What is the difference between open and closed cell foam

It simply allows a pathway where water and water vapor can move in and out of a specific area. If you live somewhere that has consistently high humidity, open-cell insulation may prove to be less beneficial because it will allow outdoor moisture into your house.

You can have a vapor-retardant sprayed over the insulation, which will help to minimize this problem. One great thing about open-cell spray foam insulation is that it absorbs sound well.

This comes back to its structure, once again. Remember your elementary school science classes? Sound waves travel through the air until they bounce off of something. As mentioned earlier in the article, open-cell spray foam insulation has a smaller R-value than closed-cell foam. The R-value ranges from 3. R-value stands for the capacity the material has to resist heat flow. The higher it is, the greater the insulating power.

Its cost is also much more affordable than closed-cell. Because of this, you need less to cover the square footage of the area you want. Closed-cell insulation is called this because the air pockets are grouped closely together, creating a denser structure. The expansion rate of closed-cell spray foam is minimal compared to open-cell insulation. This lack of expansion and its rigid structure make it much more durable. It can even make the structure of your home stronger.

It has a medium density of about 1. The closed structure makes it much more difficult for water vapor to travel back and forth. This can actually be a bad thing, because it could conceal a leak until the water builds up, causing a much bigger problem later on.

It has a much higher R-value, usually around 6. This makes it very effective in areas with extreme temperatures and high humidity. The lack of expansion means that it takes much more material to insulate an entire area completely. This might come as a surprise, but honestly, this is all the spray foam it takes to get the biggest bang for your buck with the air seal and thermal resistance needed for certain areas of the home.

R-Value does matter, however thermal resistance is what R-Value measures. The R-Value of spray foam insulation can vary depending on the product, manufacturer, and a few other variables. There are several factors that affect the R-Value of spray foam, including the type of foam, the age of the foam, and how well it is resistant to moisture.

The cost to insulate an entire existing home with spray foam varies by factors such as the size of the insulated area, difficulty of the job, thickness of foam applied, and type of foam used.

Let's take an apples-to-apples look at a cost comparison between open cell and closed cell spray foam. Say you have a 1,square-foot attic that you'd like to get spray foamed. Installation of open cell spray foam is much easier and the foam itself is less expensive to produce, therefore the cost of open cell is less expensive. Closed cell spray foam, besides being more expensive to make, must be applied in thinner coats, often requiring several passes which can drive up installation time and cost.

Spray foam insulation, regardless of what type, is going to create an air seal and insulate your home. Hopefully, this article has helped you with that and with deciding which spray foam is best for you. If you are having difficulty finding the right kind of the porous plastic foam for your application, consult an expert from Polymer Technologies to assist you.

What is closed cell foam? What is open cell foam? Is closed cell foam air impermeable? Is closed cell foam waterproof? Does open cell foam absorb water? Open vs. Is closed cell foam good for soundproofing? What is the cost difference between closed cell and open cell foam? Choosing the right type of foam for your manufacturing application In a broad sense, closed cell foam is semi-impermeable and restricts the flow of air and is less water absorbent, while open cell foam is semi-permeable and allows air and water to pass through it.

Closed Cell Foam Comparison Infographic. In other words, the cells are deliberatly left open. This makes the foam a softer, more flexable material. Closed cell foam is made up of cells that are, as the name suggests, completely closed. The cells are pressed together, so air and mositure are unable to get inside the foam. Because of this, closed cell foam is much more rigid and stable than open cell foam.

Closed cell foam is much denser than open cell foam. Most open cell foam has a density of about. Closed cell foam can be over three times that, with a density of 1. A foams R-value is its resistance to heat flow or, in other words, how well they insulate.