Menu
Spray foam insulation, also known as spray polyurethane foam (SPF), is becoming a more popular and widely accepted insulation alternative. While fiberglass and other “batt-types” of insulation used to be the primary option for home insulation, installation could be challenging for some homes and hard-to-reach areas. Spray foam insulation was developed in the 1940s by the US military during World War II. At that time, they applied this high-efficiency insulation to airplanes. Three decades later, in the 1970s, this insulation alternative started to be used in homes. However, it wasn’t until recent years when spray foam insulation became sufficiently cost-effective to become a significant player in the insulation industry.
Almost all spray foam insulation is made from polyurethane foam, which is the same material that goes into soft furniture like couches, chairs, and Memory Foam mattresses. When properly applied, spray foam insulation offers excellent thermal insulation for homes due to its high R-value (how insulation capacity is measured). Spray foam insulation can be easily applied to hard-to-reach areas such as the corners of attics or low crawl spaces around your foundation. So, this insulation alternative can also minimize air infiltration by sealing your home’s building envelope.
One of the key benefits of spray foam insulation is its high thermal performance, which means it can help keep buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The insulation’s air-sealing properties also mean it can help prevent drafts and reduce the infiltration of outside air, resulting in lower energy costs.
Another advantage of spray foam insulation is its moisture resistance properties. The insulation forms a tight seal against the surface it is applied to, which can prevent moisture penetration and mold growth. The foam also has an added R-value per inch compared to traditional insulation materials such as fiberglass, so less thickness is needed to achieve the same insulating power.
Spray foam insulation is commonly used in new construction. Still, it can also be used to retrofit existing buildings, as long as the surface is prepared correctly and the insulation is applied by a well trained professional.
One of the great things about foam insulation is that it’s ideal for new and old homes.
If you are looking to insulate a new building, or upgrade an older one, the benefits of spray foam insulation are worth looking into.Even though this type of insulation is more expensive than other types, the benefits of foam spray insulation can actually save you money on your bills.
There are two different types of foam insulation.
Depending on your needs, you can pick from the open cell and closed cell spray foam.
Two Types of Foam Spray Insulation
One of the biggest benefits of foam spray insulation is the sturdiness that it adds to the structure of the house.Due to the fact that foam fills the cracks, it protects the structure from water even if a storm rips off the roof.
One of the unique abilities of spray foams is getting into small cracks and crevices. Once the foam is applied directly into the cracks, it expands and dries quickly while blocking air and water.
Foam insulation isn’t just a blockade for air and water, but for heat and cold as well.
Depending on where you live, foam insulation can help regulate your indoor temperatures to lower your cooling costs..
Even though foam insulation is more expensive than other types of insulation, it saves you money on bills in the long-term.
Have you ever wondered how the new neighborhood will be?
Our Eco spray foam can help reduce external noises by up to 80%! This could mean better sleep for you and your family. Open cell spray foam has the ability to significantly reduce noise of neighboring homes and their pets.
In commercial spaces spray foam can help reduce the noise of adjacent rooms or units.
Great for offices, meeting rooms, gyms and more!
One of the benefits of spray foam insulation is reducing the amount of pollen, or allergens that get through the walls.
Due to the fact that the foam reaches cracks and crevices, the air cannot penetrate the walls, as it does with other types of insulation. By reducing the number of allergens that get into the building, you help those who suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions. Less air getting in, fewer sneezes.
Offices insulated with spray foam insulation make workers happier and more productive. Insulation inside your home can save you money on medical bills too.
The tiny holes in your building structure are an open invitation to ants, bugs, and small rodents.
Fortunately, the small cracks and crevices can be filled with spray foam. Closed cell spray foam is your best bet if you are looking to create a barrier against the tiny intruders.
Once the spray foam gets into the small crevices, it gets hard. A hard barrier deters rodents, and the insects.By keeping away insects and rodents, you are also reducing the chances of getting sick from rodent waste.
Both open cell and closed cell foam insulation prevent moisture from entering through the walls of your building.
Even though both types of foam reduce the buildup of condensation, the closed cell spray foam works like a barrier against large quantities of water.
The less water gets through your walls, the smaller the risk of developing health issues due to mold and mildew.
Utilizing spray foam on areas where internal and external temperature differences meet will effectively stop condensation from forming inside your space. Moisture inside your space will create mold.
Due to its density and hardness, closed cell insulation can actually strengthen the structure of your walls.
Every building is built after a code that requires the walls to meet a minimum load bearing standard to hold the building together. However, the minimum standard doesn’t take mother nature into consideration.Strong winds, heavy snow, and earthquakes can be quite a challenge.
