GRAND RAPIDS SPRAY FOAM INSULATION CONTRACTORS | HOME AIR SEALING

Of all the many types of home air sealing options available in Grand Rapids, spray foam insulation has the competition beat in terms of R-value, resistance to mold and moisture damage, durability, air sealing, and versatility.

HOW SPRAY FOAM INSULATION WORKS

Pressurized cans of “one-part” spray foam are used primarily for sealing gaps and cracks. You may have seen these at your local hardware store and may have even used them in the past. Our system uses a similar product, but in a much larger application. With 2-part spray foam, we mix resin and catalyst compounds at the application nozzle. Combining these ingredients starts a chemical reaction that creates expanding foam. For large areas, such as attics, our team of spray foam insulation contractors here in Grand Rapids have specialized trucks and equipment pump the ingredients up to the application nozzle where the resin and catalyst compounds mix to create foam.

Have a large area? We are the leading spray foam insulation contractors in Grand Rapids.

CLOSED-CELL SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

The large-scale insulation jobs performed by these contractors require special equipment as well as safety gear during installation. When the foam cures and hardens just several minutes after application, it’s completely safe for as long as it stays in place.

When properly installed, SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam) creates a highly insulated building assembly that’s also free of energy-wasting air leaks. To see if spray foam insulation is a wise option for your Grand Rapids home, to improve its comfort and efficiency, contact us today for a free quote.

OPEN-CELL SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

Open-cell spray foam insulation is light and sponge-like. The cells from which it is made break or pop as the foam expands and before it sets. Consequently, most cells are “broken” or open. (Think “kitchen sponge” but much smaller.) Like closed-cell insulation, it serves as an air barrier but unlike closed-cell foams, it allows water vapor to enter and pass through it.

Open-cell spray foam is light, typically only 0.4 to 0.5 lb. per cubic foot, and therefore does not substantially affect structural loads. It is generally considered more environmentally friendly than other foams because water is used as the blowing agent. In addition, open-cell foam provides excellent sound control.

If you are interested in these services, give Grand Rapids top spray foam insulation contractors at Energy Plus Home Improvement a call today!

$43.00* PER MONTH

*This example is based on a basic ranch home with approximately 245 linear feet of joist bonds.

Fixed APR of 8.99% for 60 months, 60 payments

No prepayment penalties

*With minimum purchase made at initial appointment and approved credit. Energy Plus Home Improvements is neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Energy Plus Home Improvements, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents.

SMALL, MEDIUM, OR LARGE: SPRAY FOAM IS THE BEST OPTION FOR YOUR HOME

Resistance to mold and moisture damage, durability, air sealing, and versatility.

Of all the many types of attic insulation, spray foam has the competition beat in terms of R-value, resistance to mold and moisture damage, durability, air sealing, and versatility.

Alma MI Spray Foam Insulation – Spray foam insulation is in the news a lot these days. With energy costs on the rise, people are paying more and more for heating and cooling. Maintaining comfortable interior temperatures demands electricity, gas, and fuel oil to run HVAC equipment –furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and air conditioners.

Most homeowners understand that improving attic insulation is a surefire way to cut the cost of heating and cooling, and that’s where spray foam comes in. While homeowners consume spray foam in the form of small pressurized cans available at home centers and hardware stores, foam insulation contractors are busy doing large-scale spray foam operations –filling the spaces between studs, joists, and rafters with the insulation that expands on contact. There are different kinds of spray foam, and many people are confused about the differences between open-cell foam, closed-cell foam.

Open Cell

Open-cell foam has lower R-value and higher permeability

Like its name suggests, open-cell foam is made up of tiny bubbles that are interconnected. The bubbles hold air, which provides insulation value –typically between R-3.5 and R-4 per in.

Like closed-cell foam, open-cell foam expands to fill gaps and cracks as soon as it’s applied. But instead of curing to a hard, smooth-surfaced mass, closed-cell foam has a spongier feel. And like a sponge, it will absorb moisture. Since insulation loses R-value when wet, it’s not advisable to use open-cell spray foam in damp environments like basements and crawl spaces. It can be sprayed between rafters or studs, but its low R-value won’t provide much total insulation value in a confined space. Open-cell foam is usually less expensive to install that closed-cell foam.

Closed Cell

Closed-cell foam provides a vapor barrier, a harder finish, and higher R-value

Canned foam like GREAT STUFF™ is a closed-cell foam that comes in “single-component” form. The closed-cell foam that contractors use on large-scale spray foam jobs is also known as “two-component” foam or polyurethane foam. Two chemical compounds are blended together at the application nozzle, causing the expanding foam reaction.

Even though it’s more expensive to install than open-cell foam, closed-cell foam is often preferred for insulation projects because it offers higher R-value –between R-6 and R-7.1 per in.; and because it forms an effective moisture barrier. The ability to block moisture transmission while also providing air sealing and high insulation value is an advantage in many applications.

Is spray foam a good choice to improve your home energy performance? Energy Plus Home Improvements can inspect and evaluate insulation in your house and provide the right energy-saving solutions. Call or email for a free evaluation and insulation estimate today.

Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

  • Stops air and moisture infiltration
  • Makes your home more comfortable
  • Saves on energy costs
  • Adds strength to the building structure
  • It is permanent and will not sag
  • Keeps dust and pollen out
  • Reduces capacity requirements, maintenance and wear of HVAC equipment

How Spray Foam Insulation Works

Pressurized cans of “one-part” spray foam are used primarily for sealing gaps and cracks. You may have seen these at your local hardware store and may have even used them in the past. Our system uses a similar product, but in a much larger application. With 2-part spray form, we mix resin and catalyst compounds at the application nozzle. Combining these ingredients starts a chemical reaction that creates expanding foam. For large areas, such as attics, our specialized trucks and equipment pump the ingredients up to the application nozzle where the resin and catalyst compounds mix to create foam.

With the open-cell vs. closed-cell issue, there are two major factors to understand and consider. The first is the nature of the foam. It is either open-cell foam, where the tiny cells of the foam are not completely closed. They are broken and air fills all of the “open” space inside the material. This makes the foam weaker or softer feeling than closed-cell foam.

Closed-cell foam differs in that all of its tiny foam cells are closed and packed together. They are filled with a gas that helps the foam rise and expand and become a greater insulator. These cells can be formulated to obtain many characteristics, the most common being size and density.

The large-scale insulation jobs performed by these contractors require special equipment as well as safety gear during installation. When the foam cures and hardens just several minutes after application, it’s completely safe for as long as it stays in place.

When properly installed, SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam) creates a highly insulated building assembly that’s also free of energy-wasting air leaks. To see if spray foam is a wise option for improving your home’s comfort and efficiency, contact us today for a free quote.

Call Us for Spray Foam Insulation Services at 989-833-1000.

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