Both icynene open cell and closed cell spray insulation are effective insulators with both working as barriers for air leakage.
Open cell insulation problems.
Open cell spray foam insulation doesn t store the moisture.
Open cell spray foam may absorb moisture if subjected to hydrostatic pressure but will allow moisture to drain through open cell spray foam will not wick water or contribute to capillary action when applied to the interior cavity open cell can also be supplemented with closed cell spray foam to create a continuous insulation layer on the exterior.
The evaluation service report esr for spray foam insulation products provides a valuable resource based on a third party review of testing information useful for utilizing these.
Closed cell products are better than open cell ones for this advantage but both provide better options than organic insulation products.
Contributing editor michael maines takes a detailed look at closed cell spray foam which is growing in popularity as an insulation material.
When it comes to insulating a home whether that s a roof insulation or floor insulation it is ideal to use icynene open cell spray foam.
Be sure to have that discussion with your licensed contractor and don t be afraid to double check the information before the project begins.
It has a relatively high vapor permeance 3 perms at a thickness of 6 allowing water vapor to migrate to the roof decking at night and back into the attic air in the daytime.
There are even fewer issues with pest infestation in this insulation product compared to the other options that are available on the market today.
Maines identifies its advantages a high r value per inch a capacity for air sealing and for blocking water vapor movement and its enhancement of the framing to sheathing connection.
It rots roofs people have told me.
Many homeowners love spray foam insulation and it s easy to understand why.
Compared to traditional insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose spray foam has the potential to provide better performance via its air sealing properties high r values per inch of thickness and in the case of closed cell spray foam ability to repel moisture.
Both low density open cell and medium density closed cell spray foam can be used in an unvented attic to provide the needed thermal resistance and airtightness.
However open cell and closed cell have their different uses.
Not long ago someone even told me that in florida roofing companies won t let their workers go up on roofs with open cell spray foam because the roofs are so spongy the guys fall right through.
The role of open cell spray foam.
For example icynene open cell spray foam must be installed at 3 inches before an air barrier is created.
The spray foam insulation chemicals weren t mixed properly.
It s just a pathway.
