Are you familiar with the difference between foam insulation and spray foam insulation?
One of the most common questions many homeowners have these days relates to which product works best for their property: injection or spray foam insulation. While both types can add incredible value to your home, they each work in different ways, and that needs to be considered before making a decision. Let’s take a look at how exactly these two products differ from one another so we can better determine which type might be able to provide more value for you and your home!
Many homeowners are unfamiliar with the difference between spray foam and injection foam. The best explanation is that one type coats the surface of an object while the other injects liquid into a cavity. Polyurethane spray foam can be sprayed onto just about any surface, which means you have more versatility when using this product. Injection polyurethane foam has superior insulating properties but cannot coat surfaces in the way that spray on polyurethane foam does. This type of foam is specifically designed to insulate closed wall cavities, and finished spaces.
Injection Foam
Injection Foam Insulation can be injected into walls to provide an effective insulation system. This product is only available for use by trained technicians. It fills hard-to-reach spaces that other products cannot access, such as behind electrical wires, outlets, pipes, or any other seemingly inaccessible spot in a wall cavity. The injection foam can also fill the cracks and crevices of exterior and interior walls extraordinarily well. This type of insulation is great for updating the insulation in homes built before 1980 when there were no requirements regarding energy efficiency. Injection foam makes the upgrading insulation very cost-efficient, allowing you to avoid having to tear down walls in order to renovate existing structures.
This product is a resinous material together with a foaming agent that forms an insulating foam when combined under compressed air. It’s injected into the cavities with your walls where it hardens forming a permanent insulator. This makes for easy installation since the injection can usually be done from the outside of most homes and buildings. Retrofitting existing structures is made a breeze because small spaces are reached easily with the injection process.
Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation is a spray plastic substance that’s sprayed onto an open cavity, such as exposed or unfinished walls. It expands to create an insulation barrier and provides excellent protection from the outside elements once it sets. Unlike other forms of insulation, polyurethane spray foam doesn’t settle or break down over time which makes it an increasingly wise investment for any homeowner looking to insulate their home properly without the need to replace anything in the future.
Energy loss in the home is usually due to drafts caused by nooks and crannies that are uncovered. Spray foam insulation can be applied to all of the places where energy escapes, like inside attics and crawl spaces. This type of insulation reduces wear and tear on your heating or cooling system because it regulates the temperature better. It will increase the effectiveness and lifespan of your HVAC system.
Spray foam insulation is typically best for unfinished walls while injection polyurethane foam can be used in all types of structures. We recommend that you speak with a professional to get the right type, or call our team at Evergreen Insulation and we’ll help guide your decision on which product will work best for your property.