Spray Foam Insulation
Attic health is important to your home’s health. Your attic space can be a buffer that helps keep your home’s climate controlled, or it can be incorporated into your building envelope and your home’s climate. Whichever way you go, insulation is necessary to accomplish the desired goal. If your attic is separate from your home’s climate, then insulation will be applied to your home’s ceiling. If your attic is incorporated into your building envelope, then the underside of your roof is insulated. Closed-cell spray foam insulation is a popular choice for both new insulation in new homes and replacement insulation in older homes. Spray foam creates an airtight seal which makes it far superior to more traditional insulations such as fiberglass or cellulose that insulate but do not seal. Spray foam is a higher-end, more expensive form of insulation, but often homeowners, contractors, and attic and crawl space professionals recommend it over fiberglass.
Who Should Use Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation comes in a canister. When it is applied, the compound undergoes a chemical change and expands and cures. For spray foam insulation to cure properly, certain techniques must be used upon application, and certain environmental conditions must be met. For example, the ambient temperatures and surface temperature should fall within an acceptable range when using spray foam. When spray foam is used, it should be sprayed in thin layers and given time between applications of layers. Aside from these universal rules, your home has unique features that must be considered before using spray foam: How many flues or chimneys pass through your attic? How many vents need to remain unsealed?
For all of these reasons, it is best to hire professionals to install spray foam insulation in your attic. Professionals can evaluate your attic and decide where to spray, and they have the training and experience needed to ensure your home is covered appropriately. They will know the best way to seal duct, vent, or wiring holes in your ceiling; they will ensure that recessed light fixtures do not leak air; and they will know the regulations to follow regarding how much space to leave around flues and chimneys, and the best way to seal them (such as with heat-resistant caulking).
Hiring a professional with years of experience and a good reputation will give you peace of mind in knowing that your insulation will be applied evenly and in the appropriate thickness. After the spray foam cures, you can (and should) get in your attic and check for noticeable areas of thin coverage or improper curing, but this should be only a precautionary (hopefully needless) evaluation of the work.
What are the benefits of Spray Foam?
We already discussed the air-tight sealing quality of closed-cell spray foam insulation. This is the most talked about benefit of spray foam. It allows the insulation to do the sealing, as opposed to sealing the home first and then adding insulation. It saves labor costs.
Another benefit of spray foam is the way it expands. A professional should know how to spray on, around, or into surfaces, nooks, and crannies so that the foam will expand into the desired space and form its air-tight seal. Again, this can save a lot of time and labor costs.
The air-tight seal that prevents drafts also helps regulate moisture in the attic. Conditioned air from your home will not draft into the attic, and vice versa. The air tight seals also help keep pests out of your attic by blocking more places through which they could enter.
So, a proper spray foam job insulates your attic; seals the ceiling or roof to prevent energy loss due to drafts; which in turn helps regulate moisture in the attic by establishing proper ventilation; and helps keep pests out of your attic.
All in all, spray foam insulation can be an excellent choice for either the new home you’re building or the old attic you’re cleaning. Attic cleaning professionals in your area are ready to schedule an inspection and evaluation of your home. It is quick and easy to get a quote for installing spray foam insulation in your home. Keep your home healthy, and contact us today!
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