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May102022NOCOMMENTS

Your Guide to Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation

There are so many insulation solutions available today.

While it used to be that fiberglass was the go-to option for most people looking to insulate their home or business, today, you have many more choices than you used to. In a previous blog, we compared three of the most common types of insulation — fiberglass, cellulose and spray foam. If you’ve had a chance to read it, then you probably already know that spray foam insulation is a great choice for many different applications. Not only does spray foam insulation have a higher R-Value, but it’s also resistant to mold and has next-level soundproofing abilities. However, once you choose to go with spray foam insulation, you still have one final choice to make.

There are actually two different kinds of spray foam to choose from — closed cell foam and open-cell foam — and here at 360 Thermal, we are dedicated to helping you find the right option for your needs. In this blog series, we’re carefully examining both types of insulation to help you determine which is best for you, and in Part 1, we went over open-cell foam. Keep reading to learn about closed-cell spray foam insulation.

What is closed-cell spray foam?

Closed-cell insulation utilizes chemical blowing agents in a liquid form. The gasses these chemicals create will expand, much like they do in open-cell foam, but they expand much slower and the plastic sets before the bubbles start to burst. This results in a foam that is much denser and more impermeable than open-cell foam.

The Pros and Cons of Closed-Cell Foam

Pros

Closed-cell has a higher R-Value.
Closed-cell can be applied at low temperatures.
Closed-cell is ideal for flood zones because it is designed to reject bulk water.
Closed-cell is ideal for both interior and exterior use.
Closed-cell increases structural strength.

Cons

Closed-cell is more expensive than open-cell.
Closed-cell is denser than open-cell and, therefore, requires more materials.

When should you use closed-cell foam over open-cell?

Closed-cell and open-cell spray foam insulation both have pros and cons, and the right one for your needs will depend on the nature of the project at hand. Although there is some overlap between applications that closed-cell and open-cell foam can be used for, in most cases, one is clearly more beneficial than the other. Closed-cell spray foam can be used for many applications, including:

Vented and Unvented Attics
Interior or Exterior Walls
Floors
Unvented Crawl Spaces
Concrete Slabs
Cold Storage
Freezers
Ducts
Coolers
Tanks
Ceilings

Let us help you find the right insulation solution for your needs.

We hope that this blog series will help you find the right option for your home or commercial building, but if you have further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re your go-to insulation contractors in Houston, and we have years of experience and expertise behind us. Not only can we install the right insulation, but we also have what it takes to help you find the right solution for your needs. We’re always happy to help, so please contact us today about your insulation needs in Houston.

Apr252022NOCOMMENTS

Reid McCall

Blog

Your Guide to Open-Cell Spray Foam Insulation

When it comes to insulation, you have more options than you think.

In a previous blog, your insulation contractors at 360 Thermal did a side by side comparison of the three main types of insulation: spray foam, cellulose and fiberglass. Spray foam is a superior option for many reasons; it has a significantly higher R-value than cellulose or fiberglass, it’s mold resistant and it has better soundproofing abilities. But once you choose spray foam insulation, your job isn’t quite complete, because there are two types of spray foam insulation: open-cell and closed-cell.

Here at 360 Thermal, our goal is to provide you with the best insulation solution for your needs, and that means helping you find the right spray foam insulation. That’s why, we’ve set out to help you understand the what each type of insulation is, which one is best for different circumstances and the benefits of each. In Part 1 of this blog series, we’ll be focusing on open-cell spray foam insulation. To learn about closed-cell spray foam insulation, stay tuned for Part 2.

What is open-cell spray foam?

Of the two types of spray foam insulation, open-cell is the less common option. Water is the blowing agent that is used to install open-cell foam, which then becomes carbon dioxide after it has reacted with the air. The carbon dioxide quickly expands, and the bubbles it forms tend to burst before the plastic has set, which is why it’s called “open-cell.”

The Pros and Cons of Open-Cell Spray Foam

Pros:

Open-cell is cheaper per inch than closed-cell.
Open-cell requires less material than closed-cell.
Open-cell is permeable to moisture, which allows it to act as a moisture buffer, ensuring a more consistent moisture level in your home or building.
Open-cell is a more environmentally friendly option.
Open-cell provides superior sound absorption when compared to closed-cell.
Open-cell is resistant to mold.

Cons:

Open-cell has a lower R-Value than closed-cell.
Closed-cell is more resistant to heat than open-cell.
Open-cell provides less structural support to walls.

When should you use open-cell foam over closed-cell?

Open-cell and closed-cell foams can both be an excellent choice, but the option you choose will largely depend on the project at hand. In some cases, closed-cell will be a better option, while others will require open-cell. So, when is open-cell foam the best option for you? Open-cell spray foam insulation is ideal for many different applications, including:

Attics – Vented or Unvented
Interior Walls
Sound Walls
Cold Floors
Cathedral or Vaulted Ceilings

For all of your spray foam insulation needs in Houston, turn to 360 Thermal.

