Spray foam insulation is installed in the home by spraying liquid into an open cavity, like the space between studs in an unfinished wall. The foam then expands to many times its original size, filling the desired area with insulation. It’s made from polyurethane and easily seals any air leaks or gaps in your home, while also preventing moisture infiltration. This type of insulation is very strong and durable, while also remaining extremely lightweight. Spray foam insulation can provide an airtight seal against the outside elements well also helping to create a comfortable and cozy home environment.
With an R-value of up to 7 per inch, it is one of the most efficient insulation materials available. Spray foam tends to last longer and insulate better than other materials and comes with a host of other benefits. Although the initial insulation can be a bit more pricey than other options, it’s a no-brainer that the installation of spray foam in your home or workshop can give you a major return on your money.
Calculating Costs
Upgrading to spray foam insulation is like investing in a good education, it’s an investment that keeps paying you back year after year. The money spent on spray foam insulation is an investment in the comfort of your home or business.
If you are looking to estimate the cost of a new installation of spray foam insulation, there are a few things you’ll need to consider.
Open vs Closed Cell
There are two types of spray foam insulation. While open cell is typically cheaper, it does not provide nearly as much of an insulating value as a close cell. Depending on the climate where you live, open cell insulation may not be recommended, as it may not be able to provide the necessary R-value. When factoring the cost of your new spray foam insulation, you will first need to find out what type you will be using: open or closed cell foam.
Size of the Area
After you have figured out which type of foam you will be using, the next factor that will come into play is going to be the size of the area you’re looking to insulate. There are a few different ways you can go about producing a rough estimate, but if you want to produce an estimate that is anywhere close to the actual final cost, you will need some physical measurements of your space.
A good rule of thumb when calculating cost: (square footage)x(R-value) = cost of project. This can give you a rough estimate.
However, to get even closer to the actual price, you can consider that the average cost for installing spray foam will be between $0.44 cents and $1.50 per board foot. A board foot is defined as 1 square foot that is 1 inch deep. Based on this, 1000 board feet of spray foam could cost you anywhere between $444 and $1,500.
Thickness
Now that we’ve defined a board foot as one square foot that’s 1 in thick, you will need to consider how thick you want to spray your new foam.
1 inch of spray foam may not be adequate for certain climates. You may need to spray your foam multiple inches deep in order to achieve an acceptable R-value. For example, if you live in the cold north, many home builders recommend installing your spray foam between 2 and 3 in deep.
So, if you are installing your foam at a depth of 2 inches you will need to double the cost estimate from the example above. If you plan on installing spray foam at a depth of 3 in, triple that estimate, and so on.
Experience of the Contractor
Aside from the type of foam you choose to use and how big of an area you need to have insulated, the experience of your chosen contractor will also come into play when estimating the cost. If you’re trying to save some money, you may be considering hiring a contractor who has less experience or even attempting to do the job yourself. However, keep in mind that if your project is done poorly, you may be forced to spend even more time and money
Sometimes shelling out the additional cash for a good quality contractor is well worth the extra dough. Spray foam insulation is a job that requires skill and experience. A contractor who is unqualified to do the work may fail to seal off all areas or spray foam at an inconsistent thicknesses, leaving your home more vulnerable to energy loss. We have over 50 years of experience installing spray foam in Spokane and North Idaho and stand behind our work.
The cost of spray foam insulation can be a little more difficult to predict than the cost of installing other sorts of insulation because of the myriad factors that must be considered when doing your estimate. However, if you can keep in mind these variables, you will be on the right track towards terrific energy savings.
If you’re still not sure if installing spray foam is right for your family or business, ask yourself these questions: “Do I want increased energy efficiency? Am I looking to create an ultra-comfortable living space that maintains a good quality of indoor air? Do I want my home to be more structurally sound?” If so, then you might consider investing in spray foam insulation.
While installing spray foam insulation for a residential or commercial building may seem expensive, the resulting savings in energy use will offset the up-front costs. We recommend that you take advantage of our expertise to find out how much installation will cost and how much you might save by investing in insulation.