There are many forms of insulation available in the world, but spray foam insulation is one of the best when considering how you can save yourself on the time, energy, and costs of working with spray foam insulation in general. There are some who say that it can get a bit costly, and this may be true, but you should still give it some consideration. Spray foam may be better than the other types of insulation that are easily available to you.
Why Should I Use Spray Foam Insulation?
You are already asking the right questions if you are wondering why you should use spray foam insulation. It is good that you are trying to get to the facts about spray foam insulation that will play a role in your life in general. It’s so important that you look at a comparison of spray foam against other types of insulation options that may be available to you.
What we know for sure about spray foam is that it is energy efficient compared to other types of insulation available on the market. People have long appreciated the fact that they can use spray foam in ways that other types of foam simply do not work for them. This is to say that there are a lot of true believers in spray foam because it gets the job done without causing you as much trouble or as much work as some other types of foam on the market.
You can continue working your way through the various insulation types, but you will never find one that works nearly as well as spray foam insulation. It is far and away the winner when it comes to looking for a spray foam solution that can get the job done from the start.
Why Is Insulation Important?
There are a number of reasons why insulation is so important, but the most important thing to remember is that it plays a direct role in how much you pay for your energy bills. If your home doesn’t have the proper insulation, you are likely losing some of the heat or air you are pumping through your house at any given time. You may find that you achieve major cost savings when you use insulation. This ensures you aren’t throwing away your money on electrical bills that keep rising and rising because you do not have the proper insulation to keep them under control.
Anyone who is currently spending too much on their electric bills knows the pain of trying to keep these bills down. Take a moment to consider the products from Ace Insulation Inc. for your insulation needs.
There are many reasons why you’d want your home to have a good seal to protect against the elements. A solid barrier between the interior and exterior of your home can help you save on energy costs. It can also prevent external contaminants from getting into your home.
That’s what insulation is for. There are a few different types of insulation. Spray foam insulation has become one of the more popular types. Homeowners can see that there are a bevy of pros to using spray foam insulation. Read on to learn more about the benefits of spray foam insulation.
Spray foam insulation
What is spray foam insulation? It’s a type of insulation that combines two composite materials (polyurethane and isocyanate) to create a foamy insulating substance that expands and eventually hardens. There are two types of spray foam insulation: open cell and closed cell. Open-cell spray foam insulation is the cheaper of the two, but has a lower R-value, meaning it doesn’t insulate as well as closed cell. Closed-cell spray foam insulation costs more but has a higher R-value. Now we’ll cover some of the pros of spray foam insulation.
Better seal
One of the main benefits of spray foam insulation is the superior seal that it offers. Because of the nature of the substance, you can take spray foam insulation and apply it to small cracks, and it will automatically expand outwards to seal them up. It can be used effectively in crawl spaces and holes as well. By some estimates, it is 24 times less permeable to air movement than other types of insulation, which helps your home maintain a comfortable temperature.
Saves money
An exceptional seal means that your home will expend less energy trying to maintain its desired temperature. Spray foam insulation provides a tighter seal, meaning that it can better repel hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter. One of the main causes of energy inefficiency is inadequate insulation. If your HVAC system doesn’t have to consume as much energy to heat or cool your home, that means you won’t have to pay as much in utility costs.
Eco-friendly
Since spray foam insulation can reduce your energy consumption, it is an eco-friendly insulation solution. In addition to that, it’s one of the longest-lasting insulation materials out there, so you won’t have to have professionals drive out to replace it as often and require them to burn fossil fuels in the process. Spray foam insulation is also made of an inert polymer, which eliminates a potential nutrition source for mold and bacteria, which is beneficial to your home’s air quality.
Impermeable to water
One of the benefits of spray foam insulation is that it forms an excellent barrier against moisture and water. Keeping moisture out of dark areas like your attic is key to preventing mold growth, and in the event of torrential rain or flooding incidents, your home will remain insulated and sealed tight—something that can’t always be said for other types of insulation.
