It also helps prevent the formation of ice dams on roofs by keeping water from freezing in places where it is most likely to accumulate, such as the areas around gutters. This type of insulation can even help prevent the formation of black mold in the corners of exterior walls due to improper framing practices.
How Spray Foam Benifits Your Home
Closed-cell spray foam is a superior choice for insulating metal buildings as well, because it can form an effective waterproofing membrane to prevent water leaks from developing in the attic or walls. Spray foam can also be used to fill voids, such as gaps or holes, in the walls and ceilings of a building that might allow air or water to enter.
Many people are becoming eco-conscious and looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. One of the ways they can do this is by choosing green insulation. Spray foam insulation is an eco-friendly option that offers many benefits to the environment. It reduces energy consumption, provides a healthier living space and creates an airtight seal to minimize allergens and pollutants entering the home.
Spray insulation blocks all of these entry points that are often overlooked, making your home a less appealing nesting place for these pests. It also eliminates spaces that are ideal for rodents to build their nests in, such as the voids and cracks in your foundation, basement, and walls. Spray foam is also a more durable material than fiberglass, making it harder for rodents to chew through and penetrate.
Reduces Pests
Open-cell spray foam is a much lighter material that can allow for some air movement through it. This can help with moisture control, but it isn’t as resistant to water absorption as closed-cell spray foam. If open-cell spray foam is exposed to excessive moisture, it can develop mold and mildew, which can affect the health of occupants.
Despite being a chemical-based product, spray foam is safe when it is installed by a professional. Expert installation services—like those offered by Paragon Protection, a spray foam insulation company in Lake Zurich and the surrounding area—prioritize safety for their clients and the environment. They know how to mix and apply the spray foam in the right proportions, which ensures a quick cure time and minimizes the release of HFC chemicals into the environment.
Foam insulation also helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout the entire building. This is beneficial for occupants with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions, as it can improve indoor air quality. It can help alleviate symptoms by stopping polluted outdoor air from getting into a home or commercial property.
Stops Pests
In addition to its superior insulating properties, spray foam insulation also stops moisture infiltration that can lead to mold and mildew, as well as rot and pests. In addition, the spray insulation creates a protective shield around plumbing pipes that can prevent frozen and burst pipes.
While blown-in insulation like fiberglass and cellulose can absorb moisture, spray foam doesn’t. As it expands upon application, spray foam plugs these tiny openings and seals them, preventing spores from growing or moisture from seeping into the walls and structure of your home or commercial building.
Moreover, spray foam prevents drafts, which are common in poorly insulated homes. A drafty house is difficult to keep comfortable and drives up energy costs. It’s easy for heating and cooling systems to overwork, as they’re constantly kicking on to dehumidify the space. Spray foam eliminates the need for these large oversized HVAC systems and provides more comfort for you, your family or your employees.
Most pests find their way into the home by finding a crack or crevice to enter through. Spray foam seals these areas, making it harder for critters to make their way into a home. Spray foam, particularly closed-cell spray foam, can completely fill the spaces between studs and effectively block them from small pests. Closed-cell spray foam is the best choice for pest-proofing, because it hardens into a form that most pests cannot break through or chew through.
PMPs say that they are seeing an increase in calls about termite problems associated with spray foam. In fact, some states have changed their inspection guidelines for spray foam insulation. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the Spray Foam Coalition, which represents manufacturers of foam and installation equipment, have published guidance documents on spray foam and termites. These suggest that PMPs should use newer technologies, such as moisture meters and acoustic emissions, to inspect structures built with spray foam in areas like sill plates, band/rim joists and end of floor joists.
Foam insulation can also be used to seal metal pipes, joints, and seams in homes. This can reduce the amount of energy that is lost from these leaks and reduce heating and cooling costs. It can also be used to seal the gap between sinks and cabinets in a home so that hot or cold air does not seep through the space.
Reduces Moisture
Lastly, spray foam can reduce your energy costs. Its air-sealing qualities keep conditioned air inside your home, which will lower the amount of time and energy your HVAC system has to use in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. This will help cut down on your energy bills, and can add up over the years to save you a lot of money.
In addition to reducing energy consumption, spray foam insulation also helps reduce the workload of a home’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Spray foam can reduce HVAC sizing by up to 35%, while ensuring optimal performance and comfort.
Traditionally, spray foam insulation has been made with hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as the blowing agent. These chemicals have a high global warming potential, which partially or completely offsets the energy savings they provide. This is a big deal as global climate change is a serious issue that affects everyone. Fortunately, HFCs are being phased out and replaced with low-GWP alternatives.
Reduces Moisture
Expanding foam was poured into crevices and onto materials, which, for upright applications, proved tricky. Spray foam insulation is a form of expanding foam that can be sprayed onto any surface at any angle, and at a much faster rate.
In addition to building temperature and moisture control, spray foam insulation is often used to reduce noise. Foam insulation serves as a barrier to airborne sounds, and reduces airborne sound transfer through a building's roof, floor and walls compared an uninsulated structure.
Expanding Foam Polyfilla is ideal for filling and sealing awkward gaps, hollows and cavities. It shoots liquid foam deep into cavities, creating a long lasting seal, which insulates against heat, sound and moisture.
Closed cell spray foam should be 4- to 5- inches on the ceiling and 2- to 3-inches in the walls. This might come as a surprise to you, but honestly, this is all the spray foam it takes to get the biggest bang for your buck with the air seal and thermal resistance needed for certain areas of the home.
Spray foam is a highly effective form of home insulation that can reduce your carbon footprint along with your energy bills. It costs more than other types of insulation, but it will last longer—up to 80 years.
Expanding foam is often found in the form of spray foam insulation as it is the easiest method to apply the reactive, two-component mixture that expands once blown. Expanding foam insulation can be applied to any surface to prevent draughts and enhance structural integrity, thus making it ideal for cavity walls.