Spray Foam Insulation Reading, PA
Insulation helps keep you warm during winter and cool in summer. It protects your home against excess heat and humidity, increases its energy efficiency, and drives down your heating and cooling costs. However, not all insulation types provide the same benefits. And if you are looking for the best-in-class for Reading, PA properties, then it has to be no doubt, spray foam insulation.
Insulation standards may differ between states and cities due to their location. One reason is the climate they experience all year round. Aside from environmental factors coming into play, the level of urbanization, development, population density, and people's behavior can also influence them. Thus, the best way to maximize the benefits of insulating your property is to work with professional insulation contractors.
Insulation standards may differ between states and cities due to their location. One reason is the climate they experience all year round. Aside from environmental factors coming into play, the level of urbanization, development, population density, and people's behavior can also influence them. Thus, the best way to maximize the benefits of insulating your property is to work with professional insulation contractors.
Reading Spray Foam Insulation is an industry leader when it comes to spray foam insulation. We have been serving Reading, PA property owners for many years, delivering high-quality and long-lasting spray insulation solutions. These solutions are custom-fit to our client's needs and are also compliant with the insulation standards in Pennsylvania as assigned by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Spray foam insulation is now the best insulation material to use for home insulation. It can deliver similar benefits to what used to be popular commercial insulation in Reading, PA. This means you get a robust, resilient, and high-performing insulation solution that can last for decades. |
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
People have been adding insulation in homes and buildings to help keep the inside comfortable and conducive for living. And there are many types of insulation materials to use depending on your needs, budget, and preference.
However, not all insulation materials deliver the same performance. And each choice may have certain compromises. Thus, it is better to have a professional evaluate your space first and have him recommend the appropriate material for best results.
Traditional insulation materials like recycled paper, fiberglass, and wool are popular among homeowners because of their versatility and affordability. However, being natural materials, they are more prone to corrosion and damage. They are also sensitive to moisture and some aren’t naturally resistant to fire, thus, would need to be applied a layer of protection for these elements.
This is where a non-traditional insulation material called “spray foam” enters the scene.
Spray foam is a chemical by-product out of combining two types of chemicals, isocyanate, and polyol. Spray foam is more commonly used as a sealing and packaging material. But because of its high thermal resistance, scientists have begun exploring its properties, which paved the way for it to become an excellent insulation material for structures.
However, not all insulation materials deliver the same performance. And each choice may have certain compromises. Thus, it is better to have a professional evaluate your space first and have him recommend the appropriate material for best results.
Traditional insulation materials like recycled paper, fiberglass, and wool are popular among homeowners because of their versatility and affordability. However, being natural materials, they are more prone to corrosion and damage. They are also sensitive to moisture and some aren’t naturally resistant to fire, thus, would need to be applied a layer of protection for these elements.
This is where a non-traditional insulation material called “spray foam” enters the scene.
Spray foam is a chemical by-product out of combining two types of chemicals, isocyanate, and polyol. Spray foam is more commonly used as a sealing and packaging material. But because of its high thermal resistance, scientists have begun exploring its properties, which paved the way for it to become an excellent insulation material for structures.
MaterialSpray foam insulation is made of spray foam applied in a certain thickness on either the surface or inside the cavity of the area in your Reading, PA home you want to insulate. Spray foam is applied using a spray gun that also mixes the two chemicals as you trigger the nozzle.
Spray foam is initially fluid as it leaves the gun. At this point, it can flow through surfaces, even on gaps, cracks, crevices, and in-between spaces it can reach. Eventually, the fluid material expands to about 30 to 60 times its fluid volume as it hardens. The resulting material is a dense solid foam material, hence the term "spray foam". |
R-valueIt was found that spray foam exhibits high thermal resistance. As you know, an insulation material's effectiveness is gauged by its high thermal resistance capacity or R-value. R-value is the numerical representation of its thermal resistance capacity; the higher the number, the more effective it is.
Spray foam insulation, particularly the closed-cell type, exhibits the highest R-value per square area of space in Reading, PA. This means that with a little amount of spray foam applied, you can already achieve a significant thermal resistance level for your home. Somehow, this also means it is faster to install and more time for you to reap its benefits. |
DurabilitySpray foam insulation is a dense and solid material that is resistant to moisture, fire, corrosion, and weathering. It also does not sag over time, nor settle in cavities.
In fact, you will need to get an insulation removal service should you wish to remove it from a huge area like the attic or your walls. But once in place and installed properly and under ideal conditions, it is robust in providing outstanding thermal resistance for your Reading, PA home. |
Other PropertiesAside from exhibiting high R-values, spray foam insulation also has other properties that can help increase your Reading, PA home’s overall energy efficiency. And in effect, can also slash your heating and cooling costs.
Spray foam insulation can also double as an air sealant, air filter, and soundproofing material. These properties make it a cost-efficient solution for your Reading, PA home with more ways to achieve a return on investment. |
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What are the Benefits of Using Spray Foam Insulation?
Some Reading, PA property owners are hesitant about installing spray foam insulation in their homes because of this one factor – cost.
True enough, spray insulation is not the most affordable option out there. But not many realize that the benefits you get from your investment can outweigh the upfront cost and even exceed it. Spray foam insulation can even pay for itself in several years through benefits and cost savings.
True enough, spray insulation is not the most affordable option out there. But not many realize that the benefits you get from your investment can outweigh the upfront cost and even exceed it. Spray foam insulation can even pay for itself in several years through benefits and cost savings.