Call to discuss your spray foam insulation today
Now that you understand the pros of installing spray foam insulation, call us at Ace Insulation Inc. We’ve been insulation experts for over a decade, so call us about your home’s insulation today.
Whether you’re building a brand-new home in Northern California or you need to install new insulation in your current home, you’ll need to decide what type of insulation material is best for your needs. While fiberglass has been the standard for decades, spray foam is gaining in popularity as a highly effective thermal barrier. Read on to gain a basic understanding of the differences of fiberglass insulation vs. foam insulation and discover which material you should use for your home.
What are the differences between the materials?
Fiberglass and spray foam insulation are very different materials. Fiberglass insulation is composed of delicate fibers of recycled materials, including melted glass. The fibers are held together with an adhesive backing, like aluminum foil or paper, that resists moisture and vapor. It comes in either batt form, which almost looks like a block of insulation, or loose fill.
Spray foam insulation, on the other hand, is a liquid chemical that comes out of a spray can. It expands immediately as it’s applied, forming an airtight seal over cracks and any other voids. It creates both a thermal and vapor barrier all at once.
Which option resists airflow the best?
An insulation’s airflow resistance is measured in terms of its R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the material is at keeping cold and hot air from seeping into your home. In general, spray foam has a higher R-value when compared to fiberglass insulation. Closed cell spray foam insulation is a particularly effective thermal barrier, with R-values reaching up to 7.0.
Fiberglass insulation can have a high R-value as well when installed by a professional technician. High-density fiberglass options have R-values as high as 4.3, which is generally enough to keep a home in Northern California comfortable during every season. You can also bolster your insulation by having the fiberglass batts stacked on top of each other, whereas you are limited in the number of spray foam layers you can apply in one area.
Which option resists moisture the best?
Moisture resistance is one area where fiberglass and spray foam perform equally well. Either option will give you a good moisture barrier, which is especially important in an area like an attic. Luckily, you won’t see mold or mildew growing on either type of insulation.
Which option is easiest to install?
The process of installation is one of the key differences between fiberglass insulation vs. foam insulation. If you have a wide-open attic with no obstructions, fiberglass batts are the easiest and the cheapest option. For attics with multiple obstructions, spray foam can be installed quickly, but it’s also more expensive.
Knowing the differences between fiberglass insulation vs. foam insulation can help you select the best option for your Northern California home. No matter which option you choose, professional installation by an experienced technician ensures that your property is completely sealed from the air outside. Contact Ace Insulation Inc. today to learn more about the differences between these materials and how we can help you keep your home comfortably insulated all year long.
There are many ways to keep your house in top shape—regular maintenance of appliances and a commitment to landscaping are just a few. One thing that can really help your home’s energy efficiency and resale value, though, is staying on top of its insulation needs. Insulation is one of the easiest ways to ensure your home’s HVAC system is working as it should and that your loved ones are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Their comfort is paramount, and your insulation choice is a big part of that. With this in mind, there are a few things you’ll want to understand about foam and fiberglass insulation in Northern California.
What is fiberglass insulation?
Those traditional pink rolls are probably what many people picture when they think of fiberglass insulation, but it also comes as blown-in loose fill (which is less common). Those large pink rolls of fiberglass insulation in Northern California are called “batts,” and they can cover a lot of space very easily.
However, you’ll want to work with a professional company like Ace Insulation Inc., because these need to be precision-cut to get around obstacles in your home (picture the ductwork in your attic, for example). If these are cut too short, you’ll have gaps that air can easily pass through, while if you cut them too long, the insulation piles and has irregular compression all around—also bad news for your heating and cooling bills!
What is spray foam insulation?