Finding the right insulation option is your first step towards a more comfortable, efficient home, and we hope that this blog series will help you find the best option for your needs. However, if you are still unsure about which kind of spray foam is the right option for you, don’t hesitate to contact us. As your premier source for spray foam insulation in Houston, we’ve got what it takes to provide you with the information you need to make the right decisions about your home or commercial building. Contact us today!

May012017NOCOMMENTS

Stopping the Stack Effect Realize Utility Bill Savings

Reid McCall

Spray Foam Insulation Houston

Reducing Energy Loss – Stack Effect Guide

The stack effect — a little-known problem that can have a huge impact on your wallet.

The “stack effect” isn’t a term we hear very often in everyday life. In fact, many people have no idea that it even exists. However, if your home has two or more stories, the stack effect could be dramatically reducing your home’s energy efficiency. That’s why the experts at 360 Thermal Houston have set out to help you understand what the stack effect is, how it can affect your home’s energy efficiency and what you can do to combat its effects.

What is the stack effect?

The simplest explanation of the stack effect is that is describes the motion of air being forced into or out of your home due to changes in pressure that are caused by the differences in temperatures on the inside and outside of the home. The stack effect is most obvious in winter. Warmer air is lighter and less dense than colder air, which is why it rises. If your home isn’t properly insulated, that rising air can leak right through your attic, which causes colder air to be pulled in the lower parts of your home. Although it may seem like a good thing for the warm air to escape from your home during the warmer, summer months, the stack effect can actually make your house warmer during the summer. In order to compensate for the cooler, higher density air inside your home, the stack effect causes the colder air to be forced down and out of the home through crawl spaces that are uninsulated and warm air to be forced in through an uninsulated attic.

How does the stack effect affect your home’s energy efficiency?

The stack effect undermines all of the hard work your HVAC system does to keep your home at a comfortable temperature year-long. However, since your HVAC system is designed to get your home to the temperature you set it on, the stack effect will cause it to keep on working and pumping out air that is being forced out of your home. Not only does this lead to an increase in your monthly energy bills, but all of that extra work can also reduce the lifespan of your HVAC system.

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What can you do to combat the stack effect?

The stack effect can have devastating impacts on both your wallet and your HVAC system, but the good news is that you are not helpless to its effects. Installing the right kind of spray foam insulation in strategic areas, like the attic and crawl spaces in your home, can eliminate the stack effect and save you money every month on your energy bills. In fact, homeowners who combat the stack effect with attic and crawl space insulation will typically save between 30 and 50 percent on their energy bills.

Don’t let the stack effect get you down.

If your home always feels cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, regardless of what you set your thermostat on, you may be seeing the effects of the stack effect first-hand. Find out if spray foam insulation is the right solution for your home in Houston by contacting us at 360 Thermal today@ 713-588-3626 for a free energy audit today and start saving on high utility bills.

Mar152017NOCOMMENTS

Reid McCall

Spray Foam Insulation Houston

Spray Foam Insulation Benefits for Houston Texas and The Surrounding Area

There is no better option than spray foam insulation.

360 THERMAL – Offering spray foam insulation for Houston Texas and the surrounding areas.

Whether you are looking to insulate your home or commercial building in Houston, it’s important to know that not all insulation is made equal. While fiberglass used to rule the insulation world, it is now largely outdated, and today, we have a much better option in spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation might be more expensive than traditional insulation, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Here are just a few of the many benefits of using spray foam insulation in your home or commercial building:

#1. Spray foam provides an air-tight seal.

The expansive nature of spray foam allows it to tightly seal every nook and cranny in your space, making it a far superior option to other types of insulation. The R-value is a materials resistance value to conduction heat transfer, and spray foam’s R-value is around 3.9 per inch for open cell insulation and 6.8 per inch for closed cell insulation, which is among the highest available R-values on the market today. Compared to other types of insulation, the air-tight seal created by spray foam insulation is 24 times less permeable.

#2. Spray foam can save you money and energy.

Did you know that most high energy bills can be traced to air leaks? The powerful, airtight seal that spray foam insulation creates can also help you enjoy big energy savings on a monthly basis. With most insulation, you could see, on average, a 20% percent energy savings, but with spray foam, it’s closer to a 50% savings.

#3. Spray foam creates a moisture barrier.

Air isn’t the only concern when it comes to cracks and inefficiencies in insulation; moisture is also a concern. Unlike fiberglass and other types of insulation, closed cell spray foam is impermeable to water. If fiberglass insulation were to get wet, it would lose all of its efficiency and need to be replaced. But since closed cell spray foam is impermeable to water, it can effectively protect your attic or crawlspace against leaks.

Stay tuned for our next blog to learn more benefits of spray foam insulation!

For more information or a free estimate give us a call at 713-588-FOAM (3626) or visit our office at 15700 Export Plaza Dr., Suite C, Houston TX 77032

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Your Guide to Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation