Air Duct Cleaning Services:
Spray Foam Insulation Austin
America Air Duct Cleaning Services is proud to offer spray foam insulation services in Austin. We provide top-quality spray foam insulation services to homeowners and businesses nationwide.
We employ cutting-edge technology and processes to guarantee that your house or business is adequately insulated.
Our specialists will collaborate with you to select the finest insulation solution for your specific requirements. Contact us today for the best services.
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Why Should You Have Spray Foam Insulation?
Comfort
Sealing your building's air leaks and vents helps to keep temperatures regulated, especially in extreme weather. Preventing drafts means focusing on other aspects of the house that need your attention.
Energy Efficiency
Spray foam insulation is an excellent approach to improving the energy efficiency of your house. It works by trapping air and preventing heat from exiting your home, making it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also helps to minimize noise pollution and may even enhance your home's interior air quality.
Money Saving
Spray foam insulation is an efficient method of lowering energy costs. Sealing off your home from the outside elements prevents heat from escaping in the winter and keeps your home cooler in the summer.
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What Is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation is a composite material created when two chemicals (usually isocyanate and polyol resin) come together.
These chemicals, kept in two separate hoppers or tanks and conveyed by gas pressure or liquid, meet at the tip of a spray cannon. When they collide, they react by forming a foam solution. This foam dries in situ, forming a strong air and vapor barrier.
This foam contains little pockets known as “cells.” These cells generate air gaps and obstacles that complicate heat energy and sound flow through the foam.
Because foam expands to fill the area where it is sprayed, these pockets will reach even the smallest nooks and crannies. Besides, spray foam is a perfect insulator.
Types of Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is classified into two categories. Both materials are made of two chemicals and expand in situ, but they insulate differently. They are also one of the most efficient kinds of insulation.
Open Cell
Open-cell is the first kind. Open cell insulation, as the name implies, comprises tiny pockets that aren’t contained.
These foams expand significantly (up to three inches every pass), yet the dried foam stays soft and pliable. These goods are often propelled by water or carbon dioxide, making them less hazardous to the environment than their closed-cell counterparts.
Open cell foam acts as a good sound and air movement barrier. It may be used on walls, ceilings, and roofs.
However, this foam is more prone to collect moisture and vapor because of the open cells. Hence, a vapor barrier on the foam’s interior is required in many applications.
With an R-value of 3.5–3.6 per inch, open-cell may increase the R-value of a 24 or 26-inch wall assembly from R–13 to R–19.
However, since this foam expands to three inches every application, applying extra coatings after the initial application without losing surplus foam is challenging.
Closed Cell
Closed-cell is similar to open-cell because it produces an air barrier.
On the other hand, individual cells or pockets created inside this foam are entirely closed. Furthermore, the cells are substantially more densely packed, making this foam insulation far stiffer than open-cell foam insulation (it can improve structural integrity in some cases).
Closed-cell is substantially more efficient against moisture and vapor because it contains enclosed pockets.
Furthermore, these sealed pockets increase insulation value, with one inch offering up to R-6.5 insulation. Because closed-cell foam expands far less (about one inch each application) than open-cell foam, it’s also simpler to apply multiple coats.
On the other hand, closed-cell foams often employ hydrofluorocarbons as a fuel, and HFCs are much less environmentally friendly than the fuels used in open-cell foams.
Advantages of Spray Foam Insulation
Insulating a property saves energy while maintaining a suitable interior atmosphere for inhabitants.
While other forms of insulation are available, spray foam is up to 50% more effective than other varieties, such as fiberglass batts or cellulose fibers, since it also works as a sealer.
Reduced Utility Costs
Drafty windows and other air leaks in and out of a house may account for up to 40% of a home’s energy costs.
While all types of insulation can assist in raising a home’s thermal resistance, only spray foam will seal air leaks, resulting in decreased energy expenditures.
Moisture-Blocking and Air Sealing
Water that seeps through siding may harm a home’s wooden structure because moisture and building components do not mix. Closed-cell foam is a moisture barrier, preventing water from entering building materials.
Soundproofing
Spray foam insulation creates a solid layer among wall studs, providing excellent soundproofing. Both Closed-cell and open-cell may be put in wall cavities to limit sound transmission.
This might be useful in exterior walls to block the sound of a busy road and shared walls separating various living sections in duplexes and apartment complexes.
High R-Value
Spray foam insulation has greater heat resistance than other forms of insulation because of its density and sealing properties.
The capacity of a material to decrease heat and cold thermal transfer by one-inch thickness is measured by R-value. The maximum R-value is provided by closed-cell foam insulation.
