Category: Blog

Spray Foam Insulation

Open Cell vs. Closed Cell Foam: Which Should I Choose?

Posted on | by John Blackwelder

Open-cell foam is a spray foam in which cellular structure is not completely encapsulated. That is, they are left open on purpose to make the material more flexible. Closed foam, on the other hand, has completely closed cells that make them more rigid. In case you are not sure of which Houston spray foam insulation option to go for, we have listed the major differences between the two below.

What Are The Differences?

The difference between open-cell spray foam and closed-cell spray foam is that the latter is more rigid than the former. However, these two materials also differ in density, cell structure, expansion, R-value, and Cost. These differences make one more preferable than the other for certain projects.

Cell Structure

As mentioned above, the difference between closed-cell spray foam and open-cell spray foam is that the former has completely encapsulated cells, and the latter does not. Open-cell foams tend to have room inside each cell that is somewhat like little air bubbles. This makes them relatively softer and more flexible. As a result of the cell structure of an open-cell, it will retain less than 5% of the water that comes in contact with it and dry up naturally afterward. On the other hand, Closed Cell Foam has no space in their cells to retain air or moisture. The rigidity of a closed-cell also helps the structural integrity of the building.

Density

Due to the cell structure of closed-cell foam, it is much denser than open-cell foam. The density of a Closed-cell spray foam insulation is enough to prevent drafts, protect it from air movement, and trap regulated temperatures. Its higher density also helps prevent and slow down the growth of molds. It does this by reducing the level of humidity. On the other hand, open-cell foams have a density of about 0.5 pounds per cubic foot, which is about three times less than the value of closed-cell foams.

R-Value

The R-value of spray foam is determined by how well the material insulates, that is, its ability to resist the flow of heat. Closed-cell foam has a higher R-value than open-cell foams, which makes them more suited for extreme temperatures. In terms of expansion, an open-cell can expand up to 120 times its original size because of its lower density. A closed-cell, on the other hand, can only expand up to 33 times its original size.

Cost

Due to the chemical makeup of the two cell foams and their expansion rates, it may be more expensive to use closed-cell foam. This is because you will need more of it to cover up a larger space.

So Which Insulation Should I Use?

Your choice of spray foam is usually determined by your budget, insulation goals, the location of the house, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, if you need more help choosing the right insulation for your current project, visit https://fdinsulation.com/attic-insulation/spray-foam/.

First Defense Insulation

713-808-9853

11715 Anderson Road

Willis Texas 77318

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Attic Insulation Houston, Tx

Under Insulated Home- Problems That Can Occur

Posted on | by John Blackwelder

 

 

Did you know that 90% of homes in the United States have insufficient insulation?

 

A problem we see quite often in homes across the greater Houston area is insufficient insulation, and even on the rare occasion there is enough insulation, it’s usually installed incorrectly. Here are a few issues caused by improperly or insufficiently installed insulation especially for crawl space insulation in Houston.

 

High Electric bills

 

When a home is not air sealed and insulated properly, the air that you paid to condition is constantly leaking out of the home through various penetrations in a process commonly referred to as stack effect.  As the air in your home warms slightly and begins to rise, it escapes through various cracks and gaps in the ceiling that are sometimes unable to be seen because of the fiberglass materials covering them up.  As that air leaves the home, so does the money in your wallet that you paid to cool that air.  This process makes the homes mechanicals work twice as hard to heat or cool new outside air. Customers often complain that their HVAC units run almost all day and never shut off.  A/C units running all day equals waisted money. 

 

Hot or cold rooms

 

Have you ever notices a room that always stays hot or cold from other room in your home depending on the time of year? This is a definite sign of insufficient or improperly installed insulation. In addition to insulation issues, improperly air sealed homes will further the A/C unit to continualluy run. Air that is leaking out all the cracks and gaps it can find, can cause a home to depressurize. If air escaping from the home wasn’t bad enough, when Texas summer attic temperatures rang from 125-155° F with insufficient insulation- imagine how much heat gain comes into the homes. One of our recent customers had a room on the opposite end of their homes that count not maintain temperature like the other rooms. What we found were ceiling penetrations with no air sealing, improper and low insulation in the attic above the room, and the HVAC ductwork not insulated properly. This customer’s uncomfortable room was leaking air out and taking in heat gain from an under insulated attic. To make matters worse, this room was directly below the low sloped portion of the roof, which caused the HVAC ductwork to be crammed in-between the roof decking and ceiling of the room. With under insulated ducts, the HVAC system was sending cold air through an over “attic” before distributing the air to the room. First Defense Insulation was able to fix the customers uncomfortable room. If you are experiencing an uncomfortable home or rooms that wont heat or cool, contact us. 

Poor Air Quality

 

In the words of Isaac Newton, “what goes up must come down”, so in a home, what goes out must have a way to come back in such as allergens and pollutants.  This is quite bad for people with sensitive allergies.  Once we can air seal and insulate properly we can then create a much safer air quality in your home.

 

Although there are many more issues that come with under insulated home, these are just a few that we come across quite often.  If you are experiencing any of these issues from your home being under insulated give First Defense Insulation a call today to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

How Often Should You Replace the Attics Insulation?

Posted on | by John Blackwelder

The average homeowner rarely checks what’s happening in the attic and it will be easy to neglect whatever is going up there. This shouldn’t be the case as problems with the attic could also interfere with the roofing structure. If you notice that there has been an increase in energy bills, it could be time to look for an attic insulation contractor to do the replacement. There are signs that your insulation needs to be replaced that will be hard to ignore.

How Often Should The Insulation of the Attic Be Replaced?

It is important that you’re inspecting the insulation in place, especially if you live in an old home. There are some situations that will warrant the replacement to be done sooner. This is particularly true if the installation was not done right. That is why it is imperative that you’re getting an experienced attic insulation contractor for the job.
There are a couple of tale-tale signs that your attic needs to be replaced and they include:
High energy bills: This is one of the main signs that there is a problem with the attic’s insulation. Aging insulation will not be effective in deflecting heat. Doing minor repairs might not cut it anymore when the insulation is worn out.
Problems with heating and cooling: Blasting the AC or the heater for the house to cool and warm respectively will be a sign that attic insulation needs to be replaced.
Mold insulation: The presence of mold in the insulation will be a warning sign of the condition of the attic. This is already a health hazard and you wouldn’t want the mold to spread to other parts of the house as it could trigger allergic reactions and interfere with the comfort in your home.
Drafts: The presence of cold drafts will be a sign that air is getting inside your home and the insulation or lack of air sealing isn’t doing a good job keeping it out.

Types of Insulation

Once you’ve decided to insulate the attic, you’ll be faced with a couple of options when it comes to the choice of insulation:

Batt Insulation: It is made from fiberglass and is used in homes and commercial buildings.

Blown-In Insulation: This type of insulation is a loose-fill blown material.

Spray Foam: This type of insulation is a customer favorite, known for superior r-value and the ability to achieve an air barrier. Spray foam also is a great choice for hard-to-reach areas thus making it ideal for attic insulation.

If you’re adding insulation for the first time or would want to replace the existing one, it is crucial that you’re getting the right contractor for the job. The project will need to be done right the first time so that you’re not spending money on unnecessary repairs down the line. If you suspect there could be an issue with the attic insulation, First Defense Insulation will be more than willing to do the inspection for you. To get started, visit https://fdinsulation.com/

First Defense Insulation
Phone: 713-808-9853
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