Spray foam is an insulation material made of plastic or polyurethane foam. Spray foam insulation installation can be adjusted to anyone’s requirements. The foam’s semi-solid characteristic makes it ideal for roofing, pipework, and other solid structures in a building. Despite spraying as a liquid, this foam is non-porous and flexible, making it a popular choice for wall and roofing insulation. It is also lightweight, making it ideal for docks, ships, and boat floatation. Due to its strength, it is also used in various industrial applications like walk-in freezers and airplanes.
Types of Spray Foam
There are two primary types of spray foam used today. They are – Open Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam and Closed Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam.
Open Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam
The open-cell polyurethane spray foam is popularly used for insulation. It is ideal for residential applications like roof, underfloor, and wall insulations. It is considerably cheaper than closed-cell spray foam and offers some of the same benefits. It is made of just heated and sprayed plastic. It has a lower R-value per inch and requires a high foam volume within a cavity to reach code requirements.
Closed Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam
The closed-cell polyurethane spray foam is popular because of the multiple cells that create the foam. They are almost impenetrable to moisture; therefore, they can handle mold-related issues. Closed-cell spray foam is made of a two-part plastic that expands to roughly 50-100 times its size when heated and sprayed. Any foam weighing over 24 kg is considered closed-cell spray foam.
Where is Spray Foam Used?
Spray foam has many industrial and domestic uses. It can be used in buildings, refrigerator units, and large transports. It is effective as a floatation device, an adhesive for packaging and construction, and an insulation material for venues like movies, spas, and theater sets. For domestic purposes, spray foam can be used in attics, roofs, foundations, facades, internal walls, ceilings, cellars, and storerooms. It can also be used on a building’s structural elements like arcades, balconies, window slopes, doors, conduits and pipes, tanks, and uneven surfaces. The foam can also be used in vehicle trailers, vehicle bodies, container sheds and carriers, garages and parking lots, yachts, boats, and crafts.
How is Spray Foam Applied?
It is comparatively easy to apply spray foam. The Nozzle A is firmly fixed on the application gun’s top for vertical floors. There should be no clearance between the gun and the nozzle. Any clearance between the two will cause leakage during the application process. The can is then shaken at least 20 times. The application gun is then fixed to the can by opening the upper lid of the cap. You can adjust the application pressure by loosening the screw behind the gun. Typically under normal conditions, the screw should be wound up till the end. Once ready, the foam is applied rapidly at an average distance of 40-45 cm from the surface. Anything more or less from this can cause problems. Getting closer to the surface where the foam is applied will increase the thickness of the application. The ideal application thickness should be 1.5cm on a single layer. The heat and sound insulation value will decrease if the application is thicker. Therefore, you should apply three overlapping layers of 1.5cm thickness. If the application is applied from a distance of more than 40-45cms, the thickness will decrease, thereby increasing consumption.
To apply the spray foam to the ceiling, you must remove nozzle A from the tip of the gun and fix nozzle B. While the gun and the product will be held vertically, nozzle B will spray the product onto the ceiling. The spray foam should be applied from an average distance of 15-20cm from the ceiling.
Benefits of Insulation Spray Foam
Spray foam is most useful in countries that have cold climates. Home and business owners prefer convenient insulation to ensure comfort. Spray foam offers strong water, heat, and sound insulation. Below are some of its benefits:
Improves the Comfort of your Home
Whether you are renovating your existing building or constructing a new one, spray foam can be beneficial for insulation. It has a high R-value and air barrier properties that enable it to fill holes and gaps that may otherwise be tough to seal. As a result, your home will feel comfortable, regardless of the weather conditions.
Increases Energy Efficiency and Reduces Energy Bills
Spray foam can help reduce your energy bills through reduced heat loss or gain. It eliminates air leaks and improves your home’s energy efficiency.
Controls Moisture
Open and closed cell spray foam act as a moisture vapor barrier. It seals air leaks and gaps and prevents condensation and humidity from entering a building. As a result, it can also help prevent mold formation.
Durable
Spray foam helps make your building more durable. Fewer moisture-related issues will lead to stronger buildings. Medium-density, closed-cell spray foam can also help strengthen wall assemblies by increasing their racking strength.
Flexible
Spray foam provides design flexibility while building homes. It can expand to fill crevices, cavities, and gaps that may not be easily accessible, letting you get creative with your building design.
Other Advantages of Spray Foam
- Because of its high insulation properties, spray foam can absorb sound and offer a peaceful space.
- After being cured, it is extremely resistant to various solvents like thinners and acetone, providing water insulation to buildings.
Is Spray Foam the Preferred Form of Insulation?
Many homes have been using traditional products like cellulose and fiberglass for insulation. However, though effective, these materials also retain and absorb moisture, leading to mold and mildew growth. Their porous characteristics also cause leaks, making air conditioning and heating ineffective. Spray foam eliminates all these issues and provides a stronger and more durable insulation option for buildings, making it a preferred mode of insulation.
Houston spray foam insulation applications for residences and commercial buildings. Our insulation is non-toxic and keeps your building from moisture-related problems like mold and mildew.
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First Defense Insulation,
12 Greenway Plaza Suite 1147,
Houston Texas 77046,
713-808-9853
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