The other popular product that we tend to install the most is spray foam insulation in Northern California. It comes out of spray cans as a liquid, but quickly expands to cover any cracks or openings. It can be “open cell,” which is softer and more pliable because the “cells” of air made by the expanding foam are not fully enclosed, or “closed cell,” which is more rigid because it doesn’t allow any air into its cells at all. As one might guess, closed cell is generally the better insulator.
Spray foam insulation is a great choice for many business owners and homeowners, but it’s a relatively new product that is costly to manufacture and still has a heavier price tag than some people are willing to pay.
The verdict
Spray foam insulation is going to give you an efficiency that really can’t be matched by fiberglass insulation in Northern California, but you’re likely going to pay for that level of quality. On the other hand, fiberglass insulation can last for an extremely long time—it’s not uncommon for this traditional type to last for a century in many homes we work in. Additionally, foam insulation has the drawback of sometimes shrinking over time, meaning it could require occasional touch-up jobs to make sure its coverage is maxed out.
In general, either insulation product has its strengths and weaknesses. At Ace Insulation Inc., we install both in many homes and businesses each year, and a lot of it comes down to what a property owner is looking for and what they’re comfortable spending. Call us today and let’s make a plan together!
Insulation is crucial for a home’s comfort levels and energy efficiency, but a lot of homes don’t have sufficient insulation. Whether your home has worn and outdated insulation or there are gaps in your insulation, it’s important to invest in upgrades as soon as possible to prevent energy waste and keep your home comfortable throughout the year. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of blown-in vs. spray foam insulation in Northern California to make your decision as easy and straightforward as possible.
Blown-in insulation
Blown-in insulation is a material made of fiberglass or cellulose that’s blown into cavities in walls to fill in gaps in insulation. This insulation is ideal for attic spaces with nooks and crannies that are difficult to insulate with fiberglass batting due to their size and shape. Cellulose blown-in insulation is the most affordable option because it is made from recycled materials. Once installed, blown-in insulation can last for up to 25 years while providing very reliable performance.
Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation is typically made of polyurethane that’s applied as a foam and expands and hardens as a solid to create airtight seals in wall gaps—especially in attics. Because spray foam insulation expands after it’s applied, it automatically conforms to the precise shape and dimensions of the space in which it’s being installed. Depending on the material being used, spray foam insulation can last for up to 80 years. Because this type of insulation creates such a strong seal, it’s one of the most effective options when it comes to blocking drafts and minimizing thermal heat transfer in attic spaces.
Choosing the right option
There are a few key factors to weigh when choosing between blown-in vs. spray foam insulation in Northern California:
Price: In many cases, spray foam insulation and blown-in insulation are comparable in price. However, it really depends on the specific type of insulation used. Blown-in insulation made from recycled materials tends to be much more affordable than fiberglass blown-in insulation. To determine the cost of your insulation project, it’s best to get a quote from a professional technician.
Longevity: Spray foam insulation typically lasts much longer than blown-in insulation, but the longevity of your insulation can vary significantly depending on the specifics of the installation process, the material and your property. For the best longevity from your insulation, make sure to work with a professional insulation contractor.
Versatility: Both spray foam insulation and blown-in insulation are versatile and can be shaped to fill virtually any space or gap in your home. In some cases, spray foam insulation can cause problems with moisture damage and mold and mildew growth, so it’s important to get a professional opinion first.
Blown-in vs. spray foam insulation
At Ace Insulation Inc, we know how important it is to choose the right insulation for your needs, and we are here to make sure you get the most out of your investment in home insulation. Whether you need help choosing between blown-in vs. spray foam insulation in Northern California for your attic or you need comprehensive insulation for home construction or renovation, we are here to help you. Give us a call to find out more about what we have to offer and to request a quote for our services.
Areas Served
Proudly providing residential and commercial insulation installation to Petaluma, CA and the surrounding areas including:
Certificate of Approved Applicator from SWD, approved to install quik-shield polyurethane foam and coating products in residential and commercial applications according to the standards and guidelines as set forth by SWD Urethane
