The Advantages Of Using Open-Cell Foam Insulation In Your Home

If you're looking to insulate your attic or soundproof your media room, you might wonder if you should choose open-cell foam insulation or the closed-cell variety. While these types of insulation are similar, they provide different benefits. Here are some of the advantages of open-cell foam insulation.

Open-Cell Insulation Is More Affordable

Lower cost is an important advantage of open-cell foam insulation. Both open and closed varieties work in the same way. Two chemical solutions combine when they're sprayed out of canisters. This causes a chemical reaction that turns liquid into expanding foam.

The open-cell reaction creates cells or bubbles that pop and leave the cells open. The closed-cell reaction creates cells that stay closed. The result is denser foam in the closed-cell insulation, which means there is less expansion from the same amount of liquid.

Open-cell foam insulation expands much more than the closed variety, so less foam has to be used. This saves on costs too and makes open-cell foam a good choice when you're watching your budget.

Open-Cell Foam Insulation Fills Cracks Better

Because of its ability to expand so much, open-cell foam is better at filling cracks, gaps, and voids in odd shapes that batt or even closed-cell foam can't reach. There are two important components of effective insulation. One is to create a barrier that reduces heat transfer, and the other is to seal air leaks. Open-cell foam is good at doing both.

Open-Cell Foam Is A Good Sound Barrier

Open-cell foam insulation helps your home stay quieter too. It's good at blocking noise since a single application can completely fill the voids in the walls of a room. This blocks street noises and sounds from other rooms in the house. Open-cell foam is ideal for soundproofing a media room so you can watch movies with no sound interruptions from outside the room.

Open-Cell Insulation Can Tolerate Getting Wet

Closed-cell foam insulation can be used to block water and water vapor since the cells are closed solid. Open-cell foam insulation isn't a waterproof barrier, but it can tolerate getting wet as long as it can dry out afterward. This makes it a good choice in an attic where it stays dry most of the time, but there is a risk of a roof leak.

As long as the insulation can dry out, it won't be ruined like fiberglass batt insulation or blown insulation would be. Plus, foam insulation doesn't attract bugs and rodents, so it's a more durable choice for areas where pests might be such as behind walls and in the attic. For more information about open-cell foam insulation, contact a supplier.

Share