Spray Foam Insulation: Pros & Cons

Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a comfortable home and managing electricity costs, especially here in the South! With advancements in the industry, more insulation options are available than ever before. Spray Foam insulation is one of those innovative products that has become a “buzzword” in construction and home improvement. Known for its exceptional sealing properties and energy efficiency, Spray Foam offers many benefits—but it’s not without drawbacks. In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of Spray Foam insulation to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your home!

 

 

The Goal of Insulation 

Think of your home as an envelope full of air, built with a variety of materials with different properties and porosity levels. Insulation is the material within your walls and above your ceiling that holds your conditioned air inside and minimizes leakage through pores and cracks. This process is called Air Transfer. In many older homes, you’ll notice that cooled (or heated) air drains quickly from the space after the HVAC shuts off. The primary goal of insulation is to reduce air transfer and enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

Air Transfer and Energy Efficiency are, therefore, important balancing acts. On one hand, you want very little Air Transfer in order to keep your energy bills low. On the other hand, you don’t want your home to be so tightly sealed that it becomes stuffy and traps bacteria inside. Ideally, insulation provides a stable, climate-controlled environment with minimal, yet necessary, breathability. 

 

What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

When we hear “insulation”, most of us picture cotton-candy-like fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass insulation has dominated the industry for years and can be found in approximately 70% of homes (Source). Yet, it's important to explore the various other types of insulation available to find what’s best for your home. 

Spray Foam insulation, introduced in the 70s and 80s, is gaining popularity for it’s energy efficiency. It is applied as a liquid solution that expands to fill gaps, cracks, and cavities, creating a completely airtight seal. It’s commonly used in walls, attics, crawl spaces, and basements. There are several types of foam insulation (Open Cell and Closed Cell) that offer various levels of density, with their own set of pros and cons. This post will cover Spray Foam in general, but the specific type of spray foam should be chosen carefully on a project-by-project basis. 

 

Pros of Spray Foam Insulation

 

1. Incredible Energy Efficiency

Spray foam insulation has one of the highest R-values (thermal resistance) of any insulation type.  R-value is the rating of an insulation’s ability to resist heat – the higher the R-value, the better the insulation’s performance. Because it fills every tiny gap, Spray Foam provides the best R-value per inch, maintaining indoor temperatures extremely effectively. This can result in significant energy savings by reducing heating and cooling costs. 

 

2. Long-Lasting & Durable

Once applied, Spray Foam dries into a semi-permanent substance. This makes it highly durable – it does not sag or settle over time like fiberglass or cellulose insulation. It can last the lifetime of the home, reducing the need for future insulation upgrades.

 

3. Noise Reduction

Some types of Spray Foam have sound-reducing properties, helping to minimize noise between rooms or from outside sources like traffic and neighbors. If you’re planning to invest in Spray Foam for this purpose, we highly recommend considering soundproof windows and doors as well.

 

4. Potential Cost Savings

Although the initial cost of Spray Foam is higher than other forms of insulation, homeowners can recoup the investment through lower energy bills over time. Note that depending on the size of the home and type of Spray Foam used, it may be 10+ years before you see a return on your investment.  

 

 

 

Cons of Spray Foam Insulation

 

1. Higher Upfront Cost

Spray Foam is significantly more expensive than other types of insulation. Compared to fiberglass insulation, it can cost double or more per square foot. 

 

2. Professional Installation Required

Unlike batt or blown-in insulation, spray foam is not a very DIY-friendly option because it requires specialized equipment and proper application. Respirators, ventilation, and protective clothing are required when applying large-scale spray foam. DIY is possible on a smaller scale–such as filling small gaps and holes–if proper precautions are taken. 

 

3. Potential Health Concerns

In addition to health concerns during installation, homes fully insulated with Spray Foam should be monitored for proper air quality. If the home is sealed too tightly, it may be necessary to introduce a Make Up Air System into the home. 

 

4. Difficult to Modify or Remove

Spray foam is a semi-permanent material. Once it hardens, it adheres to the framing (studs, sheeting, headers, drywall, etc.) and creates an extremely strong bond. This makes electrical and plumbing repairs quite challenging, as removing the insulation will require you to chisel it out. Unlike fiberglass insulation, it also cannot be reinstalled. 

 

Is Spray Foam Insulation Right for You?

 

Before deciding on spray foam insulation, consider these factors:

• Do the energy savings in your specific climate offset the higher initial cost?
• Do you have any plans to remodel or modify the plumbing or electrical in your home?
• Do you have a way to determine if your home will require Make-Up Air? 

If spray foam isn’t the right choice, other options like fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose, or rigid foam boards might better suit your needs.

 

Our Recommendation

For smaller Remodeling Projects, we have found spray foam to be ideal for several “niche” situations. We use spray foam to meet energy standards in small cavities where fiberglass insulation would never reach energy codes. Spray foam requires less space to reach the required R-value than fiberglass insulation, making it perfect for scenarios with limited space within the framing. Vaulted ceilings are a great example of this: the space between ceiling and rafters can be very minimal, making it impossible to fit the required amount of fiberglass insulation in the cavity. Spray Foam provides the necessary R-value with less volume.

For Home Additions and Custom Homes, there are several options for spray foam application. Since the roof is exposed to the elements every day, insulating above the ceiling joists or within the roof rafters offers strategic ways to combat radiant heat from the sun. If you choose to insulate your rafters, you’ll gain the added benefit of climate-controlled storage. Just remember to factor in the extra space when planning your HVAC! 

If you have questions about how spray foam would best be incorporated into your New Home or Remodel Project, Contact Our Team! We would be happy to talk you through the process, pros, and cons and determine what would work best for you.