Construction & Contractors Blog
If you're building a new home, then open-cell foam insulation is an attractive option for thermal insulation. Open-cell insulation is particularly well-suited to many residential applications since installers can quickly use it to fill almost any space. The R-value of spray insulation also compares favorably to fiberglass, offering between 50-100% additional thermal resistance per inch depending on the type.
While the ability of spray foam to resist heat makes it a practical choice on its own, there are other benefits to choosing this option, as well. Below you'll find three additional ways that spray insulation can improve your new home.
1. Mold Resistance
Mold requires organic compounds for food. While fiberglass insulation also does not provide a food source for mold, the paper on the outside of fiberglass insulation does. Additionally, dirt can find its way into the small fibers and provide additional places for mold to take hold. These vulnerabilities mean that fiberglass insulation often needs to be discarded when exposed to water.
Spray foam insulation is non-organic and expands to fill its space. With no surfaces suitable for mold growth, open-cell insulation can become damp without becoming a likely source for mold. Although open-cell insulation is not waterproof, it helps protect the interior surfaces of your wall from small amounts of moisture, further reducing the likelihood of mold growth from damp air.
2. Better Sealing
Your walls may seem impenetrable, but there are many tiny areas where outside contaminants can enter. Dust, allergens, and other outdoor pollutants can make your way into your home through your walls, especially near doors or windows. Traditional fiberglass insulation mats do nothing to stop these contaminants, but spray foam can seal any potential weak points.
Additionally, fiberglass itself is an irritant if it loose fibers become airborne. While this should not happen under normal circumstances, you may kick up fibers if you need to cut holes in walls or perform other renovation projects. With spray foam insulation, there's no risk of disturbing harmful insulation irritants.
3. Long Life
As long it remains free from sunlight, spray foam insulation can last significantly longer than fiberglass insulation. Over its long lifetime, spray insulation will not lose its thermal insulation properties, ensuring that your energy bills do not increase as your home ages. This long life and high resistance to water and mold also mean that your insulation is unlikely to be affected by burst pipes or other catastrophes.
Choosing to use spray foam insulation for your new construction project offers a wide range of benefits beyond its high thermal resistance. The extra cost will pay off over the long run with a home that is more durable and better able to stand up to the elements.
Share24 September 2020
There's a common misconception that all construction workers and contractors do the same job. On one hand, this is kind of true. Construction workers and contractors all built things. However, most people in this field have a specialty. Some hang drywall. Others paint. Still others know how to pour foundations or install roofs. While some construction workers and contractors move from field to field throughout their careers, others spend their career honing one particular skill. Either approach is fine, from our perspective. What we really care about is the excellent work that these workers do, and that's what we plan to feature on this website.