Expanding Foam Insulation: A Versatile Alternative for all your Insulation Needs

Expanding foam insulation is an attractive option when considering your insulation needs. It is convenient, portable and adaptable. This product is used in ways that may not immediately come to mind. Foam insulation is used for stage and film props and as a sculpting medium, for example. You can carve it, sand it and mold it into almost any form imaginable. If your interest is directed more towards your home or business you are probably curious about its more conventional functions.

Expanding foam insulation products are applicable for spraying rigs that utilize refillable tanks. It is available as disposable spray foam insulation kits. These products are able to balance R-value and cost in ways that may surprise you. Cheap insulation is what we are so used to seeing in our homes and in buildings that we occupy. With these come low performance and greater energy cost. Foam insulation can be a viable alternative for all of your insulation concerns. There are many different brands and manufacturers of foam insulation products. A variety of dispensing methods for the material are used. They range from entire systems to disposable, single component canisters. These products can be effectively used for insulation, sound dampening, sound deadening, condensation inhibiting, as a sealant to fill voids and much more.

Take a look at the many ways foam insulation is used in a variety of applications and you will begin to see how versatile this stuff is:

Residential- used in basement crawl spaces, seals drafty attics and closes off pitch pockets as well as exterior penetrations. Commercial construction- used for air sealing, sound dampening, insulating ductwork and condensation control. Used in the repair and maintenance of cold storage units and facilities. Roofing- used to seal penetrations, creates flashings, and fills pitch pockets and temporary night seal for single-ply roofing projects. HVAC- used to insulate ductwork, vibration reduction, sound control, reduction of noise between rooms, and to reduce echo related noise on concrete walls. Pool and Spa- used to insulate bottoms and sides of structure, acts as a moisture barrier and absorption of ground movement. Automobiles- used in insulating trucks, vans, RVs, and buses, for sound reduction, temperature control and exterior noise reduction. Industrial plant maintenance- ideal for general use in factories and manufacturing plants where no outside source of electricity or air pressure is present. Marine Flotation- expanding foam insulation is the most widely used flotation material in the world used for the manufacturing and repair of boats and other marine vessels.

A brief discussion of open cell and closed cell foam insulation is useful towards identifying different products and understanding their uses. Open cell foam will be porous. It allows water and liquid vapors to penetrate through the material. Closed cell foam will not and it is used effectively as a vapor barrier. It is important to know the difference when applying insulation in a manner subject to building codes. Many local and regional building codes require vapor barriers to be used in new construction of homes and buildings. The closed cell foams carry higher R-value ratings and are generally superior insulators. Closed cell foam is stronger than its counterpart and adds to structural integrity. Open cell is soft when cured and will likely require additional labor when applied compared to the closed cell foam which does not require trimming after being applied. So be sure to know what you are looking at when selecting expanding foam insulation products to insure you get the right one to meet your needs.