Home Improvement Tips with Spray Insulation

Posted by Spray Foam Insulation Comments Off   Oct 03, 2011 @ 07:10
Home Improvement Tips with Spray Insulation1 Home Improvement Tips with Spray Insulation

Using spray insulation is a very effective way to increase the comfort and energy efficiency of a home. The material used in this system is foam. Using a gun-like device, the foam is sprayed onto an area and it quickly expands to fill it up. Because of this, it is the ideal choice for covering holes, cracks, and other hard to reach areas.

Foam has a lot of benefits for a homeowner. Aside from being easy to use with a spray gun, it is also very efficient at keeping consistent temperatures in a room or house. This is because foam has good R-value or measure of thermal resistance. What this means is that it doesn’t let heat pass through very easily; hence it keeps a room warm or cold.

Spray insulation is basically the tool of choice when it comes to home weatherization experts because it is great at conserving home energy. By keeping air temperatures consistent, the home becomes naturally comfortable. This means that there is little to no need to use heating and air conditioning which can lead to huge savings on utilities. According to the United States Department of Energy, the use of foam can generate up to 30% savings on utility costs.

Compared to other materials like fibreglass and wood, foam performs better and is easier to handle. By using spray insulation, you can get the job done faster than ever which is why it is great for home improvement. However, if you plan to use it on your own, you have to know how to manipulate it properly.

Before trying out foam spray for insulation, do a test spray first just to get the hang of it. Remember, this material expands up to 100 times its original volume. This basically means that for a 10 inch hole, you will need just an inch of foam to cover it up. If you’re not used to it, you might use up too much or too little.

Next thing you have to remember with spray insulation is that you have to spread it evenly. This will allow the foam to expand evenly on the area. After the foam expands and settles, it is ideal to trim it a bit to make it perfect. A handsaw is the perfect tool for shaping and modifying settled foam. It needs to be perfect so that it doesn’t get in the way of other things.

Always remember that using foam insulation is a cost-efficient way to improve your home. However, if you don’t know how to properly handle it, you can end up paying too much for it. This is why it is better to get a hold of experts and hire them to get the job done. They know how to work with foam and they understand how to apply it in the most efficient and effective manner. The extra cost for experts would certainly pay for itself in the future anyway. And they will do a far better job with spray insulation compared to you.


Benefits of using Spray Foam Insulation in your Home Benefits of using Spray Foam Insulation in your Home

Home insulation has become a major home improvement project adopted by maximum home owners. Insulating your house helps you save energy by making your house energy efficient. Typically maximum homes are insulated with fiberglass insulation, however many are now shifting to the very efficient industrial spray foam insulation for better facilities. Studies reveal that spray foam insulation seals your house better than other insulations in the market. It may cost you little more than the regular insulation materials but it’s definitely worth it.

The most important reason that people prefer to get spray foam insulation is because it saves money. Although spray foam insulation cost more during installation the money you invest is returned through the savings you make on the energy bills for life. Spray foam insulation closes the gaps that are a major reason for air leakage. This reduces your usage of appliances like heaters and air-conditioners; thus reducing the amount on your monthly energy bills.

The gaps spray foam insulation covers helps in preventing seepage of warm or cool air from the house. Hence you end up using less of heating or cooling appliances that consume most of the energy. So spray foam insulation not only saves you money but also valuable energy that needs to be conserved today. People can easily cover the cost spent on the installation within five years of savings on the energy bills.

The gaps in your house also form an inlet for moisture, mold and mildew. Spray foam insulation when sprayed in these gaps forms a very hard barrier that prevents such agents from entering your house. They form a health hazard to the residents of the house. Thus insulating your house with spray foam also helps you to keep the family healthy.

As compared to any of the insulation products in the market, spray foam insulation has the maximum R-value. Basically R-value of insulation lets the consumer know its thermal resistance, in this case the ability of the insulation to keep the house cool in summers and warm in winters. When compared to the traditional fibreglass insulation, spray foam gives 30% better insulation.

Spray foam is made of a material that is liquid when sprayed and expands to a size 100 times larger than the original volume on exposure with oxygen. This feature of the product helps it to reach the remotest corners and crack to give a complete seal to the house. Also the seal formed is so strong that it gives your house better stability. It acts like glue to the studs of the home. This keeps your home better resistance to calamities like winds, storms and hurricanes. Also the spray foam is so hard that even insects can’t burrow through it, thus keeping your house pest free.

However these benefits are best enjoyed when spray foam is installed by a professional as the material is difficult to handle and needs professionals and sophisticated tools to apply. Hence hiring a professional company for its expert services is a great idea. EcoStarFoam.com is a leading service provider for spray foam insulation installation. Our team of professionals use durable spray foam of various well known brands that cover every cavity in your house and make your home energy efficient. We are well known for our top quality services in New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding area.