Green Stamp Insulation - Spray Foam and Other Insulations
Tel #: (781) 899-3618 Fax #: (781) 547-5659
We are the building envelope specialists
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam insulation (aka spray polyurethane foam or SPF and Icynene) is the product of a well known reaction used to create polyurethane plastics. Foam insulation has been used in the building trades for over 60 years. It is a well known, extremely stable, material that retains its insulating qualities for the life of the material.
Benefits of Spray Foam
Spray Foam Insulation is across the board, the best of all possible insulation alternatives. Depending on the choice of spray foam, it can offer you any or all of the following benefits:
- Creation of a complete air barrier
- Intrinsically includes a vapor barrier
- Prevents Rodent and Insect intrusion
- Prevents Mold
- Prevents Ice Damming
- Is a structural material
- Prevents squeaking building components
- Has the highest possible R-Value Perinch
- May be applied directly to almost any substrate
Our Manufacturers
At Green Stamp, our experience has lead us to believe that one manufacturer far surpasses the rest in spray foam insulation. That manufacturer is LaPolla Foam of Houston, TX. LaPolla’s open cell SPF is hands down, the best foam on the market. It is an incredibly consistent foam with top notch cell structural and fantastic product. We also believe quite strongly in LaPolla’s closed cell 2.0 lb per cubic foot insulation. However, we are also trained applicators in spraying foam for Corbond©, Demilec© and Apex© Foam Systems.
Open Cell SPF is the most efficient usage of polyurethane foam in terms of delivered R-Value and air barriers on the market. This means that the least amount of material is necessary to create the greatest amount of effect. As an insulator, it would be used in construction much the same way as unfaced-fiberglass insulation would be used. However, it has the added ability of being an air barrier as well.
As it is estimated that up to 40% of heat loss occurs through air leakage from a home, a high percentage of this heat loss would be prevented with the use of an open cell foam.
If open cell foam creates an air barrier, than closed cell foam can’t really improve upon that. Rather, closed cell foam is used in other circumstances. Closed cell foam has a higher R-Value than other alternative insulations such as fiberglass, cellulose or open cell SPF. This means that closed cell SPF may be used in a 2x4 stud cavity to achieve an R-19+ rating. Closed cell foam is also intrinsically a vapor barrier.
Therefore, it is often used in basements, crawlspaces, unvented cathedral ceilings, wine cellars, as well as numerous other areas of a building that have a high potential moisture load.
Closed cell SPF gives the builder and architect a brand new tool for their tool belt.