It’s incredible to think that in 2015 around 90 percent of homes in the U.S. were under-insulated. That means roughly 106 million homes at the time weren’t taking advantage of all the benefits that home insulation offers.
Some of the benefits of home insulation include lower power bills, a reduction in heat or cool air loss, and generally more overall comfort. But there are many types of insulation to consider.
In this guide, we take a look at spray foam insulation. We’ll explore what it’s made of, how it’s made, and how you can use it in your home to great effect! Read on to learn more about spray foam insulation.
What Is Spray Foam Insulation?
The spray foam we use for insulating homes is made from polyurethane. The reason why polyurethane is so good for insulation is that it can expand when you spray it.
With other forms of insulation, you may have to open up large aspects of your home to install it. However, with spray foam insulation, you can spray it through cracks or small holes that you drill to get the insulating effect you want.
How Does It Work?
To create the expanding polyurethane, manufacturers use two liquid substances that react when combined to create the expansion when sprayed. It’s typical that an isocyanate and polyol resin are the two substances that manufacturers use to make spray foam.
So when you buy spray foam, the two liquids will be separated in the spray gun. As soon as you spray the gun, you will release the liquids from their separate compartments, they’ll combine, and then expand.
How Long Has Spray Foam Been Around?
People started using spray foam in the 1970s. Yet, before its domestic use, the U.S. military made use of it in the manufacture of airplanes.
Polyurethane is a material that has an excellent heat resistance and can cope with exposure to harsh weather. This is why it is a material that was well-suited for airplane manufacture. However, these material properties are also great for home insulation purposes. Here are more details find out more.
Types of Spray Foam Insulation
There are two main types of spray foam for home insulation. These are closed-cell and open-cell varieties.
An insulation company will use a closed-cell foam if you wish to have a stronger R-value for every inch that they spray. Due to its low expansion, this foam is best suited for smaller structures.
More often, an insulation service will use an open-cell foam for your home, as it expands much more than the closed-cell type. It’s also much more pliable and lighter than the other foam, making it easier to use and more effective in larger spaces. For example, an insulation company may use this foam for attic insulation.
If you wish to see what a reputable home insulation service looks like, we recommend you check out Antheminsulation.com.
Spray Foam Insulation Explained
You should now have a much better idea of what spray foam insulation is all about. It’s an excellent insulator for your home that can save you loads of money in the long run, and even has sound-proofing properties!
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