One of the benefits of spray foam insulation is that it gets everywhere and it holds everything together as a strong glue.
Insulating your roof area with closed foam might save your roof during storms.
The additional layer of protection to your walls can increase the value of your building.
Fiberglass and Styrofoam insulation aren’t long-term solutions. Fiberglass sags and bunch, while Styrofoam breaks over the years. These types of insulation need to be replaced over time.
On the other hand, spray foam insulation doesn’t sag or break over extended periods of time.
Even though the initial investment is larger, spray foam saves you money in the long-term.
A GREEN SOLUTION
Spray foam reduces energy consumption and protects your building against mold and mildew growth. Since it’s longer lasting than any other type of insulation, it consumes less materials.
The benefits of spray foam insulation should make everyone consider it, no matter if their building is new or old. Even though the initial investment is bigger than other types of insulation, it actually saves you money on your bills because with our hot and humid Philippine climate – protects it from heat and moisture.
The closed cell type adds sturdiness to your walls and increases your building’s value. Additionally, it keeps you safe during strong winds, heavy rain, and earthquakes.
We are working with architects and engineers that want to incorporate this material into eco green builds. Our Eco spray foam can be incorporated into buildings that are constructed of all materials to make them energy efficient, stronger against inclement weather and healthier to live in.
If you want to insulate your building or home, or ask any questions, feel free to contact us.
Yes, spray foam insulation in your home can help you save money on your energy bills. The high thermal performance of spray foam insulation means that it can keep your home or building cool all year long, resulting in lower cooling costs. Additionally, the insulation’s air-sealing properties can help prevent drafts and reduce the infiltration of outside air, leading to lower energy costs.
The effectiveness of insulation is usually measured by its R-value, which measures a material’s resistance to heat flow. Spray foam insulation has a higher R-value per inch than traditional insulation materials such as fiberglass.
This means you need less thickness of spray foam insulation to achieve the same level of insulation as with traditional insulation materials. It will help you save space in your walls and ceilings, which can be helpful mainly if you have limited room for insulation.
While spray foam insulation can be more expensive to install than traditional insulation materials, long-term energy savings can compensate for the initial cost. Additionally, because of its air-sealing properties and moisture resistance, it can also help prevent drafts, reduce mold growth and improve indoor air quality, which can result in additional savings and health benefits.
In today’s evolving world of construction and home improvement, insulation stands out as an essential component. Its significance ranges from providing energy efficiency to soundproofing and ensuring consistent comfort. Among the various materials available, polyurethane insulation emerges as a top contender due to its unmatched versatility and superior efficiency. In this detailed exploration, we’ll uncover the multifaceted applications of polyurethane insulation and shed light on the myriad benefits it brings to the table.
Understanding Spray Foam/Polyurethane Insulation
When we speak of polyurethane, we are referring to a specialized type of plastic. This material is commonly found in a range of forms, from foams to liquids and sprays. Its role as an insulating medium is often executed in foam form, either shaped into rigid panels or applied as a spray-on foam. The distinctive cellular structure and the unique chemistry of polyurethane grant it impressive insulation properties, often outperforming several of the conventional insulation materials that have been used historically.
Home and Residential Applications
One of the primary arenas where polyurethane insulation proves its mettle is within residential settings. For homeowners keen on elevating their home’s energy efficiency, introducing polyurethane insulation can be transformational. By adeptly insulating walls, roofs, and even floors with this potent material, they can dramatically reduce heat transfer. This reduction translates to decreased energy demands for activities like heating in winter or cooling during summer months. Consequently, not only does this culminate in substantial savings on utility bills, but it also amplifies the comfort quotient of homes.
In addition to these thermal benefits, the dense nature of polyurethane serves another purpose. It acts as a formidable sound barrier. Whether the aim is to minimize external noises from bustling streets or ensure that the vibrant cacophonies of domestic life remain within the home’s confines, this insulation is exceptionally effective.
Industrial and Commercial Buildings
Moving beyond individual homes, the value of polyurethane insulation extends to commercial and even industrial establishments. In these environments, the focus frequently extends beyond mere thermal insulation. In an industrial backdrop, achieving and maintaining a specific temperature can often be of paramount importance. Think of a warehouse storing temperature-sensitive goods or a production facility where even slight temperature variances can compromise product integrity. In such scenarios, polyurethane insulation emerges as a savior, offering a consistent and stable environment.
Moreover, commercial spaces, given their expansive nature, often underscore the need for impeccable energy efficiency. The sheer volume of space that requires heating or cooling means that any insulation inefficiencies can lead to soaring operational costs. With polyurethane insulation in place, commercial entities can realize remarkable energy savings.
