NW JACKSONVILLE Blog

Installing Closed-Cell Spray In Metal Buildings For More Benefits

Spray foam is a quality choice among your insulation options. This strong insulator offers many benefits to both residential and commercial properties in two forms: closed-cell and open-cell spray foam. Closed-cell spray foam specifically is a great solution for property owners who need to insulate metal buildings, such as barns, storage units, or containment centers. Whatever your needs, this type of material provides sufficient protection and support to your structures. 

Debunking Closed-Cell Spray Foam Myths

Spray foam is becoming a more popular choice for residential buildings but it's been a staple in commercial construction for decades now. Unfortunately, there are still a number of myths surrounding the material that impact the interest of owners looking for quality insulation choices. A primary issue is the misconceptions about the safety of spray foam types.

Spray foam insulation is a mixture of two chemicals that are combined on-site and fed through a hose into stud cavities, inside cracks, and onto surfaces where it expands to fit inside a space. While the chemicals may be dangerous if mixed or handled incorrectly, the team at Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville has the proper training and experience to handle closed-cell spray foam. Our professionals ensure the mixture is correctly balanced and adequately applied before allowing anyone back into the building.

Closed-cell spray foam is also technically a flammable material. That’s why it’s covered in an intumescent coating, which is actually a covering that is used on many other flammable materials throughout your home. This coating provides a layer that is flame-retardant and reduces the risk of a fire hazard from the material.

Before you avoid a type of insulation because of the negative myths and misconceptions of a product, consult your local expert. Professionals at Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville can help you break down which myths are misunderstandings and what material should be avoided in your home.

4 Benefits of Closed-Cell Spray Foam for Metal Buildings

Both closed-cell and open-cell spray foam are great options for improving the environment of your home, business, or storage space to maintain comfort and safety. For metal buildings in particular, though, closed-cell spray foam’s benefits offer more advantages for the building envelope.

1. Thermal Barrier

Insulation is installed in a building to regulate temperature and reduce the impact of outdoor temperatures. This thermal barrier provides support to the climate control systems in the building. The effectiveness of an insulation material’s ability to reduce heat transfer is measured by its resistance value, or R-value.

Closed-cell spray foam has an average R-value of R-6.9 per inch of depth, which is one of the highest resistance values for insulation materials. A higher R-value typically means less material needs to be added to provide a quality thermal barrier. This means you don’t need to install thick batts or fill wall cavities with several inches worth of material.

1. Air Sealant

Air leaks in a building envelope result in poor indoor air quality, moisture, and pest infestation. You’re most likely to find these problematic spaces around outdoor access points like window sills and door jambs, but hidden air leaks cause just as much damage and discomfort. Areas like wiring holes, pipes, and vents create a leaky building. Quality air sealing needs to be installed to protect your space.

When closed-cell spray foam expands on contact with a surface, it quickly seeps into these gaps and holes to create an air-tight finish. This insulation works with your ventilation systems to improve airflow, reduce humidity, and prevent mold growth. Well-maintained materials also deter pests by reducing their entry points into your home.

1. Supportive Layer

One significant issue for metal buildings is removing damaged wall panels; closed-cell spray foam insulation is the first step in preventative practice against this problem. A major benefit that separates closed-cell from its open-cell counterpart is its ability to provide structural support to your building envelope.

Closed-cell spray foam is known for being a rigid and highly dense material. This rigidity is what helps to prevent damage to the surface it’s applied on, increasing the structural integrity by reinforcing the walls and roof. When combining the benefits of thermal resistance and air sealing, you’re also preventing corrosion from moisture and condensation from irregular temperatures and hidden moisture.

1. Roof Application

Closed-cell spray foam has a unique make-up that makes it an effective material to install on the rooftop of a building. Unfortunately, some property owners don’t have the time or energy to move everything out of an existing unit to install spray foam within walls or on the ceiling. In these cases, installing spray foam on the roof can offer just enough benefits for the space inside the structure.

This type of material is a strong sealant that can withstand severe weather and damage. This roofing can protect your building from extreme temperatures and weathering in an effort to extend the lifespan and integrity of your space’s roof.

Schedule An Evaluation To Learn More About Closed-Cell Spray Foam

When it comes to improving your comfort, safety, and savings, it's important to have the right materials installed in your space. While spray foam insulation is a great material to have in a residential, commercial, or industrial building, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. At Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville, we're dedicated to bringing your household or business cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions that are the right fit for your building's unique needs.

To learn more about your space without taking up time and expenses, we offer free evaluations to give you more details on the current condition of the insulation and air sealing in your space. Is a spray foam insulation installation the right choice for your home improvement upgrade or business renovation? Talk to local experts at Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville to find out more with a free evaluation.