There is a material that is used for insulation in our homes that provides sound-proofing, protection against bug ingress, fills all cavities and crevices and gives excellent heat loss resistance. If you haven't guessed what it is the title gives it away, spray foam insulation.
Spray on foam insulation is comprised of liquid polyurethane foam. It is sprayed onto house walls and into roof spaces where it expands to fill the gaps and crevices that it can get into. Spray on insulation has a number of advantages over other insulation materials. Unlike fiberglass it does not compress over time and so removes the need to replace it or boost its insulating properties after a few years. Spray insulation does not cause skin irritation if contact is made with it and it can also improve the integrity of the building it is being used in. When sprayed onto the underside of a roof it can take the place of broken felt and also help hold slates or tiles onto a roof thus improving the structural soundness of the roof.
Nowadays a new build will incorporate insulation in the cavity between the external and internal walls of the building. If the structure was built without this then spray foam insulation is an excellent material to use to add this much needed insulation barrier. It can be injected through holes drilled in the outer or inner wall and it then expands to fill the cavity making it an excellent option for cavity wall insulation after construction has been completed.
Along with it's fantastic insulating properties spray foam insulation also has excellent acoustic properties. This means that it is fantastic at soundproofing. If you only have a timber framed stud wall between the children's bedroom and your own then spray foam insulation is the answer to your prayers. Inject it between the two wall faces and the screams of your children as they play in the next room will be a distant memory.
Spray foam insulation sounds like the answer to every homeowners insulation problems but it does have it's disadvantages. If you do not feel confident enough to tackle the job yourself you will need to employ a specialist company and this can run to great expense. There are some people who claim that the spray insulation can shrink slightly after it has cured, thus leaving air gaps where you thought that the foam had filled.
Spray foam insulation comes in two different forms, open and closed cell. The open cell version is called isocyanurate and the closed cell variety is known as polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. The closed cell versions completely seal the area that they are applied to and prevent airflow totally. The open cell versions trap pockets of air and reduce the speed of airflow. Obviously the closed cell version is superior as it completely seals the area and does not allow the ingress of water or other things.
There is no doubt that spray foam insulation is high up the list on insulators to be considered when taking on an insulation project.
Spray on foam insulation is comprised of liquid polyurethane foam