Spray foam insulation vs.
Is spray foam insulation better.
As you can see from the comparison table spray foam is not the best material for sound insulation.
Closed cell spray foam insulation has the lowest noise deadening ratings.
If the hvac equipment and air ducts are in your attic it is better to install spray foam insulation specifically with open cell spray foam to protect the equipment and ducts.
Even though it was far more expensive they noted that it performs much better.
Both products are better than not having any insulation at all and they ve been used in homes for a long time now but by today s standard they simply don t stand up to the far more efficient option of polyurethane spray foam.
This makes the foam a softer more flexable material.
Spray foam expands up to 100 times its original size to fill every corner of your home s envelope for thermal insulation and air sealing.
The attic roofline is typically insulated with 5 nominal fill foam resulting in an r value close to 20.
However if your attic doesn t have any hvac equipment or air ducts you.
In other words the cells are deliberatly left open.
Spray foam insulation has less market share but is increasing in popularity.
Fiberglass insulation is significantly cheaper than spray foam insulation but it is also less effective especially in extremely cold conditions used in roughly 85 of american homes fiberglass insulation is the most common form of home insulation.
It s hard to perfectly install fiberglass and cellulose.
Spray foam is the better choice when it comes to long term cost and thermal resistance.
And because it can insulate a house more effectively you won t have to spend as much on.
Unlike other kinds of insulation like cellulose spray foam provides better insulation because its fluid nature allows for it to go through tiny crevices.
In general spray foam insulation will cost more than blown in blanket wall insulation with loose fill attic insulation r 40 as a standard.
Spray foam can stop cold air from passing through your house while fiberglass can have air leakage that will.
Any spaces and gaps that aren t filled can equate to the size of a basketball with enough air leakage everyday to fill two air blimps.
Open cell foam is full of cells that aren t completely encapsulated.
Open cell polyurethane spray foam performs better with noise reduction and comparable to fiberglass batten insulation.
Cellulose for attic insulation.
The four most important factors when choosing an insulation material for your home are r value soundproofing safety and cost.
Regardless of which material you choose to insulate your home with any form of insulation is better than no insulation.