With a spray gun, foam insulation is applied to attics, crawl spaces, and rim joists in existing homes, as well as new construction and pole barns. Spray Foam Insulation Houston creates a custom, airtight seal in the structure.
The chemicals used in the product, often isocyanates from methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), are powerful irritants to the eyes and gastrointestinal tract. They can also sensitize people to the point that the smallest future exposure may cause an asthma attack.
Depending on the home, spray foam can significantly reduce energy usage and monthly costs. It provides an airtight seal that prevents conditioned indoor air from escaping, which saves your HVAC system from working overtime to heat and cool the house during the winter and summer. This will reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint by reducing the amount of fossil fuels needed to keep the home comfortable.
Moreover, foam insulation never breaks down or shifts like fiberglass and cellulose insulation. This will save you money by eliminating the need to replace and repair old insulation over time, which can add up to a significant sum. Additionally, homeowners have reported saving 30-50 percent on their energy bills after a professional installs spray foam in their homes.
Foam insulation is also effective at preventing moisture. The closed-cell structure of the insulation will prevent water from penetrating walls, floors, attics, and crawl spaces, which can cause major damage to a building over time. This will also decrease the humidity in the house, which can help prevent mold and mildew growth.
The airtight seal spray foam will improve your home’s indoor air quality. This is because the insulation will prevent outside contaminants, such as dust, pollen, and other pollutants, from entering the house. In turn, this will keep your HVAC filters from getting clogged with these pollutants. This will ensure that your family is breathing clean, healthy air.
A spray foam insulation installation will also increase the resale value of your home, as potential buyers will see that it is energy efficient and will require less maintenance and repairs in the future. Furthermore, many homeowners will qualify for rebates and tax credits for their energy efficiency improvements, which can help offset the initial cost of the spray foam insulation installation.
If you are interested in spray foam insulation for your home, hire a qualified installer certified by the state. This will help ensure that the installation is done correctly and does not cause any damage or problems in the long run.
Spray foam insulation not only saves energy but also improves indoor air quality. Because the spray polyurethane foam seals and blocks gaps in the roof and other areas of your home, it reduces outside air movement and keeps moisture and mold from entering. Mold and mildew can create toxic air for your family, causing breathing issues in the short term and severe respiratory illnesses in the long run. Spray foam insulation stops the problem at the source and prevents the spores from growing in your home, giving you cleaner indoor air for your entire family to enjoy.
Traditional fiberglass and cellulose insulation only function as an insulator. They don’t have a built-in air barrier and require an additional product to create an air seal. Spray foam insulation includes the insulation and an air seal in a single product, making it much more efficient than other options.
The spray-on foam can fill tiny gaps and spaces that other insulation can’t. This prevents air and moisture vapor from escaping your building, slowing or even stopping mildew and mold growth in high vapor-source areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. It also helps to limit the spread of pests and insects, making it a more effective way to control your indoor environment than other types of insulation.
In addition to preventing air leakage and reducing moisture, spray foam insulation promotes better indoor air quality by eliminating allergens and pollutants that can cause irritation in the short term and lead to serious health problems in the long run. The spray-on insulation and coating are free of toxic substances, such as isocyanates and polyurethanes, that can irritate the eyes, lungs, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract if inhaled or swallowed.
While these chemicals do off-gas during manufacturing, they are contained within a safe chemical reaction in the spraying process. This is why professional contractors wear respirators and set up ventilation during the spraying. The resulting off-gassing fumes are limited to a fixed amount, and once they dissipate, they don’t impact your home or business’s indoor air quality again.
While spray foam insulation is known for its energy efficiency benefits, it also offers superior soundproofing. As it is applied, it expands to fill even the smallest gaps and crevices, sealing them completely and creating a sound barrier between your home and the outside world. In addition, it also reduces noise generated within the home, such as blaring televisions or telephones.
This type of insulation is also a great option for soundproofing a room, such as a music studio or home theater. Closed-cell spray foam is more effective for this purpose than open-cell, but both are better than traditional batt insulation or other synthetic insulation materials.
To properly soundproof a home or commercial building, you need to have more than spray foam installed. You must also add other noise-reducing materials, such as acoustic ceiling tiles or soundproofing panels. In addition, it’s important to note that acoustic spray foam cannot stop all the noise from outside or between rooms. It will, however, significantly decrease it and make a space more quieter.
If you’re thinking of adding spray foam insulation to your home or business, you must choose a professional contractor. They will be able to apply it in even layers, and they’ll ensure that the finished product meets all building codes. In addition, they’ll know how to handle and work with the chemicals used to create spray foam.
For those considering DIY installation, it’s important to remember that spray foam insulation is flammable and requires special equipment. It’s also not as effective at reducing air leakage or blocking outside noise as other types of insulation, such as fiberglass and rock wool.
In many cases, homeowners who invest in energy-efficient insulation are eligible for rebates or tax credits. Check with your local government for more information.
Air leakage accounts for 25-40% of the energy used to heat and cool a home. Spray foam insulation creates an air seal that prevents conditioned air from escaping your home. As a result, your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, and you’ll save on energy bills.
In addition, the airtight seal created by spray foam insulation prevents moisture from entering walls and crawl spaces. This also reduces your need for dehumidifiers and can help you avoid costly repairs from water damage.
Spray foam isn’t just good for saving money on energy costs. It’s also a greener choice than fiberglass and cellulose insulation. The blowing agents used in traditional insulation have a global warming potential (GWP) of up to 1, while the HCFCs and HFCs in spray foam have a GWP of up to 3,400.
The flammability of HCFCs and HFCs has led to many states banning these chemicals in homes, commercial buildings, and other public facilities. Spray foam insulation made with HCFCs and HFCs is safer to install and has a lower GWP, which makes them better for the environment and your health.
The closed-cell nature of spray foam insulation prevents HCFCs and HFCs from leaching out of the insulation and into your home’s environment. In addition, open-cell spray foam insulation isn’t as sensitive to toxins as traditional insulation materials, and it doesn’t have the off-gassing associated with certain other types of insulation, such as polyurethane.
However, not all spray foams are created equal, and you should always work with an experienced contractor to ensure the type of spray foam installed in your home is safe for the whole family. The type of spray foam and the manufacturer both impact the toxicity of the material, so it’s important to know which materials are used and ask contractors what kind of toxins they use in their products.
In addition, you should have your attic and crawl space tested after spray foam installation. If a blower door test indicates that your attic is too humid and the moisture levels in your crawl space are too high, you may need to install a dehumidifier.
