If you want to cut energy costs, the best home improvement investment is spray foam insulation. The reason is simple: It works better and lasts longer than fiberglass. It is also the most eco-friendly product and has a limited lifetime warranty.
There are two kinds of spray foam: open-cell and closed-cell. Open-cell spray foam, when sprayed, creates little pockets of air that make it difficult for heat to pass through them. The open cell structure helps to create an air barrier that keeps warm air out in the summer and cold air out in the winter, helping you save on your utility bills.
Choosing the Right Spray Foam Insulation for Your Needs
Closed-cell spray foam, when sprayed, is much thicker than open-cell foam and forms a solid block of material. This dense, solid structure helps to provide more R-value than open-cell foam and makes it a good choice for areas that require a true vapor barrier, such as below grade concrete walls, wet crawl spaces, metal buildings and homes.
In addition to the differences in thickness, closed-cell spray foam contains blowing agents with a lower global warming potential than open-cell spray foam. The switch from HFC to low-GWP foam is an important part of the green building movement.
Spray foam insulation is best applied by a professional, but DIY kits are available. If you choose to use a DIY spray foam kit, we recommend that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. It is important to ensure that the chemical components are correctly mixed together in order to achieve consistent coverage and proper expansion. A properly mixed spray foam will last for the life of your home or commercial building.