Keep the weather outside this year...where it belongs
Spray foam insulation - superior insulation for Ohio homes
We provide spray foam insulation because of all the benefits it provides to the Greater Akron Area
Why is spray foam insulation the best for Ohio?
Spray foam insulation is extra, and we mean it!! We want to introduce you to the many gains to be made by making the switch to spray foam insulation. Akron, Ohio had the power go out on the coldest day of the year in Dec 2022 for several hours, and cold seeped into homes, frost built up around door jams and everyone was an ice cube. Ohio homes with proper insulation had a much easier time staying warm during the outage because they lost less heat. Spray foam insulation offers the best thermal insulation value (called an R-value) for its thickness, and boasts the longest lifespan of any insulation type, you'll be surprised to learn just how long it lasts.
It is guaranteed to make your Ohio home or business more comfortable to the people inside, while saving energy and helping to manage the planets resources at the same time. Spray foam insulation does require a professional to install properly, so these benefits can only be yours by calling a licensed and bonded professional, like Akron Home Insulators.
Done with Drafts?
What is spray foam, and how does it work? Lets get into the science
Beginning as a liquid,
spray foam insulation is a mixture and reaction of an Isocyanate with a Polyol, which creates urethane links that we call Polyurethane. There are 100's of polyurethanes varieties, but this one creates a reaction that causes rapid expansion and traps air bubbles that form as a result of the propulsion, curing into a foam. There are two types of spray foam, open cell and closed cell. Both do an excellent job of filling air gaps, because both spray foams conform to any area where applied.
Open cell spray foam does not completely encase the air bubbles, but has millions of trapped air gaps in it to stop air from traveling from one side to the other, it cures into a flexible foam. Open cell spray foam does a wonderful job of dampening sounds traveling through the home. It will completely stop air gaps and resist water but is not waterproof. Open cell spray foam will require a vapor barrier if installed next to outward facing walls in areas like the basement.
Closed cell spray foam, like it sounds, completely encases the air bubbles in foam, and dries much, much harder than open cell, it cures so hard that it adds to the integrity of the home. This makes closed cell spray foam waterproof, moisture-proof and air-proof, its absolutely perfect! No vapor barrier is required when using closed cell spray foam insulation.
Now lets go over all of the advantages spray foam insulation provides for Akron, Ohio
- Continuous Insulation application: Spray foam is applied in layers that bond quickly to surfaces and overlap each other. This provides no gaps for the outside environment to infiltrate into the building. Other insulation types are applied between studs, or as a blanket over or into the area, but do not completely seal, and can't completely stop water, moisture, and bugs from entering the home.
- It completely fills and seals air gaps: spray foam insulation expands into any area where it is applied and will completely form to where it needs to be. This stops air from entering or exiting the home and allows longer breaks between the HVAC kicking on.
- Less allergens and irritants: because spray foam insulation completely seals against air gaps, less pollen and other annoyances will enter the building. Family or Co-workers with lung sensitivities will breathe easier and those with allergies will not suffer so badly.
- It helps manage planetary resources: We want to be good stewards of the planet and help maintain it for as long as we can, spray foam insulation helps to reduce energy usage by trapping hot or cold air for longer than other insulation types, saving the thermostat and saving you money, at the same time.
Not enough evidence of how awesome spray foam insulation can be for your Ohio home?
Longest lasting insulation on earth - Open cell spray foam insulation will last 80+ years, and closed cell spray foam can last up to 100 years! This will be the best and last insulation you will ever have installed, and will last the lifetime of a home in Greater Akron, Ohio.
Resists water or water proof - Closed cell spray foam is entirely waterproof, and everything else proof as well! It stops air, water, and moisture. Open cell spray foam will resist water entry into the home when installed but cannot completely proof against it it due to the open nature of the cells.
Its permanent - Spray foam insulation will bond to surfaces where applied, and after curing will not fall away from walls or ceilings. Open cell spray foam will shift with the home as it ages, continuously filling gaps where air could enter. Closed cell spray foam is so tough and durable that it will helps keep roofs attached during a tornado, an effect called wind uplift.
