Housing insulation has come a long way over the years. Back in the day people just poured stuff into their walls to slow heat loss. Sawdust was a popular choice until replaced by vermiculite, small pebbles like kitty litter. You are probably most familiar with fiberglass insulation.
When it comes to insulating our homes we have better means at our disposal now a days.
Spray foam insulation is the best way to cost effectively keep your home cool.
Benefits of spray foam insulation.
Create an air barrier. Seal air leaks with spray foam. It will expand to fill cracks that other insulation types can not reach.
Waterproofing. Other types of insulation have no protection from moisture. Spray foam is a polyurethane spray that acts as a highly effective barrier keeping the moisture out.
There are two basic types of spray foam insulation:
1-part foam: This is the type of foam sold in hardware stores. It is very sticky when sprayed and begins to expand as soon as it is sprayed.
2-part foam: One part foam is great for filling in cracks and gaps around your home, but when you have a large area like an attic 2 part foam is what is used. It is made up of resin and a catalyst that are mixed together when sprayed.
Do it yourself or hire a professional?
DIY spray foam kit
Pros:
- If you need to insulate a small area then a do it yourself kit is fast, and possibly the cheapest way to go.
- You can easily find a kit at a local hardware store like Lowes and Home Depot. so you won’t have to schedule around the availability of a contractor.
Cons:
- Improper mixing. You have to set everything up just right or you run the risk of ruining an entire batch of foam.
- You have to be fast. You get about 30 seconds before the nozzle clogs once you stop spraying. Be ready to do the entire area in one go. If you need to switch nozzles have them laid out so you can make the change before the foam clogs in the hose.
- The foam is incredibly sticky and will be hard to remove if sprayed by accident. Make sure you have a protective suit, gloves, mask, etc.
- If you mix it wrong the foam may actually not stick at all. You also need to have your surface prepared so the foam won’t slide off.
Hiring an Insulation Contractor Pros and Cons
Pros:
- If you need to insulate the inside of your walls, hiring a professional is the only way to do it without tearing down your walls.
- Hiring a contractor in the fastest way to get the job done.
- A licensed contractor will have insurance. So if anything goes wrong you are not left with the cost of repairs.
- Get rid of the old stuff. Chances are you already have something acting as insulation that will need to be removed and disposed of. A contractor will take care of it for you.
- Avoid hidden problems. A contractor will spot issues that you probably will not, and take care of it before it becomes a bigger issue.
Cons:
- Contractors can be more expensive than doing it yourself.
- If you don’t do your homework you may hire a bad contractor that can cause problems that increase prices.
Click here to learn more about spray foam insulation and how we can help improve the efficiency of your home.
