Emerald City Spray Foam

What is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation is the most significant advancement in the insulation sector since the
advent of fiberglass in the 1950s. Spray foam insulation enables us to build more energy-efficient and pleasant houses while lowering homeowners’ heating and cooling bills. Spray foam insulation may be used to cover gaps in walls (wall insulation), making it extremely effective at minimizing air loss. It may also be used for attic insulation and crawl space insulation.

Spray foam insulation is a two-part spray-applied polyurethane foam that is sprayed using a mobile rig that combines two chemical components that control pressure and temperature when the insulation is sprayed. It has good thermal and air management properties, sound attenuation, a high R-value, and increases the structural strength of the building on which it is put. It is a favored all-in-one high performance construction solution for builders due to its ability
to deliver on all of these performance features in a single product rather than a mixture of numerous items.

Spray foam insulation is available in a variety of formulas tailored to specific uses across all building types, including exterior and roof insulation, continuous insulation, interior cavity fill, and both vented and unvented attic fill. Contact the Emerald City Spray Foam office closest to you now to find out whether spray foam insulation is a suitable fit for your application!

Spray foam has distinct advantages. Here's what spray foam can offer:

Air Barrier: Spray foam seals and insulates in a single process. Its capacity to expand and fill gaps and holes makes it a great air-sealing substance, and its super-adhesive abilities keep it in place. Prior to filling an attic with blow-in insulation, spray foam is frequently used as an air-sealing treatment. However, when sprayed in greater quantities, it can obviate the need for other forms of insulation.

Waterproof: Moisture will seep through fiberglass and cellulose insulation, but polyurethane spray foam will keep it at bay. Because of its closed cell structure, water cannot transfer from one small cell or bubble to another.

Foolproof: Did you know that a void (missing insulation) of merely 5% of an insulated area can reduce overall insulation effectiveness by up to 50%? Because it is extremely difficult to install fiberglass insulation precisely, voids are widespread. However, the expanding, super-sticky properties of spray foam almost exclude the likelihood of cavities. And, once cured, the foam will not settle or shift like fiberglass or cellulose.

BENEFITS OF SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

Spray foam insulation surpasses all other types of insulation by a wide margin since the long-term advantages much surpass the installation expenses. Spray foam insulation stays in place and is less expensive than having your walls covered with fiberglass, which can flatten with time. Spray foam also has exceptional sealing characteristics and is eco-friendly.

Spray foam is a type of insulation made mostly of polyurethane and blowing agents. It expands when applied to cover irregular holes in ways that premade fiberglass batts cannot. The removal of gaps and breaches on the building’s façade will significantly lower the internal heating and cooling load. Fuel and power expenses might be lowered by up to 50% depending on the age of the building.

Spray foam, unlike cellulose or fiberglass, does not settle and lose its R-value over time. Because the material is naturally fire resistant, no chemicals are used during the production process that may disperse with age. Fiberglass batts are notoriously difficult to work with, and installers are sometimes obliged to either overlook irregular cracks or insulate the space
enough. This is especially true in cavities where plumbing pipes and electrical boxes are housed. The resultant penetrations provide a convenient channel for undesired air intrusion. Because cured foam is incredibly hard, it gives structural support to the building.

EXCELLENT INSULATION PROTECTION

Spray foam insulation materials cannot be judged just by their R-value. While typical fiberglass insulation can only guard against conduction-related heating and cooling loss, spray foam insulation protects against all six pathways of heating and cooling loss.

Spray foam insulation protects against:

CONDUCTION: Heat transmission through materials that come into touch with insulation

CONVECTION: The circulation of hot and cold air within your walls

RADIATION: Heat transmission through your walls and roof

AIR INFILTRATION: The transmission of heat between the exterior and interior of a building by air movement.

MOISTURE ACCUMULUTATION: Moisture in the insulation causes heat loss or gain.

AIR INTRUSION: The circulation of outside air into and out of your home.

