UK homeowners are making every home improvement possible in order to make their homes an amazing space to live in. Improving the insulation in your home should be one of your first considerations regarding home improvement and getting the necessary knowledge on the subject is vitally important. Making the right choices regarding your insulation is crucial to making your home an enjoyable environment, as great insulation will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
It is important for you to assess your current insulation and think about any improvements that are necessary. In doing so, you need to consider which solution will work best for your property. It is becoming an increasingly popular decision to choose spray foam insulation but let us see if this solution is the right one for your home. This is a guide where we will explore the positives and negatives of spray foam insulation in the hope that we can help you reach a decision on what insulation to use.
Spray foam insulation is used as a means of helping to insulate your home. It is made from polyurethane and isocyanate, and it is applied to areas of the home that require insulation. Spray foam insulation starts as two separate liquids that are sprayed together in order to achieve the foam insulation. You can select from low, medium, or high-density spray foams, and these all serve a different purpose. Due to this it is important to consider which density will work best for your home. This will typically depend on whether you need insulation on the interior walls, or the roof. It is important to make sure that you or an expert are certain of what density of insulation is necessary before going forward with using spray foam insulation.
Types of Spray Foam Insulation
There are two different types of spray foam insulation to choose from, and it is important to know the differences and how the different types might impactyour home. So let’s take a look at the different types of spray foam that are typically used.
Open cell foam
This is typically exceptionally light foam, that allows water in to keep the foam wet. It can be torn apart easily with your fingers, and it is great for noise reduction, as well as being the cheaper option of the two.
Closed cell foam
This is more expensive and denser than open cell foam, and it creates a harder and thicker skin. It is perfect as a vapour and it is a water-resistant option, as well as being an energy efficient choice. Whilst it is more expensive, you typically get what you pay for, because it is such a great option for keeping your home insulated.
Pros and Cons of Using Spray Foam Insulation
When you are trying to make any key decision regarding home improvements, it is imperative to weigh up the positives and negatives of any decision before you make it. Spray foam insulation comes with plenty of positives as well as a fewnegatives andbeing aware of them is crucial before moving forward with spray foam insulation.
Pros
There are plenty of positives/pros that make spray foam insulation an attractive solution for insulating your home some are:
Flexibility
One of the key benefits of spray foam insulation is the fact that due to it being foam, it can reach areas of the property that other types of more solid insulation simply cannot. This means it is almost guaranteed that you will improve the insulation of the home by using it.
Airtight
Assuming it is installed correctly, the spray foam insulation should provide an airtight seal, which is energy efficient and prevents drafts from getting into your home.
Fast installations
As a homeowner, one of the things that you want is fast and effective installation, and this is something that is achieved with spray foam. It is significantly faster to install than other kinds of insulation, and this makes it an attractive choice.
Breathability
The open cell structure is one that helps to mitigate condensation issues, and this can save you a lot of time, money and stress, making it an invaluable insulation solution.
Cons
The cons are:
It is also important to make sure you are aware of the negative elements of spray foam insulation as well, so you can make a balanced and informed decision. This is something that you need to try to make the most of, and there are a few potentially negative aspects to spray foam insulation.
Cost
It is true that spray foam cost more than other regular types of foam, and this is something that you must keep in mind. However, it is also the case that you certainly get what you pay for with spray foam insulation.
Incorrect Installation
One of the major drawbacks with spray foam insulation is the fact that it is so often installed incorrectly, and this is something that can cause a lot of issues. Try to focus on doing as much as possible to hire an expert in spray foam insulation.
Spray Foam as an Insulator
As we covered above, spray foam insulation is not cheap, coming in at roughly between £40-£70 per m², depending upon thickness. However, it is also the case that you will make significant savings with this insulation, and that is certainly one of the great things about spray foam insulation. Indeed, it is estimated that insulating the loft of a 3-bed semi with spray foam could cost you more than traditional insulation, but you will be making significant energy savings in the process. Make sure you research this before you commit to anything and talk to insulation professionals about what they think it will cost. Being able to improve and boost your home insulation is vitally important, and therefore you need to research the costs of spray foam insulation before going forward with it as well as making sure you hire the right company.
Can You Install It Yourself?
One of the things that a lot of people are probably thinking about is whether spray foam insulation is something that you can do yourself. Well, spray foam insulation is certainly something you can do yourself, howeveryour work will not be up to the standard and quality had you used spray foam insulation professionals. You may not install it correctly, and you may choose the wrong type of spray foam. This can lead to you spending far more than you originally planned to, and that is why we recommend hiring a professional.It is so important tohire the best company for the job.It needs to be professionals who will do your spray foam to a high standard in order to make it as energy efficient as possible.
Does it Meet Building Regulations?
When you are trying to sort any kind of renovations for your property, you always need to make sure you arecomplying with the necessary building regulations. This is also the case regarding spray foam insulation. Whatever solution you choose, you must make sure you comply with the necessary building regulations.
Spray foam insulation is also eco-friendly whereas some other forms of insulation are not. Choosing what form of spray loft insulation is an important decision so please consider all the factors discussed in this article. Try to consider the different types of insulation available, as well as the short term and long-term effects of your decision. Spray foam insulation could be a fantastic solution for your home.
