If you’ve been thinking about adding insulation to your home to make it more energy efficient and comfortable, spray foam might have crossed your mind. But if you’re like most people, you’re probably not quite sure if that’s the right call or even what makes spray foam different from other types of insulation.
Spray foam is widely used across Chicagoland for both new construction and retrofit applications. However, it’s not always the right choice for every project. To help you understand spray foam and determine whether it’s right for your home, ARC Insulation has put together a comprehensive beginner’s guide.
What Is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam is a highly effective type of insulation used in a variety of applications. It’s often used to insulate exposed framing in new construction, but it’s also useful in existing homes for insulating tough-to-reach places like crawl spaces, joists, and gaps in construction.
Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell Spray Foam
There are two main types of spray foam. Open-cell spray foam is softer, lighter, more flexible, and more affordable. It expands more than closed-cell foam, which makes it good for irregular spaces. However, moisture can pass through it. Closed-cell foam is hard and rigid. While it doesn’t expand as much, it adds structural integrity and doesn’t let moisture pass through. This helps prevent mold growth.
Both types of spray foam have their uses. Read our open-cell vs closed-cell spray foam insulation guide to learn about the pros and cons of each material and which situations they’re best for.
How Does Spray Foam Insulation Work?
Spray foam insulation uses specialized materials, equipment, and highly trained installers. The process is more involved than other insulation methods:
- Spray foam starts as two separate liquid materials (we call them ‘A’ and ‘B’). They’re kept in separate drums.
- At the start of the insulation process, the A and B materials are sent to a piece of equipment called a proportioner. It mixes them at an exact ratio and temperature to ensure expansion and adhesion are perfectly to spec.
- The proportioner then sends the accurately mixed materials to a spray gun via a heated hose. The spray foam technician pulls the trigger and manually sprays the surface in a smooth, methodical manner.
- Once the foam solution hits the surface, it rapidly expands and hardens, creating a durable, insulating barrier that prevents heat transfer and air penetration.
Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
The advantages of spray foam insulation are numerous and help improve the performance of the entire home:
- Air Sealing: Since spray foam expands and hardens, it can close air gaps in the home’s construction. This reduces drafts and moisture intrusion, keeping your home comfortable, dry, and mold-free, while also improving indoor air quality.
- High R-Value: Compared to batting and loosefill insulation, spray foam offers more thermal resistance per square inch.
- Moisture Resistance: Closed-cell spray foam is moisture-resistant and acts like a vapor barrier, preventing condensation from passing through building materials and rotting your wooden structural components.
Is Spray Foam Insulation Worth It For Chicagoland Homeowners?
Insulation needs to perform year-round in Chicagoland and Naperville homes. In our freezing winters, insulation helps you retain the heat you create in your home. In the summer, it helps prevent outdoor heat from warming up your home. Both improve your comfort and lower energy bills.
Most of the time, spray foam is an excellent choice for Chicagoland homes, but there are times when other insulation materials might be better. Here are some considerations to make:
New Construction or Retrofit?
Spray foam is nearly always the best choice for new construction. It’s very efficient to install inside exposed framing. For retrofit upgrades, however, it entirely depends on which part of your home needs more insulation.
Where You Need Insulation
When retrofitting insulation, spray foam is best for small, tough-to-reach spaces, such as those in the attic, basement, and crawlspace. It’s ideal for insulating rim joists in particular. If you need to insulate existing walls, however, you’d be better off choosing a blown-in type of insulation.
Whether You Need Air Sealing
If you have air gaps in addition to poor insulation, spray foam is the most logical choice because it solves both problems at once. With other insulation types, air sealing is a separate process.
Cost
Spray foam is more expensive than cellulose and fiberglass insulation. While it works more effectively because of its high R-value, not every family wants to invest more. Learn more about spray foam insulation costs.
Why Choose Spray Foam Insulation
Ultimately, spray foam is one of the better choices for new construction and retrofitting older homes in Chicagoland. Closed-cell foam’s moisture-resistant properties are especially important for the muggy summers we experience, as it helps keep condensation out of the attic. Its high R-value is also good for our cold winters, helping to keep your energy bills low and your family comfortable.
At ARC Insulation, we specialize in spray foam insulation. If you know you need to improve your home, but are still unsure about what type of insulation to use, we can provide a comprehensive energy assessment. Since 1993, we’ve served over 30,000 homes, and our BPI-certified contractors would be happy to add you to that list.
