How Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation Can Benefit Your Home
Posted on: 29 June 2021
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Installing closed-cell spray foam in the walls and roof of your home can significantly impact how much energy you are saving in your home. While the foam is not something you can usually install yourself, the process is straightforward. A contractor can complete large areas of the house at a reasonable pace.
Where To Use Foam Insulation
One of the most common uses for closed cell spray foam insulation in homes already completed is in the attic. The foam can be sprayed on the underside of the road joists, adding a barrier to keep heat and cold from penetrating the roof.
The contractor installing the foam will fill all the spaces between the rafters with foam and any cracks along the walls where it meets the roof. In most cases, the insulation contractor can spray several inches of foam into the spaces to add additional insulation to the home.
The foam insulation will help keep the attic cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and if you are going to finish the space, it can make the attic room much more comfortable. Once the foam is cured, you can expect an R-value of about 3 to 4 per inch of foam. A six-inch rafter will give you space for enough closed-cell foam insulation to achieve an R-value of about eighteen in the roof when the foam is done correctly.
Using Foam In Walls
Closed-cell spray foam insulation can be used in the walls of a home very successfully, but the walls need to be open at least on one side to spray in the foam. New construction is usually the best time to add foam insulation to the structure. Still, if you are renovating your home and opening up walls for repairs, rewiring, or adding insulation, you may want to consider using foam.
The closed-cell spray foam is a good product for walls because it will not settle over time. The insulation will stay in the entire wall and not leave gaps at the top of the wall in a few years.
Thermal Barriers
While closed-cell spray foam insulation is highly effective in blocking heat and cold air, it does need to be covered with a thermal barrier. Most building codes require a fifteen-minute thermal barrier, so half to five-eighths inch sheetrock will meet the requirement.
In most cases, you will not want to see the foam in your walls anyway, but even in a space that is not used, like a basement or attic, the thermal barrier is typically required. There are some coatings that can be used to cover the foam that will meet the code and are an excellent option for unoccupied space that is insulated with closed-cell spray foam.