Spray Foam: It’s More Than Just Insulation

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation is a versatile and efficient solution that surpasses traditional insulation. It has been used for decades, not only in homes, but in various buildings like hospitals, government facilities, and schools/universities due to its exceptional energy efficiency and ability to improve indoor quality and comfort. In fact, our WALLTITE® closed-cell and ENERTITE® open-cell are GREENGUARD certified, meeting strict indoor air quality standards.  

Spray foam is highly effective in sealing even the hardest-to-reach areas, eliminating drafts and further enhancing energy efficiency.  It helps keep you warm and cozy in the winter, yet cool and comfortable in the summer.  When you choose spray foam insulation, you’re choosing to create a healthier and more comfortable, energy efficient living environment.  

Discover the Benefits of Spray Foam:

Here are just a few of the many advantages of choosing spray foam for your home: 

  • Increases Energy Efficiency:  Spray foam is known for its exceptional ability to minimize heat transfer (keeping heat from escaping or entering your home).  Its seamless application (sealing up those hard-to-reach areas) prevents air leakage and reduces energy waste, resulting in savings on your utility bills.
  • Enhances Comfort: Sealing any gaps and spaces keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer and also eliminates cold spots and drafts.  It creates a more comfortable living environment for you and your family all year round.
  • Improves Indoor Air Quality:  Spray foam insulation seals the cracks and crevices in your walls and roof and keeps the outside elements where they belong: outside.  Spray foam insulation helps you build a well-sealed structure, so you can then provide intentional fresh air that is filtered by your HVAC system (and not by dirty, dusty wall and floor cavities).  Stopping random air infiltration reduces the amount of pollen, pollutants, and humidity that enters your home, making the indoor environment healthier and more comfortable.  

There are two types of SPF insulation - open-cell and closed-cell - each with their own unique features and benefits.  Both provide a seamless application of high-performance insulation while also creating an airtight seal.  Check out the products below to learn more:

Open-cell

ENERTITE®

ENERTITE® is a low-density, open-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation that provides air sealing, sound absorption and thermal insulation, allowing you to better control your indoor environment and create more energy efficient, comfortable and healthier homes and buildings. Applied as a liquid, this water-blown foam quickly expands to many times its original size, completely filling wall and roof cavities.  ENERTITE® easily seals difficult-to-reach areas such as corners and around pipes and wiring to create a seamless seal against air movement.

Closed-cell

WALLTITE®

WALLTITE® is a closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation that creates a seamless, insulating air barrier to improve the energy efficiency, comfort and durability of homes and buildings.  Spray applied as a liquid, WALLTITE flows in and around difficult to reach areas, creating a airtight seal.

Where Can Spray Foam Be Applied?

From the top to the bottom and everything in between, there's a place for spray foam. Check out some of the areas spray foam can be installed.

Attic unfiinshed i Stock 174634023
Attics and Ceilings

Insulation in attics or ceilings is necessary to regulate temperature, improve energy efficiency, control moisture, reduce noise transmission, and protect the structural integrity of the home. It is an essential component of creating a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment.

For residential
Living Room with Purple Wall Adobe Stock 385243631
Walls

Spray polyurethane foam provides exceptional insulating values, helps improve indoor air quality and comfort, and improves energy efficiency of the home.

For residential
Basement Adobe Stock 206131766
Basements and Crawlspaces

Closed-cell spray foam is an ideal solution for controlling moisture and regulating temperatures in areas like basements and crawlspaces.

For residential

Have a Question?  We Have An Answer!

We understand that you may have some questions about insulating your home with spray foam.  You're not alone.  Check out some of our Homeowner Frequently Asked Questions below.

Unlike typical insulation, both types of spray foam provide air sealing and insulation in a single product, which helps make your home quieter, more comfortable and energy efficient. However, closed cell spray foam also has almost twice the R-value (insulating value), adds structural strength, controls transfer of moisture vapor, and is a FEMA approved flood damage resistant material. These characteristics improve the durability and resiliency of your home against storms and moisture damage.

No, BASF spray foam is not injectable. Obstructions in the wall could block the flow of the foam material or create pressure buildup of the expanding foam. For these reasons it should be sprayed into open wall, roof, or floor cavities to ensure complete coverage. If you’re looking to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient, unfinished basements and attics are excellent places to consider having spray foam installed.  Visit our applications section to learn about the different areas that spray foam can be applied.

No, BASF spray foam is installed by professionally trained contractors using specialized application and safety equipment for applying high pressure spray foam. There are canned spray foam sealants (e.g. for doors and windows), and low pressure spray foam kits that can be do-it-yourself, but those products are design for limited application areas smaller than a typical spray foam insulation project (e.g. sealing penetrations, repairing an insulated wall).

Yes, the spray polyurethane foam industry recognizes a standardized timeframe of 24 hours after spraying has stopped before a resident should reoccupy a home. For example, if the insulation crew finishes spraying at 3pm today, the homeowner should not return to living in the home until 3pm tomorrow. However, BASF has conducted studies that indicate if the application is contained and the area is power ventilated at a minimum rate of 20 ACH during and after the application, re-entry times for other trades (e.g. construction workers) can be less than 24 hrs. 

Fully cured spray foam properly installed in an appropriately ventilated space typically leaves little if any discernable smell. As an open-cell foam, the material can retain residual odors if recommended application and ventilation procedures are not followed. Odor is a fairly subjective property and many products are often used during construction that can emit an odor. Products like caulks and sealants, paints and finishes, cabinets and carpets can all have odors that some may errantly attribute to spray foam after installation. Also during retrofit situations, existing materials may be disturbed that contribute odors to and around the installation area.

If you have additional questions, there are industry associations who provide helpful resources for homeowners and others interested in SPF. For more information, visit the links below.

whysprayfoam.org

Whysprayfoam.org was created by The Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) was formed under the American Chemistry Council's Center for Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) to provide accurate information and resources to homeowners and those considering SPF. As a member of the Spray Foam Coalition, BASF is committed to the continuous improvement in health, safety and product stewardship of spray polyurethane foam products.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA)

The SPFA is an excellent resource for spray foam.  In addition to providing information for homeowners, they also provide technical resources, training and professional certification (PCP) for installers. BASF is a proud SPFA member.