Deciding on Spray Foam Insulation: Closed cell, Open cell and Icynene

Spray foam insulation is in the media a lot these days. With electricity costs growing, individuals are paying increasingly more for heating and air conditioning. Preserving comfortable indoor temperatures demands electricity, gas or other fuel to operate furnaces and air conditioner units.

The majority of residents know that improving home insulation is a guaranteed way to reduce the expense of heating and air conditioning, which is where spray foam comes in. While home owners can use spray foam purchased in small compressed cans available at home improvement stores, foam insulation contractors using that same foam insulation in large quantities– packing the space between studs, joists and rafters with foam  insulation that expands on call.

Is spray foam an the right choice to improve your home’s energy performance? An Insulation Rebates professional can inspect and evaluate insulation and air tightness needed to update your house to provide the ideal energy-saving options. Call or email today for a free of charge analysis and insulation estimate.

There are different types of spray foam,  the distinctions  between open-cell foam, closed-cell foam and an unique brand of foam called Icynene ™ can often be confusing without a little education.

Open-cell foam has reduced R-value and higher leaks in the structure

Like its label suggests, open-cell foam is composed of little blisters that are adjoined. The bubbles hold air, which gives insulation market value– generally between R-3.5 and R-4 per in.

Icynene ™ is a brand name of closed-cell foam, initially created by the Icynene firm 25 years back. Certified Icynene ™ specialists install this spray foam, however universal closed-cell foam insulation is readily available from independent contractors.

Like closed-cell foam, open-cell foam broadens to pack spaces and cracks as quickly as it’s used. But instead of healing to a hard, smooth-surfaced mass, closed-cell foam has a spongier feel. And like a sponge, it will certainly soak up dampness. Considering that insulation sheds R-value when moist, it’s not a good idea to make use of open-cell spray foam in wet settings like basements and crawl rooms. It could be splashed between rafters or studs, but its low R-value won’t give much total insulation worth in a constrained room. Open-cell foam is often cheaper to set up that closed-cell foam.

Closed-cell foam supplies a vapor obstacle, a harder surface and higher R-value

Tinned foam like FANTASTIC THINGS ™ is a closed-cell foam that is available in “single-component” type. The closed-cell foam that professionals utilize on large-scale spray foam jobs is also referred to as “two-component” foam or polyurethane foam. 2 chemical substances are combined with each other at the application nozzle, inducing the increasing foam reaction.

Despite the fact that it’s more expensive to put in compared to open-cell foam, closed-cell foam is typically chosen for insulation projects due to the fact that it offers greater R-value– in between R-6 and R-7.1 per in.; and since it forms a reliable dampness barrier. The potential to shut out wetness transmission while likewise supplying air sealing and very high insulation worth is an advantage in numerous applications.