Foam Insulation - Tips for Choosing the Right Foam for Your Home

Making the wrong choice of insulation for your home can certainly be a recipe for disaster.
Choosing the right insulation is therefore a decision process that requires long and careful consideration.

Education is the key to selecting the right insulation, particularly when evaluating newer options like spray foam. Foam can offer significant advantages over conventional insulation options, but it's important to know the difference between foam products available in the market.

Compared to other types of home insulation, spray foam insulation is the clear and obvious winner.

Unlike fiber glass or even cellulose, spray foam insulation has the ability to air-seal even the most minuscule cracks in the building in order to optimize energy performance and deliver significant energy savings.

So now we know the best insulation is one that air-seals and minimizes random air leaks. But there are a number of spray foam insulation product options. Some have been around for decades while some are new. Yet, it's important for homeowners and builders to know that all foams are not created equal.

Top three reasons why Icynene^® is the leading spray foam insulation option:

1. Open-cell structure: Icynene^® is an open-cell foam that gives it the required flexibility to expand and contract with the building envelope while maintaining a tight air-seal. Its open-cell structure also allows it to remain unaffected by wetting and drying so that it can continue to operate at peak performance levels. Even if Icynene^® gets wet (through a roof leak, for instance), water simply drains right through the material by gravity, making it easy to detect the location of the leak. This also minimizes the potential for moisture-related problems such as mold or mildew.

2. Air Permeance: Icynene^®'s air permeance rating classifies the material as an air barrier at only 1” thickness. It minimizes air leakage and accompanying airborne moisture by filling and sealing every penetration in walls, ceilings, floors and attics. As an air impermeable insulation, Icynene^® is one of the few insulation products that meet building code requirements for application to the underside of the roof deck to create a conditioned/unvented attic assembly. This application is ideal for reducing HVAC loads, minimizing energy costs, creating a more comfortable ambient temperature, and protecting against wind driven moisture ingress.

3. Vapor Permeance: Vapor permeance measures the rate at which insulation diffuses moisture. Insulation material should ideally allow low rates of diffusion to prevent moisture entrapment and allow adjacent building materials to breathe. Icynene^® permits diffusion of moisture so that building components can dry when required. This is an important factor in combating condensation and mold growth within the walls and ceilings.

Compare Icynene^® with conventional insulation options.