Long-Lasting
Spray foam may cost more than other insulation varieties, but it offers unbeatable air-sealing benefits and a much longer life expectancy of up to three times more than the rest!
Because fiberglass batts and cellulose fibers lose their loft when wet, lowering their R-values, these chemicals last longer.
Resistant To Mold And Mildew
Spray foam does not absorb moisture, reducing the likelihood of mold and mildew growth. It may improve usually wet areas such as basements and crawl spaces.
Wall Strengthening
While spray foam insulation cannot be used to build a wall, the densest foam, closed-cell, may provide a wall-enhanced racking strength, which means the wall is less likely to move out of alignment.
It strengthens a wall by bonding to the interior surfaces of the studs and curing to a hardened material. This makes it ideal for strengthening metal structures while also offering heat resistance.
Tax Credit
Improving a home’s energy efficiency may result in a refund or tax credit by checking with your local building department to determine if any rebate programs are available.
Furthermore, homeowners who upgrade to enhance energy efficiency may be eligible for a tax credit on their yearly income tax return in certain situations.
The Place to Use Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation may be used in various places in the house. In addition to reducing noise transfer between rooms, this liquid spray may also be used to seal up breezes. These chemicals work well in the following areas:
- Crawl areas
- Stud walls on the outside
- If soundproofing is needed, inside walls should be used.
- Use roof rafters in combination with a radiant barrier for the highest R-value.
- Vent pipes, water fixtures, and gas lines are examples of house penetrations.
- Stud walls on the inside for sound purposes
Cost of Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation costs vary greatly depending on the scenario. To begin, there are several varieties of spray foam, but each application is unique.
The foam required to insulate a 24-wall is far less than that required to insulate a 26-wall. Thus, it’s critical to break things down into manageable quantities. The industry’s preferred unit is board feet.
The volume of one board foot is 144 cubic inches. Open-cell type costs between $0.45 and $0.65 per board foot when using this unit as the norm. Closed-cell spray foam is more costly, ranging from $1 to $1.50 per board foot.
Remember that closed-cell spray foam insulation is a superior insulator per board foot than open-cell type.
Furthermore, applying extra layers of open-cell insulation is typically not cost-effective since it frequently exceeds the studs’ depth, goes to waste and requires trimming.
Labor Cost
While DIY kits are available, many homeowners may outsource this nasty process to a professional. Professional spray-foam insulation costs between $1,300 and $4,000, with a national average of roughly $2,500.
The advantage of outsourcing the task is that the expert can modify the mixture to guarantee that the foam operates properly.
Furthermore, professionals can cope with the inevitable mess generated by expanding foam and are less likely to ignore any tight locations that a DIYer would neglect.
How to Choose the Best Service?
Homeowners who choose spray foam insulation may have difficulty determining which is ideal for their property. Alternatively, they may alternate between doing the task themselves and renting it out.
When deciding between DIY and professional installation, homeowners should assess if dealing with the mess and mixture is worth their time. Those with the time and expertise to apply their spray foam may save a lot of money.
However, if you need the task done fast and successfully, it is advisable to rent it out.
How To Lower Spray Foam Insulation Costs?
Spray foam insulation is less costly to install in a new home than in an existing home since it may be sprayed into open wall and rafter gaps.
Before injecting foam into a remodeling project, the installer may need to remove some wallboard or drill holes. The following suggestions may help homeowners save money.
Determine if your municipality or state provides rebates or incentives for increasing energy efficiency, and choose open-cell insulation.
Closed-cell insulation costs between $3.50 and $4.80 per board foot, whereas open-cell insulation costs between $2.80 and $3.50.
Spray foam is the least costly before the inside drywall is installed since it requires the least effort.
FAQs
Many homeowners are interested in saving money by installing their insulation. While it is possible to install some types of insulation yourself, spray foam insulation is not one of them. This type of insulation is best installed by a professional due to the specialized equipment and training required.
When looking for insulation, depending on where you live will dictate the correct amount. Homes in the northeast tend to require R-49 or more for roofs, while homes in the south only require R-38.
Vacuum-insulated panels can reach up to an R-value of R-66 per inch. Still, these products are rarely used in residential buildings since closed-cell spray foam insulation is more economical as it provides an impressive R-7 per inch of thickness.
Polyurethane foam is often used in construction and for insulation purposes. This resilient material is highly resistant to mold and fungus growth. However, when the foam is damaged or wet, it can be a paradise for such organisms to flourish.
Yes, a vapor barrier is required for spray foam insulation. This is because spray foam insulation is made of a closed-cell structure, which means impermeable to water vapor.
If you were to install spray foam insulation without a vapor barrier, the water vapor would eventually cause the foam to degrade, which would lead to leaks and other problems.
