Have you ever cranked up the heat in your home only to find that you’re still struggling to stay warm? After pulling on your thickest sweaters, you may find yourself wondering if it’s time to invest in a new HVAC system.
Well, we have some surprising news for you. The problem may not be your heater at all. Instead, you may have faulty or old insulation!
Insulation is the key to helping your home
- Maintain its internal temperature
- Keep its energy costs low
- Keep unwanted moisture out of your home
Old or improperly installed installation may be keeping your home from functioning properly. If you are looking to install new insulation in your home, you might be wondering how thick does spray foam need to be? This type of insulation has gained popularity over the years for a variety of reasons.
Want to learn more? Read on to find out more about spray foam, including its benefits, cost, and optimum thickness to protect your home.
What Does Insulation Do?
Insulation is designed to, well, insulate your home.
Most people think of insulation as a tool to help maintain the temperature of your home. The truth is, it does much more than that.
- Weather Resistance 🌨️ – Do you live in a climate with extreme temperatures? Insulation can help protect you against it. By creating an effective air seal, it is designed to keep outside temperatures out of your home.
- Prevent Mold Growth 🍄 – Functioning insulation helps to keep moisture out of your home. Without it, you are at risk of developing mold and mildew in your walls.
- Prevent Water Damage 🌊 – By helping to keep water out, insulation also works to prevent water damage to your floors and walls.
- Keeps Your Bills Low 📉 – Are your energy bills getting more expensive for no reason? It could be your insulation. Improperly installed insulation can allow outside air to seep in, which makes your heating and cooling systems work extra hard to keep up. Proper insulation will lower your bills significantly.
- Help With Allergies 🤧 – If you are prone to seasonal allergies, you might want to consider stepping up your insulation game. After all, by keeping out external air, you will also be keeping out pollutants that can trigger allergies.
Why Choose Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation is quickly becoming a go-to choice for homeowners all over the country.
Fights Moisture 💧
If you live in a particularly damp climate, spray foam could be a great choice for you. It is particularly moisture resistant in order to keep your home free of water damage and mold growth.
Easy Installation 🔨
Spray foam is particularly easy to install, especially in small, hard-to-reach spaces. Additionally, it dries quickly, which means that you can spend less time in the installation process and more time on what is important to you.
Durable 🪨
Other popular types of insulation tend to break down and become less effective over time. This is not the case with spray foam. Well-installed spray foam can last for decades and won’t contract and expand with changing weather conditions.
Reduces Sound 🎧
Live in a noisy area? Spray foam helps create effective soundproofing for your home.
Strengthens Buildings 💪
Spray foam actually helps strengthen the walls of your home by providing an extra layer of support.
What Types of Spray Foam Insulation Are Available?
When it comes to spray foam, there are two main types to consider.
1) Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation
For homes in milder climates, open-cell spray foam is an excellent choice. It is not as thick as other types, making it less effective in protecting against extreme weather.
2) Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation
If you want the best protection possible, closed cell spray foam is for you! This denser style of foam has superior insulating properties, making it ideal for climates that experience high levels of hot and cold weather.
What Thickness of Spray Foam Is Required?
So, you want to use spray foam insulation. But what is the best thickness to protect your home? The answer is that it depends on the style you use.
For closed cell spray foam, you’ll want to make sure that your foam is 2-3 inches thick on the walls and 4-5 inches thick on the roof deck. For open-cell foam, the same thickness is needed for the walls, but the roof deck should be sprayed to be 6-10 inches thick.
An insulation professional will help you assess your home and decide whether multiple applications are needed to achieve the recommended thickness.
Get Professional Installation Today!
Ready to get started? At First American, we can help you with all your insulation needs! When it comes to protecting your home, you want a team you can trust. Contact us today to set up a free estimate.
