The methods used for installing spray foam insulation will vary somewhat dependent upon the area in your home that you’re insulating. While the insulation works in the same way no matter where you use it, the application or installation methods can vary. New construction projects and those areas of the home that are wide open, like your attic, require a different installation method from those areas that are less accessible spaces like the interior of existing walls and ceilings.

Your attic is an accessible space, making it easy to install spray foam insulation in the area with minimally invasive methods. While most people use fiberglass batting insulation in the attic, it doesn’t prevent air from leaking out of your home during the winter or heat invading your home in the warmer months. When you install spray foam in the proper manner, you help reduce your long term energy costs and also improve the general air quality within your home.

A large percentage of heat escapes your home in the winter through your ceiling or attic. Installing spray foam insulation between the framing studs and the attic walls, ceiling and floor boards will help you reduce heat loss in the winter. It also helps you keep cool air isolated in your home in the summer.

Spray foam insulation is a non-toxic option for your home. It often comes with a lifetime guarantee, making it a highly efficient and effective choice for home insulation needs. While more traditional insulation materials may be less expensive in the short term, they can present health concerns and do not last as long as spray foam, meaning you will be facing more expense later down the road when re-insulation is required.

Spray foam expands into open spaces, increasing to nearly six times the volume once installed. The expansion makes it uniquely capable of filing gaps and spaces in your home. Standard insulation can fill uniform spaces with some degree of efficiency. It does not however prevent air and moisture from entering those spaces after installation. Spray foam fills crevices, gaps, and cracks in your home in a way that no other insulation material can achieve.

There are two varieties of spray foam insulation, each with its own specific benefits. Slow rising injectible foam is used in projects where the area being insulated is enclosed, such as existing walls and ceilings. This foam expands once it is injected into the enclosed space, allowing you to insulate the area without requiring extensive construction efforts. There’s no need to remove existing wall boards or ceiling drywall to install insulation. The foam can be injected through small holes in the wall or ceiling and will expand to fill the empty spaces.

The second type of foam is that which is sprayed into open spaces. For example, it is excellent for use in an unfinished attic. This type is also a good choice for new construction projects. If you’re installing insulation while constructing a new building or residential home you can easily use standard spray foam to complete the project.

The first step in installing spray foam insulation in any area in your home is to perform a test spray. You need to have a good understanding increase in foam volume and the manner in which it expands so you can ensure you are using the right amount and injecting or spraying it in the best locations to fill the space required.

Remember it expands significantly, making it possible to fill spaces with smaller sprays or injections. When installing in larger open spaces, you will want to make several smaller sprays, spreading them out through the area to ensure the entire area is fully filled.

If you’re installing the foam in the interior of already existing walls, your work is done once you’ve injected the foam into the space. However, if you are installing it in a larger space or a new construction area, you will need to perform some additional steps.

After the foam has formed, you will need to allow it to set. The drying process takes a bit of time. The details of the particular foam you use will be available from the dealer and will also be described on the materials that come with the foam.

If you’re installing drywall over the top of the foam, you’ll need to even out the foam before completing the drywall work. The foam will form between the framing studs, and you’ll need to use a handsaw to shave the foam down to a smoother, board-like surface before installing drywall.

Most home insulation projects can be completed by the homeowners. Contractors typically won’t accept jobs that are relatively small and hiring a contractor can be cost-prohibitive for the average homeowner. You can obtain the necessary equipment and foam insulation online. You will quickly learn to operate the necessary equipment.