Roofing and Building Center

Why Spray Foam Insulation is an Intelligent Choice

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement

Spray on foam insulation is becoming increasingly popular and for good reason. Although the initial costs may be higher than those associated with traditional insulation materials the benefits over a longer term period will almost certainly outweigh them. The major advantage in equipping your property with effective insulation is the money you will save by becoming more energy efficient. This will obviously benefit you financially as well as ensuring that your home is a more comfortable living environment for you and your family. Additionally you will also be helping to conserve the environment by reducing your energy consumption levels.

Benefits

One of the main advantages of using spray foam insulation is its ability to seal small cracks and gaps that traditional insulation materials such as fibreglass are not versatile enough to deal with. Because the insulation spray is delivered in liquid polyurethane form it is capable of filling small and hard to reach areas of any size before expanding and drying out to form a solid and durable product. Once you have sprayed foam insulation on an area you can be confident that it will be fully insulated against the elements. This includes preventing heat loss, helping to soundproof your walls and also eliminating unwanted substances such as water entering your home from the outside. This will greatly reduce the risk of any damage to your property which may be caused by mould or damp conditions. This could help you spare the costs of any mould or mildew removal or cleaning water damage in the future. As the foam is capable of keeping out water then it is of course extremely effective for preventing any insects from entering your property which can be a common problem with the many small gaps left uncovered by fibreglass insulation. Many of these smaller jobs can be completed by the homeowner using a DIY spray foam insulation kit.

Open and Closed Cell

You will need to think about the benefits of closed vs open cell spray foam insulation. The closed cell structure is considered to be highly superior for many reasons. It will create an effective vapour barrier as it is not penetrable by moisture. The structure is much stronger and will reinforce the surface which it insulates. One of the main advantages is that it has a higher R-value than the open cell spray foam insulation. The R-value is a measure used in construction to show the thermal resistance of a material. Higher values provide greater insulation and will keep heat inside an area for longer. Over time the higher R-value can substantially reduce the cost of heating a building.

DIY

If you are thinking of upgrading the insulation in your property yourself then there are many DIY spray foam insulation kits currently available. This could be a difficult task for someone who is not a professional contractor but smaller jobs can be performed by the average homeowner who has some experience in building or property maintenance. DIY spray foam insulation for homes is becoming more popular because of the initial cost of hiring professionals to carry out the work. You will however need to be certain that you have the necessary skills to complete the work first. Large insulation projects should not be carried out by persons without the correct training. If you do have some experience then you can consider completing minor insulation work in your own home. Do it yourself spray on foam insulation for metal buildings and other small structures can also be carried out by a property owner who is confident in his ability to complete the work.

You may be thinking about do it yourself sprayfoam insulation costs if you are not going to hire professionals to do the work. The necessary equipment can be expensive but DIY kits for the smallest jobs can be purchased at reasonable prices and will contain all of the necessary spray foam insulation equipment for homeowners to undertake the work themselves. It will still be a sensible idea to consult a professional before taking on any project yourself in order to gain an idea of what they will charge. It will often make more sense to use one of a number of spray foam insulation contractors even where you could save a small amount buy carrying out work yourself. Professional spray foam insulation equipment, experience and practices will often be worth the extra financial investment and will often be recommended for any work you may be thinking about which is non-standard such as DIY flat roof foam insulation or any large projects of any kind.