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Spray foam insulation as a key solution
Spray foam insulation has emerged as a superior alternative to traditional insulation materials, offering benefits such as an airtight seal, moisture resistance, and stable R-value over time. Compared to fiberglass or cellulose, spray foam helps reduce air leakage, which accounts for up to 40 percent of a home’ s energy loss, according to the US Department of Energy.
There are two primary types of spray foam insulation, each offering unique benefits for residential applications:
■ Open-cell spray foam is a flexible and cost-effective insulation that expands to fill gaps, creating an effective air barrier. It also provides the added benefit of sound dampening, making it an ideal choice for homes in busy areas.
■ Closed-cell spray foam offers a higher R-value per inch and enhances structural reinforcement, in addition to superior moisture resistance. Research conducted by the National Association of Home Builders( NAHB) has shown that walls installed with closed-cell spray foam have a racking strength up to 300 percent greater than walls without it.
Beyond improving energy efficiency, spray foam insulation delivers additional advantages:
■ Energy savings, by easing HVAC strain and lowering heating and cooling costs.
■ Long-term performance, resisting settling, sagging, and degradation over time.
■ Sustainability impacts by cutting energy consumption and reducing a home’ s carbon footprint. A home built with spray foam and proper ventilation may allow for an HVAC unit with less tonnage. Since this home would stay comfortable with less energy input, HVAC professionals can often downsize the system,
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