Spray Foam

Spray Foam

Spray foam is a type of polyurethane foam that is mainly used as building insulation. It is applied to housing structures by a nozzle. When sprayed, it expands 30 to 40 times within a couple of seconds to fill all cracks and holes, providing an air and moisture tight seal. The foam spray coating is used within the construction and building industries to insulate walls, ceilings and roofs of any heated building, and is also used to insulate swimming pools. It protects against moisture intrusion, mold, and keeps dust and pollen from entering the building. Spray foam helps to eliminate energy loss because it almost completely seals off cracks and holes that let out hot or cool air, thus greatly reducing the cost of utilities. It is available either rigid or flexible, semi-dense or low density.

There are two main types of spray foam. Open cell foam is filled with air bubbles, low density, semi-rigid and is for indoor use only. Closed cell foam is filled with a gas that closes off the space between materials. It is rigid, medium density and can be used both inside and outdoors. Spray foam is formed by trapping air or gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. In this case, polyol, a surfactant, a catalyst, isocynate and a liquid with low boiling point (which will become the bubbles) are dispensed separately, mixed together, which causes a chemical reaction, and sprayed through a gun nozzle onto the building interior. Seconds after being sprayed, the foam dries quickly and becomes harder.