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The insulation "team" that's supposed to make our homes comfortable and energy efficient is truly a motley crew. In the old days, sawdust was sometimes dumped inside walls to slow heat loss. Then came vermiculite —porous lightweight pebbles with the look and feel of kitty litter.
Today we still rely on an old-timer, fiberglass batt insulation that's made from spun glass fibers. But if you're looking for a star player on the insulation team, a standout with qualities that other types of insulation can't touch, it's got to be Spray Foam. More specifically, we're talking about closed-cell polyurethane spray foam.
Increase your comfort and decrease your energy bills with crawl space and basement improvements from Dr. Energy Saver. Call today to schedule a Free Estimate for spray foam insulation in Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Portsmouth, Hampton, Chesapeake, Yorktown, Gloucester, Suffolk, Surry, Fort Monroe, Lanexa, Seaford, Providence Forge and the surrounding areas.
1-part foam: You've seen and probably used this type of spray foam, which comes in pressurized cans that are sold at home centers and hardware stores under brand names like GREAT STUFF™. This single-component foam is super-sticky, and expands at different rates (depending on the type you buy) immediately after application. Since it seals gaps as well as insulates, this product is often referred to as an "insulating foam sealant."
2-part foam: To insulate an entire basement or attic with spray foam, contractors use 2-part polyurethane foam that comes in a pair of pressurized metal containers. When both components (resin and a catalyst) are mixed together at the nozzle, a foaming chemical reaction takes place that causes the material to expand
R value. Poly spray foam has a higher R-value per inch than any other commonly used insulation—R-6.2 or higher, depending on the formulation.
Air barrier: Spray foam air-seals and insulates in one step. Its ability to expand and fill gaps and cracks make it an ideal air-sealing material, and it stays in place because of its super-adhesive qualities. Spray foam is often spot-applied as an air-sealing treatment prior to filling an attic with blow-in insulation. But when applied in more generous amounts, it can eliminate the need for other types of insulation.
Waterproof: Moisture will soak its way through fiberglass and cellulose insulation, but polyurethane spray foam stops it cold. Its closed cell structure means that water can't migrate from one tiny cell or bubble to a neighboring one.
Foolproof: Did you know that a void (missing insulation) of just 5% of an insulated area can diminish overall insulation performance by as much as 50%? It's very difficult to install fiberglass insulation perfectly, so voids are not uncommon. But spray foam's expanding, super-sticky characteristics just about eliminate the possibility of voids. And once the foam cures, it's not going to settle or shift like fiberglass or cellulose can.
Tricky: Without the proper training it can be difficult to install spray foam without any trouble. Thankfully, our training allows us to understand the different expansion rates of the varying spray foam materials, and how they affect the surrounding home. If applying the wrong kind of spray foam around a window or door jamb, it can bow the frame and make the door or window inoperable. It takes experience to get the feel of applying spray foam, especially two-part foams. An inexperienced user is going to have more overspray that wastes the material and creates a mess during the cleanup process.
Temperature sensitive: Cold temperatures affect the chemistry that causes the foaming action. It's critical to keep spray foam cans or two-part foam canisters within a specific temperature range for successful application.
Dr. Energy Saver proudly provides service the the residents of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Suffolk, Gloucester, Surry, Fort Monroe, Lanexa, Seaford, Providence Forge and the neighboring towns.
Call 1-757-969-6004 or contact us online to schedule a free home inspection and spray foam insulation estimate.
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