any space – even the smallest corner or highest peak – because of its physical properties, making it an extremely resourceful form of insulation.

Foam Board Insulation is Extremely Durable

Foam board insulation is as effective in its insulating abilities as spray foam, but is not as easily installed. However, the durability of the board can help to increase the structural integrity of a home.

To help you decide whether spray foam or foam board insulation – or another type of insulation – is right for your home, it is best to have your insulating needs assessed by a Certified Green Professional, CGP contractor who has been trained in energy efficiency and understand the home as a system. They can help you plan and install your insulation.