Why is Spray Foam better than blown-in fiberglass or batt insulation?

In theory fiberglass is the perfect insulation; it is inexpensive, easy to install and readily available. Unfortunately the down side to fiberglass is it does not provide an air seal, when used alone fiberglass allows warm air to leak out of your home through the walls and ceiling. Spray Foam insulation is sprayed in as a liquid quickly expanding and sealing the homes building envelop, this prevents the warm air inside our homes from leaking through to the outside.

Can Spray Foam only be used in new construction?

Spray foam is a very versatile insulation and can be used in many applications in both new and old construction. If you have a project in mind feel free to contact DMT Foam with any questions.

How much does Spray Foam Insulation cost compared to other insulation?

Although the initial cost of Spray Foam Insulation can seem significant we cannot compare it to other traditional insulations. When using Spray Foam Insulation not only do you get a great R-value per inch but more significantly you are getting an air seal as well. Considering we lose more energy to air loss spray foam should be an obvious choice. Additionally the air leakage associated with other insulations can lead to problems with moisture, mold, mildew, and condensation problems inside your home. Another consideration in using spray foam is the added benefit associated with the possibility of downsizing HVAC systems needed to heat and cool your home.

How Long Does Spray Foam Last? Does It Change Physically?

As long as your spray foam is installed properly it should last as long as your home. There are certain considerations that need to be taken into account to ensure that your foam does stand the test of time, for example keeping foam covered from direct UV light.

What is the difference between open-cell and closed-cell foams?

Physically a cubic foot of closed cell foam or 2lb. foam weighs 2 lbs and a cubic foot of open cell or half pound foam weighs a half of a pound. Both open and closed cell foams prohibit the movement of air and slow down the transfer of heat/cold and energy. Closed cell foams, on the other hand, have low vapor permeance due to their cell structure and can be used as a vapor barrier. Closed-cell foams have a high compressive strength which allows them to be used for exterior and structural applications as well. Open cell foams certainly have strong points as well, for example being used to inject into open wall cavities and CMU block walls. Either way you look at it open or closed cell spray foams can be a useful tool in your energy saving arsenal.

Can a house be too tight?

This is probably one of the most asked questions I get as a foam contractor, though this is a complicated question at best. Personally I believe it is easier to build a tight home and mechanically control it with a HRV, at least this way you know what you are dealing with. If you go with the good old boy attitude of “if we don’t foam a couple walls the house will breathe naturally” you are bound to have troubles eventually. Our homes statistically have dirtier air than the outside so, a house with fiberglass will exchange air more naturally but it is usually uncontrolled. Maybe you don’t think this is a big deal but with this air comes moisture and pollutants and if this is happening in places you cannot control or see you usually end up with problems. Modern building materials alone (wall sheathings) can present a problem when used with fiberglass; even those two products combined can theoretically be too tight. We have to start looking at our homes as living breathing systems because they are. In the hay day we had no insulation and cheap fuel, so the heat and moisture could easily escape the building envelop actually causing little damage. It is only when we decided to try to hold on to our heat as long as we could with insulation that problems really occurred. Installing an air exchanger in your home is an added expense but actually being able to verify that your house is balanced and healthy in the long term out way the cost. Like I said this is a complicated subject but, if you have any further questions feel free to contact DMT Foam and we will be glad to help.