Insulation FAQs

Spray foam insulation is a malleable insulation and air barrier material that is sprayed into open wall, floor and ceiling cavities and seals them against air movement. Unlike conventional insulation materials, spray foam fills cracks, gaps and crevices on installation. This also prevents mold growth. Maintains your temperature control so your home will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It won't compress, sag or settle over time.

For a general sense of what spray foam insulation costs, if you choose an open-cell spray foam insulation product, the cost can be roughly about $0.45 to $0.75 per board foot. For closed-cell spray foam insulation, the cost is roughly $1.00 to $1.50 per board foot (depending on the scope of the project) It's important to note that although the initial investment of spray foam insulation is higher than that of batt or blown insulation, the benefits of spray foam insulation far exceed any other insulation choice today. In fact, spray foam insulation is generally considered to give a higher return on investment over the life of the building, because it insulates and air-seals in one application. Spray foam insulation will help your heating and air conditioning system to work more efficiently. Since spray foam insulation helps regulate your temperature throughout your entire home or building, your HVac temperature will not drop or rise dramatically every time it's turned on/off. Your initial investment in spray foam insulation is paid back through compound energy savings, indefinitely. Sprayed polyurethane foam has an aged R-value of approximately 6.0 per 1 inch thickness (depending on the particular formulation and application, higher values have been achieved), enabling it to provide more thermal resistance with less material than any other type of commercial insulation material. SPF systems are frequently used to insulate and protect a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Some homeowners report monthly energy savings after a spray foam retrofit. Actual savings depend on the building, the equipment and how it is used, so we do not quote a figure without modelling the specific property.

It depends on the density of the foam. Open-cell spray foam is not waterproof or water-resistant. However, closed-cell spray foam is water-resistant.

Yes, spray foam insulation is considered flammable. No matter what a salesperson may try to convince you of, all foam plastic materials must be considered flammable in accordance with the IBC (international building code). However, it's important to note that different manufacturers of spray foam insulation offer different levels of flammability. We at Premier Spray Foam Insulation work with you (our client) to ensure you're informed of your spray foam insulation choices, and how we plan to install the insulation in you property, and what type of spray foam insulation would best fit your needs, based on your property type. Since SPF acts as an air barrier, it also helps to reduce moisture infiltration, which is a source of dangerous mold and mildew growth in the home, and can cause severe health problems to its occupants. So save your family and save money at the same time with SPF home insulation systems. Moisture infiltration can also cause structural damage to your home or building.

In the United States, an R-Value is a measurement of thermal resistance. An insulation product with a higher R-Value provides more effective barriers against heat loss. This means greater energy efficiency and cost savings, because you're using your heating & cooling (HVac) systems less and less. However, no matter what type of insulation you choose, proper installation is the most important factor.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation has one of the highest R-Values of any insulation type, with an R-value of roughly R-6.0 to R-7.0 per inch depending on the product, as opposed to lesser expensive alternatives, e.g. fiberglass or cellulose. In the instance of value for insulation, you get exactly what you pay for, and Closed-Cell Spray Foam is worth every penny.

We do not recommend it. In fact, we're pretty adamant about our potential customers seeking out a professional for the installation of spray foam insulation, as extensive knowledge, training, and experience is required. If you're not careful, and you're inexperienced, you can drastically ruin the property you're spraying, by either over-spraying, or under-spraying, causing immediate, or future problems, which can prove to be a significant health risk, and financially detrimental. Spray foam insulation expands rapidly, and sticks to everything, so it needs to be applied in a timely manner, in a controlled environment. Spray foam insulation also exudes harmful off-gassing at close proximity, which you need to be properly dressed for. Ultimately, most home and business owners are not sufficiently trained to install spray foam, and are more than happy to call upon Premier Spray Foam Co for their insulation needs.

For noise dampening, any low-density spray foam insulation will work, however, open-cell spray foam is one of the better products for sound control. Applying sprayed polyurethane foam as a sound barrier, however, differs slightly from applying the product strictly as an insulation material. When used strictly as insulation, effective spots to insulate for thermal efficiency include rim joists, attics, and crawl spaces, as well as the traditional wall application. Sound-barrier spray-foam products should be applied to interior walls throughout areas that typically produce excess noise as noted by the property owner, these can often be interior walls rather than exterior assemblies and even in between floors. Working in conjunction with the building occupant to identify the specific areas where noise control is important to them is a critical part of the process to ensure the best result.

Spray Foam Insulation is commonly referred to as SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam), and is comprised of two liquids; an "A" side and a "B" side. The "A" side of a spray polyurethane system is usually comprised of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI). The "B" side is typically a blend of polyols, catalysts, blowing agent, flame retardant, and surfactant, although the chemical compounds vary per manufacturer. The "A" side & "B" side chemicals come in separate drums, and when combined, a chemical reaction forms the polyurethane spray foam.

At this point, you might be still be trying to decipher which type of foam insulation is right for your project. Here's a quick summary of open cell vs closed cell foam strengths and the best applications for each: Benefits of Closed Cell Foam Closed cell foam is the best choice for robust insulating where space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cell inside a standard wall. Its rigid nature also adds to the structural integrity of the building and E84 fire rated versions are available. The closed cell also acts as a vapor barrier, so water and moisture will be less likely to get inside the home, and the foam itself is unharmed by water damage. Benefits of Open Cell Foam One of the biggest benefits of open cell foam is that it expands so much after it has been applied, meaning it can insulate hard to reach nooks and crannies in a home. These types of areas can be hard to insulate with closed cell foam. Open cell foam is excellent for soundproofing where a single application can completely fill the area between studs. Open cell foam is also much more affordable than closed cell foam, however this foam won't insulate a house as well as closed cell foam, so it's not ideal for locations with extreme weather temperatures.

Ultimately, it depends on where a house is located, what the insulation goals are, and of course how big the budget is. Need some more help deciding between open cell vs closed cell foam?

Your house is breathing. Your house isn't being built from the ground up with all the insulation in it being foam. If it was yes you would need to have an HVAC contractor install an air exchange, to recycle the air inside the home. A home built today with the current codes and building standards would have an air exchanger installed at time of construction to allow for the home to breathe. This home….. Currently, is breathing too much, due to the construction of it and the energy codes that were in place at the time of its construction.