Isn't Spray Foam... just Spray Foam?

ryanbhester
Feb 2, 2017
2 min read

Almost everyone has at least seen or heard of Spray Foam Insulation at this point. When we first started into this industry, the majority of the general public would look at us weird when we mentioned spraying foam into their walls and roof. Thanks to the ease of sharing information these days, and a little help from HGTV, Spray Foam is no longer perceived as some scary science project. However, did you know there are different types of foam to choose from? When insulating a home, you essentially have two options...Open Cell Foam and Closed Cell Foam.

Open Cell Spray Foam is a soft, flexible foam, that expands 100 times its liquid volume. It acts as an air barrier and fills larger voids easy. Open cell spray foam is typically sprayed in new construction walls to completely fill a 2x4 cavity. The excess is then shaved off and disposed of to allow for drywall installation. In attic roof lines, it is typically installed to 5.5 inches thick and left un-shaved. Open Cell spray foam is typically the most affordable spray foam option due to it's high coverage rates. It is not recommended for high moisture areas such as crawlspaces.

Closed Cell Spray Foam is a more rigid foam that only expands 30 times its liquid volume. It provides your air barrier at only 1 inch thick....and at 1.5" thick acts as a vapor retarder. Closed cell foam is used for flotation in boats as well as exterior roofing for it's rigidity and moisture resistant properties. In exterior roofing applications, the foam is top coated with a silicone membrane to protect it from the sun's UV rays. It is typically installed 2 inches thick in walls and 3 inches thick in attic roof lines. It is the insulation of choice for high moisture areas like crawlspaces and refrigeration. That's right, closed cell foam is the material that allows your fancy new cooler to hold ice for days!

We love to educate people on the right product for their application. Give us a call with any questions or comments!