The foundation of a building is its most important aspect. It is what ensures the building remains standing, what keeps infestations and debris from making their way through the cracks and crevices. A building’s structure and foundation are what ensure its safety, but how do you ensure that safety? How can you make sure that such problems are handled before they become an eventual issue in the future, a problem that at that point may be beyond a solution?
As you probably know, there are certain places that are harder to take care of than anywhere else. Take for instance the attic, basement, or walk-in closet. In places like these, buildups of cracks, debris, and structural problems are common to appear, and if left unchecked, can eventually lead to a building’s decay and eventual destruction. Such things are not impossible to get rid of, on the contrary, there is a process that serves to get rid of all this and more, and do you know what that process is called? Spray foam, and by extension, spray foam insulation.
Now you may be asking, what exactly is spray foam? Thankfully, to answer this and other questions, we will be going over the product below in this article.
What is Spray Foam?
Spray foam, or expanding foam as it is commonly known as in the United Kingdom (click here for more), is a chemical product created from mainly two types of materials: namely, isocyanate and polyol resin. When these two materials are mixed into each other, they create a cleaning mixture that expands up to 30-60 times its volume when sprayed. It was first created in 1937 by Otto Bayer, who by the way is also credited with creating polyurethane in the same year.
What is Spray Foam Used For?
Spray foam is first and foremost used as an insulator, specifically, building insulation. It is sprayed unto places such as the cavities of a wall, the roof tiles of a home or building, or even beneath and in between concrete slabs. When sprayed onto such surfaces, it serves to insulate heat transfer and also maximize air filtration. This is a product that is a great alternative to fiberglass, which has its own problems which I will not even get.
How Does Spray Foam Work?
As spray foam is also made from polyurethane, the properties operate in much the same manner. Polyurethane is a closed-cell foam insulating material, which means they are a great candidate for heat transfer limitations. This includes the likes of:
- Conductive heat transfer – the flow of thermal energy from a high-temperature region to a low-temperature region.
- Radiant heat transfer- when heat transfer energy is emitted more strongly by warmer surfaces and absorbed by other materials of low IR.
- Convective heat transfer- when heat energy is created elsewhere and transported by liquid or air.
You can find more information on the product by clicking the website below:
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home/spray-foam-insulation-buying-guide/
Types of Spray Foam
It comes in mainly two different types: light-density and medium-density.
- Light density- light density open-cell spray foam, also known as ½ pound foam. It is semi-rigid in structure and when sprayed has the appearance of something like a sponge. When used, the foam expands and creates small cells that are filled with c02, or carbon dioxide. This process makes it ideal for sealing cracks, voids, and other crevices and serves to form an insulation measure that seals the air trapped inside.
- Medium density- medium-density foam, also known as two-pound foam. It is a rigid insulating material that has a Long-Term Thermal Resistance with an R value between 5 and 6 per inch. This is stronger than light-density foam spray but in consequence, is also more expensive.
Where to Find It
You can find it in almost any retail store that deals in home goods and furniture. This includes the likes of Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware, and Lowe’s especially. You can also find this product online on sites such as Amazon or eBay. Alternatively, you can find companies who service in such methods, especially in Covington, KY spray foam insulation or other parts of Kentucky. All in all, the service or product is fairly simple to get ahold of.
Conclusion
Cleaning and maintaining cleanliness are important; it does not matter if it is your appearance or where you live or do business. The latter may take more effort than most, but a good start to getting it done is investing in the services of quality foam spray or foam spray services. Whether in Kentucky, anywhere in the United States, or even the rest of the world. Spray foam insulation is a product and service that once you invest in it, you will be more than satisfied with the results that it brings.
