|
Sprayed insulation is one of the more commonly used methods of insulating homes, especially the more energy conscious new homes and those in climates with extreme hot or cold weather. Sprayed insulation is used because it can create a more dense insulation with a much higher R-value.
R-values are the measurement used to determine how well insulated a surface is. For example, a wall in a moderate climate may be insulated with an insulation product with an R-value of around 20. This is sufficient because the majority of heat or cold is lost through the windows or roof. On the other hand, the roof’s insulation R-value should be much higher because with the way heat rises, all of the homes costly heating would be lost out the ceiling if the R-value were not at least R-30 for cold climates.
Spray insulation is a foam substance that turns to rubber as it dries and expands. Expanding foam insulation is ideal for getting into each and every little gap and preventing dampening of the interior walls, ice damns from building up within the wall itself and a host of other problems. When sprayed it reaches and seals all areas.
The foams used in spray insulations are extremely dense when dry. Comparing it to fibreglass insulation, foams can create an R-value of about 38 in the same space where the fibreglass rating would be around 19 – or double the insulation effectiveness..
Acoustical Foam vs. Sprayed Insulation
There are many difference is the materials used to create great acoustics and those to insulate against weather. Acoustical foam is used to absorb sound so that it doesn’t bounce back and become distorted before we can hear it. Acoustical foam panels are generally placed on top of the walls and ceilings instead of inside them.
Many home theatres will use different external foams to create a reduction in white noise and provide more realistic sound from sound systems. This type of foam installation on top of the wall does little or nothing to change the temperature or moisture in a room, where that is the exact purpose of the sprayed insulation.
|
