-What are the Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam has tons of benefits over other types of insulation. One immense benefit of spray foam is it’s R-Value. What is R-Value? R-Value is a measure of resistance to the flow of heat through a given thickness of a material (such as insulation) with higher numbers indicating better insulating properties. With an R Value of about 7 per inch, spray foam allows a higher R-Value to be installed in less space. For example: you could use 2×4 walls instead of 2×6 in certain applications. Another tremendous benefit that spray foam will give home owners is that it will help keep mice and other pests away. You can also get more out of spray foam because on top of its insulating value it stops air flow. When it is sprayed on, the foam will expand to fill any gaps and cracks there might be and that will virtually eliminate any drafts you might have in your home. Once it is sprayed, spray foam is also a vapor barrier, so you could save money on that in situations where one is needed. Another benefit you can get from choosing spray foam is that we can spray it on many different surfaces. From your attic to the bottom of your foundation, it can be used almost anywhere.
Homes and commercial buildings that are insulated with spray foam have better protection against things like mildew and mold. The polymer within the insulation is inert, meaning that it provides no food source for mold or bacteria. It also provides a moisture barrier further preventing mold from growing. Since walls are a buildings primary structural component they need to be sturdy. When spray foam insulation is inside of walls, it provides additional strength so the building is supported more efficiently.
-Can Spray Foam be used in existing walls with no insulation?
Closed cell spray foam insulation which has the highest R-Value needs to be sprayed onto the flat surface of a wall. If your walls are closed in from both sides that is not going to work, however we have some other great options for you. Our best option for insulating your walls that are completely closed in is injection foam. Injection foam is an open cell type of spray foam that is designed to rise slowly, allowing it to travel all the way down to the bottom of the wall cavity and slowly rise up to fill all nooks and crannies. Injection foam can normally be installed by removing some pieces of your siding and drilling holes through your wall or holes drilled through plaster or sheetrock and patched, and then we will fill the wall cavities with the foam. Once the walls are filled with foam we will return your siding to its original condition. Some injection foam applications may vary, so your best bet is to give us a call at BSF Insulation and see what we think!