Insulation 101: Comparing Closed-Cell and Open-Cell Spray Foam Insulat

Insulation 101: Comparing Closed-Cell and Open-Cell Spray Foam Insulation

What is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation is a strong insulator and air sealant often used on ceilings, walls, and floors. There are two variants, open-cell and closed-cell spray foam. Each has its own benefits and uses, depending on your home's needs. Open-cell spray foam is most easily recognized by its bubbly, cloud-like appearance and is more commonly installed in hotter climates. Closed-cell is more rigid and dense, providing better structural support and often the choice when considering a vapor barrier.

The chemicals used are mixed on-site and then sent through a hose into the stud cavity, where the chemicals react together and harden to create a long-term barrier. Insulation technicians must be trained and certified in order to be able to properly handle and install the material. This is to ensure the chemicals are balanced, safely applied, and that the expansion of the foam is set and complete before the household reenters.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam

R-Value

The R-Value of insulation is the numerical measurement of the material’s ability to slow heat transfer, which is the rate at which heat moves through a structure. Closed-cell insulation has an average R-Value of 6.5 per inch of depth, one of the highest out of your insulation options. With a high R-Value, closed-cell spray foam is able to effectively keep out unwanted heat in the summer and trap desired warmth during the winter.

A higher R-value typically means less material needs to be applied while still doing an efficient job. When spray foam is applied, it fills cracks, gaps, and holes in the structure, blocking potential air leaks. This air sealing capability helps your home stay temperature regulated while also blocking the entrance of bacteria, allergens, and other outdoor pollutants.

Moisture Barrier

The R-Value isn't the only important part of insulation material. Some types of insulation can also help prevent moisture and condensation from affecting your structure by creating a moisture barrier. Having this assistance is important to prevent high humidity, which can increase the risk of mold growth and attract pests like dust mites and termites.

Mold and bacteria growth are dangerous hazards for you and your household as they can lead to dangerous illnesses and airborne pathogens circulating through the home. While this is an increased risk for people with respiratory complications like asthma and severe allergic reactions, mold spores are harmful to any individual and should be taken care of immediately. Closed-cell spray foam provides a necessary preventative measure to improve the safety of your home.

Structural Support

Due to the high-density and rigid nature of closed-cell foam, this insulation can also provide structural support to your building. When the closed-cell foam is applied to walls, in between ceiling or floor joists, and even on roofs, it helps strengthen the surface. While it's most often used for commercial and industrial buildings, the building envelope of your home can benefit from this aspect of closed-cell spray foam. While it's always dependant on variables like code requirements, climate zone, and even regular weather patterns, your local insulation experts can provide more information on how closed-cell spray foam can contribute to your home's comfort, safety, and savings.

Open-Cell Spray Foam

R-Value

In comparison to closed-cell spray foam, open-cell has a significantly lower R-value. This insulation has an average R-value of 3.7 per inch of depth, which is still higher than most materials that are commonly installed in residential buildings. However, because the chemicals react as the spray foam is being applied, the more material that is applied to your structure means a higher R-value due to the thickness.

It’s important to figure out which type of insulation is best for your specific home and climate. For example, if your home is in a hotter climate, open-cell spray foam is more commonly used than closed-cell spray foam. As mentioned earlier, an evaluation from your local insulation experts will help you and your household determine what kind of material is best for the needs of your home.

Noise Reduction

Open-cell spray foam is considered a better sound barrier than closed-cell spray foam. This material is more porous, which is better for trapping sound. Insulation provides noise reduction, working as a sound barrier in the same way it slows heat transfer; the material slows the movement of sound waves through a structure, helping to reduce noise coming in from outside and other rooms or floors. The hard and rigid nature that makes closed-cell foam exceptional at preventing heat transfer and structural support makes it weak at reducing noise. Because open-cell spray foam is less dense than closed-cell foam, it’s able to better reflect the noise in your home.

Flexible

Open-cell spray foam is considered a lightweight material, as it typically only weighs about ½ pound per cubic foot. Due to its weight, this type of insulation is more flexible than other materials, which is because of the interconnected open cells. The flexibility of open-cell spray foam is beneficial for seasonal expansion and contraction, which you may notice as the house “settles” throughout the year. This helps to prevent air leaks, which are problematic even as tiny openings and cracks throughout the building envelope.

Discuss Your Options with South Kansas City Experts

It’s important to remember that every house has its own specific needs and requirements. As such, the insulation choices available to you can feel overwhelming if you’re not aware of how the benefits can influence your environment. Koala Insulation of South Kansas City provides free evaluations to not only break down the current condition of your home’s insulation, but also help you and your household understand how new material and air sealing can improve your comfort, safety, and savings. Contact our team of industry experts to schedule your evaluation and learn more about how you can make cost-effective and energy-efficient changes to upgrade your space.