High thermal resistanceBoth types, the open-cell, and closed-cell spray foam insulation exhibit the highest thermal resistance values among insulation materials available for Reading, PA property owners. You can maximize this, and a host of other properties, depending on the purpose.
Open-cell spray foam insulation is better used indoors. It expands to cover hard-to-reach areas in your home for optimum results. As it hardens, it seals these areas to ensure complete coverage. With this, it is best applied on wall cavities, in-between floor gaps, doors and windows, crawl spaces, and attics. Meanwhile, the closed-cell type is the more robust and resilient one, exhibiting the highest R-value. It is generally more durable and better resistant to moisture, damage, weathering, and corrosion. It does not expand like its open-cell sister, which makes it denser and more durable in general. Thus, closed-cell spray foam insulation is used in Reading, PA commercial spaces, industrial areas, and even outdoors where you can maximize its features more. The closed-cell type is also the most expensive option. |
Boosts your HVAC system’s efficiencySpray foam insulation works by slowing down heat transfer between the inside space and the environment outside your Reading, PA home. This is essential in keeping your home comfortable inside regardless of the weather outside.
In turn, this action helps your HVAC system work more efficiently. It is now easier for your heating or cooling unit to achieve the set temperature and keep it regulated and consistent. In the same manner, installing spray foam insulation can also downsize your Reading, PA home’s HVAC system requirements. This also saves you on upfront cost and at the same time, helps in maintaining the system. |
Reduces your energy costsImproving the way your Reading, PA home slows down heat transfer, regulates the inside temperature, and prevents unnecessary air leaks (aside from the vents) can help reduce your energy cost.
Spray foam insulation is effective in helping your cooling and heating units consume energy more efficiently, driving down your energy expenses. |
Improves indoor air qualitySpray foam insulation, aside from increasing the comfort level of your Reading, PA home, is also effective in improving its air quality. It can trap dust and toxins from the air, as well as prevent pollen and other allergens in the outside air from passing through it.
Therefore, it completes the essential components of an ideal conditioned air in your home – thermally-regulated and high-quality. |
SoundproofingAnother property unique to spray foam is soundproofing. Its dense composition keeps the noise out as well.
If your Reading, PA home is situated along with busier neighborhoods, spray foam insulation can prevent the noise from the outside from disturbing you too much. This further enhances the comfort inside your home by serving another purpose. |
Fewer maintenance costSpray foam is a dense and structurally sound material that retains its shape permanently. It does not shrink, sag, crumble, or settle once it has cured. No need to worry about the need to re-install it as long as it is effective.
Meanwhile, in terms of effectiveness, spray foam insulation is slow to lose its R-value over time, unlike other insulation materials. |
Reduces carbon emissionsHaving spray foam insulation installed in your Reading, PA home may qualify you for tax credits. This is for doing your part in increasing your home's energy efficiency that in turn will also have positive effects on the environment.
There are two ways that spray foam can help you reduce your carbon emissions. First, it downsizes your HVAC system requirements so you consume less energy in keeping your home comfortable. And then second, it seals the space and reduces energy wastage. |
Where Can I Apply Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is a flexible solution for both homes and buildings in Reading, PA. As home insulation, it applies to the whole building envelope for complete coverage and optimum results.
Attic InsulationIf you are keen on improving your home’s overall energy efficiency, start on the attic. As hot air naturally rises, it is essential that you keep your attic well-ventilated and insulated. Thermal transfer is very active in this area and if you do not make a way to regulate the temperature in this space, it can affect your home’s overall energy efficiency.
Spray foam insulation strengthens your attic insulation by being an effective thermal barrier. It slows down heat transfer from the roof so that you do not feel too hot during summer. Meanwhile, it also helps keep the warm air circulating and consistent inside your Reading, PA home during winter. |
Crawl Space InsulationCrawl spaces are unfinished spaces, which means it is more prone to thermal transfer from the ground and the outside environment. More so, they house important elements of your home like ductworks, pipelines, and electricals that also have maintenance needs.
Meanwhile, the crawl space lies beneath your home's flooring. Though hot air naturally rises, heat can dissipate in any direction as long as thermal equilibrium is not yet achieved. You inevitably lose a lot of heat during wintertime through the floors, making you consume more energy as you use the heater. And the same goes during summer when the heat from the ground can creep through the floors and cause you to crank up the air conditioning. Crawl space insulation slows down active thermal transfer between your Reading, PA home and the ground. Spray foam insulation is effective in doing so because of its high R-value, as well as its ability to seal hard-to-reach spaces like floor gaps. Meanwhile, it can also cling to beams and supports to add structural integrity to it. Spray foam insulation can also work on pipelines and ductworks and prevent them from busting due to extreme temperature. It is also safe to apply around electricals as it is fire-resistant. |
Wall InsulationSpray foam insulation is also efficient to work with when it comes to wall insulation. If you have existing drywall to begin with, using spray foam reduces the amount of work to do in your Reading, PA home. No need to knock down the wall; a decent hole will do to fill the wall cavity with fluid spray foam. The material expands on the inside to fill the cavity completely.
Unlike cellulose fibers, spray foam does not settle. This means it does not render some areas of your wall without insulation over time. Spray foam insulation can be used to create a continuous and seamless insulation system in your Reading, PA home. It seals the space and regulates the temperature inside so you experience comfort, high-quality indoor air, and energy cost savings. |
Contact Us
Spray foam insulation is a big investment with big returns, but can only be as effective as your insulation partner. We at Reading Spray Foam Insulation commit to delivering spray foam insulation solutions that are custom-fit to our Reading, PA clients’ immediate and long-term needs. Contact us today for a free consultation and quotation.