Types Of Spray Foam Insulation-Open Cell Spray Foam and Closed Cell Spray Foam

Types Of Spray Foam Insulation
Open Cell Spray Foam – Another option for homeowners, that’s a little more affordable, is your open cell variety of spray foam. The name is descriptive and derived from the fact that the cells or bubbles are not closed. During the curing process air gets caught between the broken bubbles and they never completely close. A benefit of this fact is that as heat tries to pass through the air pockets that naturally occur with open cell spray foam help slow heat transfer. This type of spray foam insulation is much softer than closed cell. Also due to the difference in internal structure water can pass through it. Depending on the construction application this can actually be a benefit. When it comes to the R values of the open cell variant of spray foam you can expect about a 3.5 R value, or roughly half as effective as the closed cell type.
Closed Cell Spray Foam – The defining characteristic of the closed cell spray foam is that the bubbles or cells in the material are packed closer together. This makes for a much more dense and stronger foam than your open cell variety. Closed cell spray foam is water and air tight and will not let either pass through it. The explanation for this is that the bubbles are super close together and filled with a gas. The actual insulating performance of closed cell spray foam is an astounding R-7 for every inch! Choosing closed cell insulation is for the home owner who is serious about saving money on energy bills and extending the life of their home.