The Hidden Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation on the market. Since its creation in the 1970s, polyurethane spray foam has been a massive success for home and business owners throughout the world. Though you might never expect it from a thing such as spray foam, its properties as an insulator are far beyond what the construction industry ever could have hoped for. Not only does it have a high R-value (meaning it holds in heat well), but you’ll only have to apply it once since it can last up to an entire century! For perspective, that means if you bought a house that was treated with spray form insulation in 1970, you’d still have 45 more years of high quality insulation!
Benefits like these are known far and wide in construction, architecture, and engineering. But what if we told you that there are hidden benefits, as well? Invisible bonuses that spray foam insulation provides you even without your knowledge? Today, we’re discussing the hidden strengths of spray foam insulation in homes just like yours.
Structural Support for Your Home
One of the most surprising benefits of spray foam insulation is the fact that it’s the only insulation that actually improves your home’s structural integrity. You see, when spray foam insulation is applied, it’s applied as two liquid chemicals that rapidly expand into a quick-hardening foam when mixed. This foam is highly adhesive when it first forms, sticking to whatever it touches. As the foam hardens, it dries, forming a powerful bond.
That’s all a fancy way of saying this: spray foam is practically a glue.
In fact, this spray foam “glue” is so powerful, that closed-cell spray foam has a compression strength of 40-50 pounds per square inch (psi). For reference, a 10-inch by 10-inch cube with a strength of 50 psi could withstand 5,000 pounds of force—that’s the weight of an average SUV!
When you apply spray foam insulation to your home’s walls or roof, you’re essentially adding all that strength to your home’s structural integrity. In the end, that means spray foam insulation can work wonders on your home’s longevity.
Water-Proof, Insect-Proof, and Sound-Proof(ish)
Other lesser-known benefits to spray foam insulation are its water, insect, and sound proofing qualities. Because of its strength and airtight sealing, closed cell spray foam is practically impermeable to water and insects. At the same time, it acts as tremendous sound proofing, helping to reduce outside noises such from:
- Local and highway traffic
- People talking, shouting, or listening to music
- Lawnmowers, weedwhackers, and lawn care devices
- Weather conditions such as heavy wind, rain, and hail
Enhanced Air Quality and Allergen Resistance
Believe it or not, closed cell spray foam is also airtight. Closed cell spray foam is—as the name implies—internally sealed in small, cell-like structures. Simply put, that means air can’t transfer from one side of closed cell insulation to the other by going through it. As a result, your indoor air quality will never leak out through proper closed cell insulation. At the same time, infiltrators such as allergens can’t make their way into your home through spray foam. If you have bad allergies, then spray foam insulation may be the perfect choice for you.
Request Spray Foam Insulation for Your Home Today!
With so many hidden benefits, it’s no surprise why informed homeowners choose spray foam insulation. If you’re interested in exploring spray foam insulation for your home or business, our professionals at Spartan insulation are happy to help. Click here to contact us about all of our insulation services!
