Depending on your insulation needs will determine whether you choose open-cell, or closed-cell spray foam insulation. But how do you know when to choose?
We can start by identifying which type of spray foam insulation is appropriate for your needs;
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Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation is great for external walls & ceilings, meaning, it helps to establish a resilient moisture barrier, yielding the highest R-Value thermal barrier as well. That’s where the majority of your heat is escaping, and where condensation builds. So with Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation, you can avoid all that, while reaping the benefits of a fully optimized, insulated space without running your HVAC system.
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Open-Cell Spray Foam Insulation is great for sound dampening large spaces. So it’s ideal for commercial properties that want to reduce noise pollution, as well large-scale homes & apartment complexes that emphasize privacy. It’s also amazing for large-scale R&D departments, as well as large-scale recording studios.
Learn more about the differences between Closed-Cell & Open-Cell Spray Foam Insulation by calling our industry-qualified spray foam insulation specialists.
Go Green. Go Foam!
Making the Call for Your Building
The material follows the problem, not the other way round.
If the problem is moisture, closed-cell is the answer, because it resists vapor rather than absorbing it. That puts it against the ground in a crawl space, at the rim joist, and under a roof deck where condensation would otherwise form on the sheathing.
If the problem is sound or plain air leakage in a place moisture will never reach, open-cell does the same sealing job for less money per board foot. Interior partitions and ceilings between floors are its natural home.
If the building is already tight and the complaint is one cold room, the answer may not be foam at all. It may be a specific junction that was never sealed, or ductwork running through an unconditioned attic.
We work this out on site before quoting. A contractor who names the material before seeing the building is selling a product rather than solving a problem.
Common Questions
How do I know which foam my building needs?
Start with the problem rather than the product. If moisture is the issue, closed-cell. If it is sound or plain air leakage somewhere moisture never reaches, open-cell does the same sealing job for less.
Can I decide without a site visit?
Not reliably. The right answer depends on the assembly, the access and what the building is actually doing wrong. A contractor who names the material before seeing the building is selling a product.
What if only one room is uncomfortable?
That often points at a specific junction or at ductwork running through an unconditioned space, not at the insulation generally. Those are cheaper fixes and we will tell you if that is what we find.
Related: why spray foam · our spray foam insulation service
Also worth reading: open-cell and closed-cell compared, what R-value measures.
Talk it through with an installer
Every building is different. Tell us about the property and we will give you a straight answer on what it needs.