Gone are the days when people used just anything to insulate their homes. In the last century, people used anything from corn cobs to newspapers in hopes of keeping their homes both warm and cool during the year. According to Whysprayfoam.org, insulating and air sealing your home will keep conditioned air from leaking to the outside, which can help lower your energy bills by 5% to 30% per year. Foam insulation installations can make a substantial difference in your home, your life, and your well-being. However, the big sheets of pink fluffy stuff aren't in fact the best insulation you can get.

While there are numerous ways you can insulate your home, spray foam is a superior solution. Foam insulation installations were introduced in the early 1980s and rapidly became an industry standard, and have evolved and become a mainstay in buildings both residential and commercial.

Moisture

Water seeps through openings around pipes and vents over time. This puts your home at risk for bacteria, mold, and rot creating costly damage. When most insulation gets wet, it needs to be replaced. Spray foam still retains its properties, even when it gets wet. Spray foam fills the tiniest areas, so there's less of a chance water will get in your home.

Comfort

There is little temperature fluctuation or drafts because spray foam forms a unique seal. Because it can wiggle into tight spaces and small crevices, there is no opportunity for air to breach the line between outdoors and indoors. This prevents drafts, but it also stabilizes the temperature of your home. It's been proven that a constant home temperature leads to greater health.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Spray foam minimizes indoor allergens, such as dust, pollen, mold, mildew, and other pollutants, because it creates a tight seal. Oddly, pollen doesn't come through the doors, its largest egress is the permeable nature of most walls.

Fewer Insects and Rodents

Insects and rodents aren't attracted to spray foam because it's not ideal as food or nest material. Its solid nature upon curing also deters them, as there's no way to get inside.

Easy Installation

No matter the time of year, spray foam is simple to install, even if you need insulation in a hard-to-reach area, such as a crawl space. It's a non-intrusive process—during installation, a team of professionals who do foam insulation installations will use a spray foam gun to spray the material. Additionally, the insulation dries quickly.

Environmentally Friendly

When it comes to building materials, everybody wants to go green. Thankfully, spray foam is a type of insulation that can help the environment; it aids you in reducing your carbon footprint because you're consuming less energy.

Lasting Quality

Traditional insulation can lose its effectiveness. Because foam insulation is composed of powerful chemical products, spray foam performs decades. It's made of only two materials — polyurethane and isocyanate. When these two materials react, they expand and harden, so spray foam will never lose its shape. Once spray foam cures, it stays in one place and won't sag or shift over time—even in extreme temperatures. Spray foam has a high R-value, meaning it is heat resistant. When you choose spray foam installation, you can relax knowing you won't have to upgrade or replace it for several years at a time.

Additional Structure and Strength

Spray foam is dense, because it acts as a layer of protection against humidity and wind, as well as providing additional support.

Reduces Sound

Road traffic or sounds from neighboring areas are reduced, as the insulation absorbs sound waves and soundproofs your walls. Because of the effective seal, it not only absorbs the sound but reduces the nooks and crannies that make sound echo. When placed on inside walls, it can effectively deaden the sound between rooms.

Saves You Money

According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “the average American household spends $200 to $400 going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems." Spray foam insulation expands, sealing up cracks. This means less money goes towards your energy bill.

For more information about spray foam insulation, or to schedule an appointment to have it installed in your home, reach out to Lone Star Urethane. Our experienced professionals would be happy to save you time and energy!