Spray Foam Insulation Cincinnati
Welcome to Pete’s Professional Insulation Services. Our company has been offering top quality and specialized services in closed cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati for several years. Spray foam insulation in Cincinnati has been increasing in popularity in both the residential as well as commercial sector due to its many benefits.
But before you opt for spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, it is important to know what exactly it is, why it is better than traditional types of insulation, what R-value is, and the two types of spray foam insulation in Cincinnati.
But before you opt for spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, it is important to know what exactly it is, why it is better than traditional types of insulation, what R-value is, and the two types of spray foam insulation in Cincinnati.
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What Is Spray Foam Insulation?
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Spray foam insulation in Cincinnati is also known as spray polyurethane foam. It is essentially a mixture of two chemicals that are commonly referred to as parts ‘A’ and ‘B’. One side contains isocyanate and the other part contains polyol resin. When professionals use spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, it is mixed and sprayed on the job site itself. Upon reacting with each other, the chemicals expand up to 30 to 60 times in volume and form spray foam insulation.
Spray polyurethane foam was developed by Otto Bayer in 1937. It was then widely used for different applications like soles of shoes, cushions and other industrial applications. By the 1940’s rigid foam was being used in airplanes and in 1979 it was used as insulation in buildings. Today spray foam insulation in Cincinnati is popularly used as an alternative to traditional types of insulation in both the residential as well as the commercial sector today. |
Spray Foam Insulation versus Traditional Types of Insulation
When opting for spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, it is important to know how it compares to other types of insulation. What makes spray foam insulation different than traditional types of insulation like fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool? Taking a look at the different types of insulation and comparing it to spray foam insulation in Cincinnati will give a clearer picture.
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Cellulose insulationCellulose insulation is one of the oldest types of insulation and is a plant fiber-based insulation which is usually used in walls and roof cavities. Cellulose insulation not only insulates but reduces noise to some extent and also cuts out draft. Some cellulosic materials are cardboard, newspaper, straw, cotton, hemp, sawdust and corncob. Cellulose insulation is cheap and sustainable and comes either in dry cellulose which is referred to as loose fill or is it can be sprayed-applied which is referred to as wet spray.
The R-value of cellulose insulation ranges between 3.6 and 3.8 per inch. Though the R-value is good, one disadvantage of cellulose insulation is that more material needs to be used to achieve the desired R-value. This increases the labor cost because the time taken to install the insulation goes up. Another disadvantage of cellulose insulation is that it has tiny particles that can be blown throughout the house. This causes dust allergies and respiratory illnesses. Cellulose insulation can also slump and settle over time thus causing large empty pockets. It is also susceptible to mold and mildew because moisture is attracted. |
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Fiberglass insulationFiberglass insulation is also known as glass wool and it is made from fibers of glass that are arranged using a binder. Its texture is very similar to wool. In the process, small pockets of air get trapped between the glass fibers and results in good insulation properties. Since glass wall can be either loose fill or found in rolls or batts, they can either be blown into the attic or used to insulate piping, ductwork or in wall cavities. Blown in loose fiberglass has an R-value of 2.2 to 2.7 per inch and the rolls and batts offers an R-value that is around R 4.3 per inch.
Some of the disadvantages of fiberglass insulation are that it causes irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. It can also cause difficulty in breathing, sore throat, cough and hoarseness. Though the glass wool itself does not attract mold, the binder in the glass fiber can be a source of mould because binders are organic. Another disadvantage is that fiberglass allows air to pass through, unlike spray foam insulation in Cincinnati which acts as an air barrier. |
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Mineral wool insulationMineral wool insulation is a loose fill insulation or batt insulation that is fiber-based. There are essentially two types of mineral wool insulation. One type is made from molten basalt or diabase which is natural stone fiber. The molten rocks are melted at very high temperatures, spun into wool and then bound together using oils and resins. The second type is made from iron-ore waste. Mineral wool is very resistant to high temperatures. But on the flipside if it is inhaled it can cause respiratory issues. Also a lot of energy is used to manufacture mineral wool insulation.
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Types of Spray Foam Insulation in Cincinnati
Spray foam insulation in Cincinnati comes in two types – open cell spray foam insulation and closed cell spray foam insulation. Though our company focuses on providing closed cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, it is important to know what the properties and end use is of both types.
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Open-cell spray foamAs the term suggests, when it comes to open cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, the cells are not fully encapsulated. This means that all the cells in the spray foam are left open on purpose. This makes open cell spray foam insulation soft as well as flexible compared to closed cell spray foam insulation. Because of its nature, after it is sprayed, open cell spray foam insulation expands up to 100 times its total volume. Some of the properties of open cell spray foam insulation are:
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Closed cell spray foam insulationAs compared to open cell spray foam insulation where the cells are open in closed cell spray foam insulation the cells are fully closed. Closed cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati is generally used in pole barns, open cavities and commercial or industrial buildings. It is very rigid and stable and is impermeable to moisture and water. Listed below are the properties of closed cell spray foam insulation:
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R-value of Spray Foam Insulation
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When researching about spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, you may have come across the term “R-value”. R-value can be defined as the ability of a material to resist heat. In other words it is used to measure the resistance of heat flow through a particular material, and particular thickness and density of that material. Therefore the higher the R-value of the material, the better will be its insulation properties. When it comes to insulation, each material has a different R-value. R-value can differ based on climate and factors like moisture, temperature and also ageing.
The R-value of open cell spray foam and closed cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati differ. Open cell spray foam insulation has an R-value around R-3.2 to R-3.8, whereas closed cell spray foam insulation has an R-value that measures between R-6.5 and can go up to R-7. Among all types of insulation, closed cell spray foam insulation in Cincinnati has the highest R-value. |
How Does Spray Foam Insulation act as an Air Barrier?
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Though traditional types of insulation like cellulose and fiberglass provide insulation, spray foam insulation in Cincinnati is the only insulation that provides a complete air seal to the building structure. When your home or building structure is not air-sealed, all of the conditioned air escapes and your HVAC will only need to work harder to warm or cool more air.
When spray foam insulation in Cincinnati is used, a building envelope will be created and the leakage of air from the entire home or building structure including the attic, walls, windows, crawlspace, doors, and any other openings is prevented. This significantly reduces the amount spent on energy bills. Spray foam insulation in Cincinnati not only acts as an insulator but also acts as a complete air sealant by sealing all the tiny cracks and crevices. Another advantage of air sealing is that the moisture stays outside. Since air moves from an area of high pressure to low pressure, moisture comes into the building structure along with the air. This proves to be disadvantageous especially if you have traditional types of insulation as mold and mildew can grow on it. |
Contact Us
If you want to install spray foam insulation or if you want to find out more details about spray foam insulation in Cincinnati, contact us today. We have several years of experience and can complete the job in a short period of time without causing much disruption in your daily routine. If needed we can also offer a free assessment and quote for your spray foam insulation project in Cincinnati.