Refrigeration and Cold Storage
The realm of refrigeration and cold storage presents unique challenges. Imagine the consequences of inadequate insulation in a facility storing perishable items. The repercussions would be twofold: enormous energy wastage and potential product spoilage. Polyurethane insulation, with its stellar performance metrics, is ideally suited for refrigeration units and expansive cold storage warehouses. Its unparalleled capability to sustain consistently low temperatures without any efficiency compromises positions it as the preferred choice for this vital industry.
Suspended Ceilings
Suspended ceilings, often seen in commercial spaces, offices, and some modern homes, provide an elegant solution for concealing electrical wiring, air conditioning ducts, and other utilities, all while maintaining easy access for maintenance. But beyond their aesthetic and functional attributes, there’s a potential for enhanced insulation, and that’s where polyurethane comes into play. When incorporating polyurethane insulation above a suspended ceiling, one can achieve multiple benefits. First, there’s the thermal advantage. By adding this layer of insulation, the space beneath the ceiling remains more consistent in temperature, reducing the burden on heating or cooling systems. It also minimizes the chance for condensation build up that is common in commercial buildings.
This is especially significant in larger spaces where even minor changes in insulation can have a profound impact on energy costs. Installing spray foam insulation in between the levels of your home or business minimizes the noise transfer between floors. Commercial spaces and offices often struggle with noise pollution, be it from external sources or internal echoes. A layer of polyurethane insulation can dampen these sounds, creating a quieter, more productive environment. Given the ease of installation and the adaptability of polyurethane foam, integrating it with suspended ceilings becomes a seamless process, offering both form and function.
Spray foam insulation also minimizes the chance for condensation build up that is common in commercial buildings. Sometimes the adjacent units have different temperatures which cause moisture inside one or both units which leads to mold growth that is often hidden.
Warehouses
Warehouses, given their vast expanses and volume, present a unique set of challenges when it comes to insulation. These structures are often tasked with storing goods in optimal conditions, be it electronics that require a moisture-free environment or food products needing specific temperatures. Polyurethane insulation emerges as a frontrunner in addressing these needs. Due to its superior thermal properties, walls and roofs of warehouses insulated with polyurethane can maintain more stable internal temperatures. In regions experiencing extremes of weather, be it sweltering summers or freezing winters, this insulation ensures the inside of the warehouse remains relatively unaffected. This stability is crucial, especially when considering the costs associated with temperature-controlled goods storage.
Additionally, given the scale of many warehouses, energy costs can skyrocket without effective insulation. Polyurethane insulation, with its excellent R-values (a measure of thermal resistance), ensures that the energy expended in climate-controlling the warehouse is minimized, leading to significant savings in the long run. Lastly, considering many warehouses are hubs of activity with loading, unloading, and machinery operation, the sound-dampening qualities of polyurethane insulation can help in reducing noise pollution, making the working environment safer and more comfortable for personnel.
Retrofitting and Home Renovation
As homeowners and property managers become increasingly aware of energy conservation, the retrofitting of existing structures has gained prominence. Polyurethane insulation plays a pivotal role in such renovations. Its spray application allows it to seamlessly fit into existing walls, roofs, and floors, filling gaps and crevices without the need for extensive structural modifications. This makes it an ideal choice for older homes that may not have been originally built with energy efficiency in mind. By retrofitting with polyurethane insulation, homeowners can breathe new life into their homes, improving comfort and drastically cutting down on energy consumption, all while preserving the architectural integrity of their cherished abodes.
Removing old insulation and replacing it with spray foam insulation is possible. The process of removing old insulation will depend on the type of insulation that is currently in place. For example, if the insulation is in batts or blown-in cellulose, it can be removed by pulling it out by hand or with a vacuum.
It’s important to note that removing old insulation can be a messy and time-consuming process, and it can also release fibers or particles that can be harmful to inhale. Thus, it’s essential to consider hiring a professional insulation contractor with proper protective gear and equipment to handle this process.
When the old insulation is removed, the area should be inspected for any signs of damage, such as water infiltration or mold growth. Any issues should be addressed before the new insulation is installed. Spray foam insulation should only be installed by trained and licensed professionals, as it involves spraying a chemical mixture that expands and hardens to form a solid foam.
It is important to note that, before installing any new insulation, ensure that any electrical wiring, ductwork and other infrastructure is adequately sealed or moved out of the way to avoid damage. A professional insulation contractor will have the experience to handle this process and ensure that the new insulation is installed correctly and efficiently.
