Is your home drafty and inefficient? Do you suffer from high energy bills trying to keep it comfortably heated and cooled? Installing spray foam can transform even old homes by properly insulating your existing walls. Read on to learn all about how spray foam insulation can be applied to existing walls to save money and improve comfort.
Why is Insulation Necessary in a Home?
A properly insulated home provides a thermal barrier between the inside and outside temperatures. This barrier regulates heat flow so your home stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Home insulation also reduces airflow through cracks and gaps. This air sealing creates a quieter indoor space and leads to better air quality—an insulated home costs less to heat and cool – saving money while increasing comfort.
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation starts as a liquid that is sprayed into place using special equipment and expertise. As it cures, it expands to fill cracks and voids, forming a seamless insulating and air-sealing barrier. The tight seal created by spray foam stops conditioned air from escaping out of your home. There are two main types – open-cell and closed-cell spray foam.
What is the Difference Between Open Cell and Closed Cell Spray Foam?
Open-cell spray foam has a spongy texture that allows water vapor to pass through. It offers insulation performance with an R-value of around R3.7 per inch. Open cell foam is well suited for insulating finished areas and for filling wall cavities.
Closed-cell spray foam has a denser feel and structure. It forms a moisture barrier while still allowing some diffusion to prevent moisture buildup. Closed cell foam provides thermal resistance of about R6-R7.4 per inch. Its rigidity also provides structural enhancement. Closed cell works well for moisture-prone areas of the home like basements.
The Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
Energy Efficiency
The unmatched air sealing and insulation value of spray foam drastically cuts energy costs. Heat and cooling stay locked inside your home instead of escaping through cracks and gaps. This saves huge amounts on monthly bills, paying for itself over time. Careful application ensures every wall cavity performs optimally.
Temperature Regulation
By preventing air transfer in and out, spray foam helps to regulate temperatures indoors. No more frigid drafts or sweltering hot spots. Your home holds the desired temp far more evenly from room to room. Family members gain comfort and control over their own spaces with spray foam protection.
Sound Dampening
One annoyance spray foam alleviates is outside noise permeating walls. By filling cracks and voids, sound waves encounter a barrier, muting vibrations before they enter living areas. Traffic, equipment, and loud neighbors get reduced to peaceful tranquility inside a foam-insulated home.
Air Quality
Indoor air quality matters hugely for health and comfort. Sealing the building envelope means regulating humidity within ideal ranges and blocking the entrance of pollutants like dust and allergens.
Comfort
The highest priority with spray foam insulation is boosting comfort. Even the most efficient house makes homeowners miserable if it is uncomfortably drafty or humid. Our experts tailor the ideal plan to focus on comfort first while still elevating efficiency. You’ll love living in your cozy oasis for decades onward.
Efficiency
The exceptional air sealing and insulation spray foam provides drastically improves your home’s energy efficiency. With heat and cooling prevented from escaping out of your walls, less energy is required to maintain a comfortable temperature. This directly translates into lower monthly utility bills. Your HVAC system will run less frequently and endure far less strain, trying to compensate for air leaks. All the upgrades enabled by spray foam add up to thousands saved on energy costs every year.
Is it Possible to Install Spray Foam Insulation in Existing Walls?
Unfortunately, it is not feasible to install spray foam insulation inside existing walls without major reconstruction. The wall cavities in most homes are completely enclosed behind drywall or other wall surfaces. Short of extensive demolition by opening up walls throughout a home, there is no way to access these cavities to spray foam inside.
One effective alternative is to inject injection foam insulation into holes strategically drilled into the wall. This specialized injection foam insulation can permeate deep within wall cavities through small openings. When applied by an expert insulation contractor, injection foam insulation thoroughly permeates the cavity while filling the cavity to provide robust insulation power.
About Cincinnati RetroFoam
Since 2015, Cincinnati RetroFoam has offered premium spray foam insulation to area homeowners. Our goal is to make homes safer, healthier, more comfortable, and efficient. We pride ourselves on award-winning service, giving back to the community, and bringing solutions no one else provides to the Cincinnati market. Contact us today to transform your home with spray foam insulation!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Spray Foam Insulation Safe for Indoor Use?
Yes, spray polyurethane foam is safe for homes when properly installed by certified professionals. Extensive 3rd party testing by scientists and building code organizations deem cured foam harmless. Once fully hardened, it is non-toxic with no off-gassing or air quality risks. Any fumes during the brief installation process get vented outside. Protective gear ensures installer safety as well.
What is the Cost Implication of Installing Spray Foam Insulation in Existing Walls?
Installing spray foam insulation inside existing walls with finished interiors is usually too expensive for most homeowners. First, all the drywall and wall surfaces would have to be taken down throughout the home. Then, the walls could be spray-foamed. Finally, brand-new wall interiors and drywall would need to be installed again after. For existing walls, it is best to have injection foam injected into each wall cavity without having to tear out the drywall.
How Long Does Spray Foam Insulation Last?
One major advantage of spray foam is its exceptionally long lifespan. When installed correctly by qualified professionals, it will last decades.