If you have never heard of spray foam insulation before, you may be surprised to discover that it is one of the most widely used forms of insulation in buildings today. Spray foam has a number of different uses and applications, depending on the building's structure. Mostly it is used for heat and sound insulation. It can be installed by professional spray foam companies or it is simple enough to be able to do yourself using a home DIY installation kit. Spray foam can be purchased online or from local suppliers. Before you start your spray foam insulation project, here are a few basic things that are helpful to know about spray foam.

What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam is chemical compound that is made up of both organic and non-organic materials.  When these materials are combined at a specific temperature, they form a polyurethane material that expands many times its original size. This is where the compound gets its name. Typically, it will be sprayed into a specific area. As the foam settles, it expands, filling up cracks and crevasses and creating an airtight and water-tight seal. One of the advantages of spray foam is its ability to expand and get into hard-to-reach places. This is what makes spray foam such an effective insulator. Typically, it takes about four hours to harden after which it retains its form and is highly durable. Spray foam can be used to insulate ceilings, walls, floors, and interior walls. It can help strengthen and soundproof walls, making them more durable. Spray foam also helps to protect buildings against the buildup of moisture and mold that commonly occurs with other forms of insulation.

How Does Spray Foam Compare to Other Insulators

In past decades, one of the most common forms of insulation was fiberglass batting. This was usually pink in color and placed in the roof to provide insulation. While it has been an effective insulator for many years, it still has a number of shortcomings. Firstly, because it comes in a mat format, it has a blanket type of insulation, rather than a sealing type of insulation. This means that vermin, insects, moisture and air can still get through the insulation. The advantage of spray foam insulation is that it expands and gets into to all the tiny and hard-to-reach places. With most types of spray foam, it also forms an airtight and water-tight seal which prevents moisture from seeping in and causing deterioration of the building structure. Even more importantly spray foam prevents the air leaks that cost you about 40% of your utility bills. Vermin and insects cannot easily get through the spray foam seal so it provides added protection for your home. Fiberglass batting also deteriorates over time and needs to be replaced every few years. Spray foam is far more durable and longer lasting; therefore, in the longer term, it can work out to be far more economical.

What Different Types of Spray Foam Insulation Can You Get?

The type of spray foam that you use will depend largely on the application you will be using it for. Closed cell spray foam can provide structural support for walls and additional sound and heat insulation between interior walls. High-density spray foam can be used under floorboards and other areas that you want to protect from moisture damage. For areas where you need a lightweight form of insulation, and air and moisture insulation is not as important, you can use open cell spray foam. There are also various brands that are made up of different compounds. Of these, several brands pride themselves on being green and environmentally friendly.

How Do You Install Spray Foam Insulation?

Quite commonly, people will use professional contractors during the building process to insulate their homes. However, an advantage of spray foam is that it can be used to insulate existing structures. In addition, this is something that you can do as a DIY project rather than having to employ independent contractors. There are several different kinds of spray foam kits that you can get with easy-to-use instructions that guide you through the process. These kits tell you how to prepare the area as well as what safety and protective clothing to wear. They also tell you how to mix and apply the spray foam insulation, and how to finish off the job and make sure that the area is properly insulated when you are done. Anyone with basic DIY skills will be able to use spray foam to insulate their home quickly and easily.