Rapid application - This is especially useful when insulating in the winter months or during new construction. Spray foam insulation is quick to cure, taking only a few hours to 'off gas', which makes it excellent for commercial and home renovation, when other work needs to be completed by other contractors ASAP.
What kind of spray foam insulation do I need for my Akron, OH Home?
There are actually three different mixtures of spray foam...but wait, we have only talked about open and closed cell spray foam, and my math says that is only two! While correct, only open cell and closed cell spray foams exist, but they can be mixed into different densities. These densities are called High-density spray foam insulation, Medium-density spray foam insulation and Low-density spray foam. Lets dive in
High-density spray foam insulation: consists of a mixture of 3lbs of closed cell insulation per cubic foot of insulation, and is appropriately named because it is the most dense spray foam insulation type. Because of its density, it does not expand greatly, only to about 1 inch, but It offers an impressive R-value starting at 5.5 per inch.
- When to use high-density spray foam - This is meant for industrial application in areas with high winds events and threats from tornadoes or hurricanes. It is also highly useful when extreme cold is a concern. It is often used in roofing because it increases the structural integrity of the building and bonds extremely well to surfaces. This will help keep the roof on the building during high wind events
Medium-density spray foam insulation:
this mixture contains 2lbs of closed cell foam per cubic foot and provides a high R-value of at least 5.7,
some brands boast a value of 6.5 per inch! Its application can be high- or low-pressure, two component spray foam. Because it is a closed cell spray foam, it is used where the highest R-value is needed in the available space. Medium density spray foam is an air, vapor, and water barrier all in one.
- When to use medium-density spray foam - found where high r-value, continuous insulation is needed, like outer wall cavity fills, and attics that are unvented. It has similar bond strengths and tensile strength to high-density spray foam because it is also a closed cell spray foam.
Low-Density spray foam insulation: This insulation is often referred to as 'Half Pound' foam because it weighs half a pound per cubic foot of insulation. This is an open cell spray foam that provides continuous insulation and acts as an air barrier. Low-density spray foam is more flexible than closed cell varieties and will continually conform to the building as it shifts over time. It provides an R-value of 3.6 per inch, and greatly expands to about about 3 inches after application. Because of the design of open cell spray foam, it is porous to vapor and moisture and cannot resist them as well as closed cell varieties.
- When to use Low-density spray foam -
This form of spray foam is used inside of inner wall cavities, for soundproofing inside the home or room, and found in ceilings, ducts, crawlspaces, and unvented attics.
Now that you know all about spray foam insulation
You probably feel like a bit of an expert now, knowing all about spray foam! ...But knowing is only half the battle. Spray foam application requires
experience in handling chemical mixtures, personal protection equipment including respirator and
extensive care to only use the foam where needed (its quite permanent), and
because of this we cannot recommend a DIY approach. A professional, like Akron Home Insulators, will provide the best experience by finishing efficiently without sacrificing quality, and making sure you're home insulation in installed properly.
Why choose Akron Home Insulators for spray foam insulation?
1. Licensed and Insured Experts - Safety, quality, and efficency are the foundation of Akron Home Insulators training materials and continuing education materials. Our pros are licensed and insured to work in the State of Ohio and we have the manpower to handle any spray foam insulation project.
2. Local Ohio professionals with high standards -
It takes one to know one, and spray foam professionals from Akron Home Insulators know Ohio's moody weather better than ever.
We understand the need for high-quality insulation to protect your home or building from Ohio's elements.
3. Hometown Customer Service -
Customer service is at the heart of what we do, it is in our training, our conduct, and our professional installation.
Our support team is standing by to help you with any issue that may arise, big or small, and we promise your satisfaction.
4. Reduced energy use -
Its never been more important to manage our planetary resourses
as well as we can, but you could be getting paid to do so!
Because spray foam insulation works so well to stabilize
the indoor environment, you will run your heat or air less, saving electricity and money.
Also because spray foam lasts a lifetime, this will be the new normal for your household!
5. A More Comfortable environment -
As mentioned above, spray foam is an excellent insulator, keeping the temperature indoors stable for longer periods of time between the A/C or Heat kicking on.
It'll also save money year round!
