Spray Foam Insulation in Utah

No, these two types of insulation are different, although they look similar, and that is one reason people confuse the two terms. Foam injection insulation does not expand and dries hard and stiff, while spray foam insulation is more pliable and expands to fill cracks and gaps. The reason we use foam injection insulation in walls is because expandable spray foam may put pressure on the structure. When our insulation company installs foam injection insulation in Layton and Provo homes, we drill small holes the walls between the studs and thread hoses into the cavities to fill them with foam. Spray foam insulation is applied to open spaces with a gun, such as in attics, basements, garages, workshops and sheds. Spray foam insulation is paintable, but you will want to use a spray gun, due to its convoluted finish.

You should base your choice between these two insulation methods on a few factors. First, spray foam insulation is more expensive than fiberglass batting, but it also has a higher R-value, and offers more protection against the elements. Particularly in an attic, spray foam insulation is a good choice because should a roof leak ever develop, the water destroys fiberglass batts. However, if you are planning to put up drywall — such as in a basement or home addition, you may want to go with the fiberglass batting, as you won’t have to worry about trimming away overspray.

Yes, spray foam insulation is an excellent choice for crawl spaces in Layton and Provo. If your home is built above a crawl space rather than a basement, you know how cold your floors can get in winter. Spray foam insulation seals all the cracks and gaps, which also helps with keeping out the bugs and mice that love to make crawl spaces their home.

While some stores rent equipment for this purpose, GreenHome Specialties does not recommend doing this unless you have experience in installing spray foam insulation. Much can go wrong. First, you have to wear the correct PPE while installing spray foam insulation, as overspray will coat your clothing (and in your lungs as well). You must be careful when spraying the foam not to get it on electrical outlets, and if you are spraying a crawl space, you must not cover utility access points in case you need plumbing, electrical or gas line work done. Additionally, if the correct techniques are not used for applying spray foam insulation, your R-values will not be as high, and you will not get the full protection the foam should provide.

Yes, spray foam insulation works well on metal buildings such as sheds, barns, warehouses and freestanding garages.