Spray Foam Insulation – The Basics

Spray foam Assured Insulation is a popular choice for homeowners looking to reduce their energy costs, increase comfort and improve the overall quality of their homes. But this popular product has a few pitfalls that you should be aware of before making the decision to use it in your home.

Closed and open-cell spray polyurethane insulation are the two primary types of spray foam available to homeowners. Both are very good insulators, but each has different properties and advantages.

A qualified insulation crew will start by preparing the area to be sprayed. They will clean the surface and ensure that it is free of dust, dirt, debris, and any other contaminants that could affect the effectiveness of the spray foam.

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After the preparation work is complete, the crew will run a hose to the area that needs to be sprayed – an attic, crawl space or rim joist in an existing home; new construction walls or unfinished pole barns in new construction; or concrete block walls in commercial structures. The hose will spray a liquid formula that expands 100 times its original volume, filling every nook and cranny to form a tight seal.

The “A” side of the formulation is usually a mix of polyols, catalysts, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or a pMDI blend, and the “B” side of the formula has a blowing agent, flame retardants, and surfactants. The combination of these ingredients creates a chemical reaction that results in the formation of foam. The crew will then carefully cover the sprayed areas with a thick layer of the foam. The resulting layer of foam will air seal the building envelope and protect it from the single biggest source of heat loss, which is air leakage.