Is Spray Foam Insulation Right For Existing Homes?

By Author: Home Guru
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If your home is drafty, you notice extreme or uneven temperatures when it is cold or hot outside, and/or your energy bill is consistently high, you may have an insulation problem. Insulation that has deteriorated or is insufficient can have an impact on your home's comfort and energy efficiency.

Spray foam insulation is an excellent choice for many homeowners who want to improve the comfort of their home while also controlling their energy costs. “Spray foam insulation near me” is a versatile material that has numerous advantages for both new and older homes.

However, if you live in an older home, there are a few things you should know before replacing your current insulation with spray foam:

1. Drywall Must Be Removed
Spray foam is an excellent insulator because it expands to fill in the gaps inside the wall. When the interior of the wall is exposed, spray foam insulation has more room to expand and form an airtight seal.
However, if the drywall remains in place, the spray foam insulation will not have enough room to expand. The foam will press against the inside of the panel, possibly causing ...
... damage.

It is critical to remove the drywall before spray foam insulating an existing wall. This will increase the effectiveness of the insulation while lowering the risk of wall damage.

2. Old Insulation Must Be Removed
In addition to removing drywall, old insulation must be removed before installing new spray foam insulation. Spray foam does not adhere well to older insulation. Spray foam becomes less effective when the two types of insulation are mixed.

Another issue with leaving old insulation in place when installing spray foam insulation is the possibility of moisture accumulating inside the wall. This can eventually lead to mold, which is both a health risk and a threat to the value of your home.

3. Location, Location, Location
Most homeowners will not be able to afford to remove old insulation and replace it with new spray foam insulation in every wall of their home. It is best to be strategic about where you add spray foam insulation to get the best return on your investment without breaking the bank.
Spray foam insulation is most effective in the following areas of your home:

The Basement
Basements that are unfinished or poorly insulated are frequently cold and uncomfortable. If this is the case, you could be wasting a lot of money on energy bills every month because of this one little-used room.
Basement insulation can assist you in reducing heat loss in this vital area. Furthermore, s spray foam insulation services can prevent moisture from accumulating and act as a barrier against insects, rodents, and other unwanted pests that can enter your home through the basement.

Crawl Spaces
When it comes to insulation requirements, the crawl space is another frequently overlooked area of the home. When air leaks form in your home's foundation, you may experience discomfort as well as higher energy bills.

Crawl space insulation should be installed along the walls and rim joists. Insulating these crawl space areas will seal foundation leaks, resulting in improved air circulation and comfort throughout your home. You should also notice a reduction in the amount you pay on your electric bill each month.

Walls
Depending on when your house was built, you might be surprised to learn that some or all of the walls are uninsulated. This problem is particularly prevalent in houses built between 1960 and 1979.
As previously stated, installing spray foam insulation in multiple existing walls may not be feasible. Expanding fiberglass insulation may be a better (and less expensive) option.

Contact an experienced insulation company to determine the best option for your home improvement project.

The Attic
Most people who have attics use them primarily for storage. This is unfortunate because an attic with insufficient insulation can cause drafts, make your home too cold or too hot (depending on the season), and cost you money on your energy bill each month.

When it comes to attic insulation, vertical kneewalls are ideal for spray foam insulation. These are the short walls (they rise about knee-high, hence the name) that run from the attic floor to the pitched roof's interior ceiling. The attic rafters, on the other hand, will require a different type of insulation.

Skylight Shafts
A skylight is an excellent way to bring natural light into your home. Unfortunately, in existing homes, skylight shafts with minimal insulation (or no insulation at all) are the norm rather than the exception. As a result, the room with the skylight may experience extreme temperature differences from the rest of the house.

Spray foam insulation's high R-value makes it ideal for preventing air leakage in skylight shafts. Because spray foam is moisture-resistant, using it to insulate this area can also protect the joists and other roof components from damaging condensation buildup.