Considerations of Foam Insulation vs. Fiberglass
Icynene has been manufacturing foam for over 25 years. Many people think that one "foam" is just like any another "foam, not true. Some have low adhesion or problems of consistency during manufacturing, all must be applied in correct thickness otherwise they can perform poorly, some excessively shrink over time, installers must be certified and licensed with Icynene while others are "make-shift" installers of generic foams with no warranties of a large corporation, Icynene is VOC emission tested and approved and commonly used in Green Home construction.
Icynene spray foam insulation can save you up to 50% on energy cost while improving air quality by insulating and creating better barriers against air infiltration and creating insulated enclosures for semi conditioned mechanical areas in attics. Check with McNair Builders to understand the considerations of attic storage, mechanical equipment, building code considerations, and foam applications.
McNair Builders use licensed and certified insulators, but we don't stop there. We use high-tech equipment to insure that our insulators are installing correctly by monitoring the process while consistently performing quality control checks. Quality control during each stage of the home building process is of ultimate importance for systems to operate up to our McNair Built Home Standards.
Evaluating the ROI and real monthly energy costs savings is what we do at McNair Builders while performing our Value Engineering Analysis. Each energy related option provided to our customers is evaluated in detail and considered and presented to our customers for their financial considerations. Many builders provide options, but we provide them for your Quality of Life considerations, and as they also relate to ROI and financial ramifications. Some ideas sound great, but they don’t necessarily make economic sense. Make sure to ask us about the details!
Open Cell Foam vs. Closed Cell Foam
Open Cell Foam:
- "Breathes" and doesn’t absorb water — it is vapor and moisture permeable and this can let your home dry out when floods or leaking washer occur.
- Less Expensive than closed cell foam
- Reduces sound transmission so you don’t hear from one room to the next and reduces outside noise
- More Flexible – moves with your house to ensure there are no gaps in your insulation and no loss of air seal
- Good thermal insulation - R-3.7 per inch thickness, 3.5 inch minimum is suggested for air barrier
Closed Cell Foam:
- Doesn't "Breathe" – acts as a vapor retarder
- Higher cost per square foot than open cell foam
- Lower sound reduction than open cell foam
- Stays more rigid than Open Cell – helps wall strength integrity; impact resistant.
- Doesn’t let water in or through it (check with your spray foam manufacturer) – this is an advantage in flood zones
- Great for flood prone areas
- Great thermal insulation – R-6.0 per inch thicknessIcynene has been manufacturing foam for over 25 years.
