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If you’ve decided to use spray foam insulation in your home or business, you’ve already made the easy decision to saving money on energy costs while blocking out exterior allergens and noise. The next decision might require a little more thought: open cell vs. closed cell spray foam insulation.
Open cell and closed cell spray foam both provide insulation, but they accomplish the job in different ways. The choice between the two depends entirely on your insulation goals.
Differences Between Open Cell and Closed Cell Foam
Open cell and closed cell foam are two different types of spray foam insulation. Consideration should be made about which foam will meet your needs, before choosing a foam type.
The Basics
Open cell spray foam is lighter, less dense and expands over 100 times its size which make it a great option for filling in gaps and cracks. However, it has a lower R-value per inch (resistance to heat flow) than closed cell foam. Closed cell spray foam offers a higher R-value per inch thanks to its density. It is more rigid and expands up to 33 times its size.
Open cell foam is primarily used on walls to provide insulation and a sound barrier between rooms. Closed cell foam is more popular in metal buildings where left exposed, or in shipping containers.
Benefits of Closed Cell Foam Insulation
Benefits of Open Cell Foam Insulation
Read on to learn about the differences between open and closed cell foam in more detail.
The Details
The cells
A spray foam is referred to as open cell or closed cell because of the difference in cell bubbles that make up the foam. Open cell foam consists of cells that are more like a bubble with air inside. These cells are left open making the foam softer and more flexible. Closed cell foam is made of cells with no space inside. The cells press tightly together so air and moisture are unable to get inside the foam. This type of foam is more rigid.
Density
Closed cell foam is much denser than open cell foam. Open cell foam has a density of about .5 pounds per cubic foot. Closed cell foam can be over three times that, with a density of 1.75 pounds per cubic foot or more. The lighter density of open cell foam means it performs much better than closed cell when sound proofing.
R-values
A foam’s R-value is its resistance to heat flow, or how well it insulates. Closed cell spray foam has a higher R-value per inch than open cell with an R-value of between 6 to 7 per inch, while open cell has an R-value ranging from 3.5 to 3.6 per inch. However, because open celled foams offer better expansion, filling in cracks and gaps, the two types of foam are virtually identical when it comes to thermal protection.
Expansion
Open cell foam expands over 100 times its size while closed cell foam only expands about 33 times its size. Closed cell foam is designed to expand to up to 1” thick when sprayed. With each application, a higher total R-value is achieved. Open cell foam expands to 3” thick so typically only one application is possible.
Choosing: Closed Cell vs. Open Cell Foam Insulation
Whatever you choose – closed cell or open cell – Eskimo Insulation has the experience and expertise to quickly apply spray foam insulation in your home or commercial building.
Closed-cell spray foam insulation is highly efficient. This structural insulation makes for an incredibly effective air barrier, and with its low moisture vapor permeability, it’s highly resistant to water. Its density is typically 2 lbs/cu.ft. Closed-cell foam also offers one of the highest R-values (resistance to heat flow) of any insulation on the market.
A few other important features of closed-cell insulation include:
Common applications for closed-cell insulation include wine rooms, metal buildings, containers, and cold floors.
Benefits of Choosing ‘Green’ Spray Foam Insulation
If you are looking for the best insulation product available on the market for your home or commercial building, then look no further.
Spray foam insulation offers the following benefits:
Spray foam insulation can be used in a variety of applications including: roofs, walls, floors, metal buildings, sound rooms, and storage containers.
Contact us today to learn more about open cell vs. closed cell spray foam insulation!
We offer competitive pricing and free estimates to all of our customers. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our insulation experts. We'll help you identify the best insulation solutions for your home and provide you with a detailed quote, so you can make an informed decision about your investment in energy efficiency.
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