In all of these cases, spray foam provides appropriate protection against heating and cooling
losses. It also hardens after drying, giving your walls structural stability.

FRIENDLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

No hazardous particles are emitted into the air when spray foam insulation is installed in your house. This makes the installation procedure more secure and straightforward. Furthermore, spray foam does not hold moisture and does not promote the formation of mold and mildew. Spray foam protects your walls from long-term damage and provides some protection from water damage.

Spray foam insulation is often referred to be a greener choice by contractors who are pleased with its effectiveness. The closed-cell foam may quadruple the strength of your walls and function as a glue, keeping your roof and sheathing in place during intense winds.

EASY TO APPLY

One significant advantage of spray foam insulation is its ease of installation. Spray foam insulation is fast displacing fiberglass insulation, which was formerly favored. Spray foam is simple to apply in pre-existing walls as well as in difficult-to-reach areas.

Spray foam insulation installers love it as well since it saves time. To seal and insulate, only one application of spray foam is necessary. Because spray foam does not settle, there is no need to reapply it.

PROTECTION AGAINST DAMAGE

Spray foam insulation can help safeguard your property since it is resistant to insects, water, and fire. Its strong sealing qualities and mildew resistance provide valuable water damage prevention, making it an especially great option for basements.

EFFECTIVENESS IN TERMS OF THE COST

Insulation’s R-value refers to its resistance to heat flow. High R-values might keep more heat out of your home. For most dwellings, an R-value of around 38 is necessary.

While foam spray has an R-value of 6 per inch, fiberglass only has an R-value of roughly 2.2 per inch. In other words, more fiberglass would be required than spray foam to achieve the needed 38 R-value. This would make fiberglass insulation installation more costly than spray foam insulation.

SAFETY OF SPRAY FOAM INSULATION INSTALLATION

Spray foam installation necessarily involves knowledge of all elements of safety compliance, including a safe job site, correct PPE, equipment start-up and maintenance, foam inspection, and more. Professionals and technicians must also be able to measure the temperatures of materials, substrates, and buildings. Mastering all of these safety issues is vital to occupational safety. The drying time for spray foam insulation after installation ranges from 8 to 24 hours.

What is the cost of spray foam insulation?

Before deciding on spray foam or another kind of insulation, it’s critical to understand the advantages of spray foam over traditional materials. When compared to fiberglass batts, spray foam provides about double the R-value per inch, accomplishes air-sealing and insulation in one step, is not affected by mold or moisture, and does not settle, compress, or otherwise be damaged to the point that it requires replacement.

Spray foam insulation is normally priced by volume, which means your cost will be determined by how much material you need to insulate your area, however other factors may also impact pricing. In most circumstances, the expense of spray foam insulation is more than worth it because it is a one-time investment that not only saves energy but also improves the general comfort of your house.

A spray foam professional insulator should apply spray foam.

It takes practice to get the hang of spraying spray foam, particularly two-part foams. Because of its varying expansion rates and other characteristics, it is difficult for someone without experience to get the most out of this material. A high-expanding foam, for example, may harm a door or window jamb, but our expertise and knowledge can prevent this. Spray foam can be wasteful and messy at times, but our highly trained professionals know how to get the job done right the first time! Cold temperatures have an effect on the chemistry that generates foaming. Spray foam cans or two-part foam canisters must be kept within a certain temperature range for optimal application.

CHECK FOR EMERALD CITY SPRAY FOAM INSULATION NEAR YOU

Emerald City Spray Foam’s local insulation contractors can assist you in advising, planning, and securely carrying out your spray foam insulation job. Emerald City Spray Foam is a prominent provider of insulation and other services in the Washington region and the Seattle area. Our skilled spray foam insulation experts are eager to assist you with your next job. So why settle for less when Emerald City Spray Foam can give you more? Get a free spray foam insulation quotation from an Emerald City Spray Foam location near you now.