Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation – Open & Closed Cell

“For Residential & Commercial Uses” Existing & New Construction

Open Cell vs Closed Cell Foam

One of the most common questions people have once they start considering Spray Foam insulation is “Should I use Open or Closed Cell Foam”. Green Energy Saver, Sprays both open and closed cell foams. The intent of this page is to give the reader some practical knowledge about the differences between the foams.

Open cell foams- what does this mean? In simple terms it means that the majority of the individual cell structures are “open” or “broken”. The benefit of a foam with open cells is that you get a superior insulating product over conventional insulations at a reasonable price.

Closed cell foam has been around since 1950 and was mostly used in exterior commercial applications like spray on roofs, storage steel tanks, under and above ground pipes and so on. It didn’t make the residential market because of two primary shortfalls and that led to the development of Open cell foam.

Open cell foam was developed from the Closed cell foam primarily to be installed in stick frame structures; to address two primary shortfalls of Closed cell. (1) is the “off gassing”; during the process of making the polyurethane foam two chemicals are mixed under heat and Pressure and then creates a chemical reaction which in turn creates the polyurethane plastic foam and irritant gas by-product. That gas by-product gets encapsulated in the Closed cell foam that leads to “off gassing” that may last several years. On the other hand, with the Open cell chemical reaction “off gas” by-product will dissipate within 24 to 48 hours. (2) the Closed cell foam being so dense and hard that as the wood expands and contracts through the drastic temperature changes of the seasons, the wood pulls away from the foam forming hairline cracks thus compromising the insulation’s integrity and thermal seal.

Open cell foams’ “soft” properties allow the foam to “move” with the natural expansion and contraction of the building eliminating the potential of cracking in the insulation and therefore keeping the integrity of the thermal seal of the cavity. One area where open cell foams out performs closed cell foams is in sound deadening. Most sound travels through air movement. Both open and closed cell foams are air barriers and therefore good sound barriers. This means that both foams will do a good job of “blocking” or “deflecting” external noise from your buildings or other insulated spaces. Open cell foams however will in effect “absorb” the sound as does carpet, soft furniture and heavy drapes or tapestries.

Closed Cell foams: Where as 90% or greater of the individual cells in open cell foams are open the inverse is true of closed cell foams. In closed cell foams the cells are filled with a gas. These closed structures also provides greater strength and stability than open cell foams, which is why it is better used in commercial applications such as steel buildings.

Foundation Crack Epoxy Repair

Crack Epoxy Mold injection repair seals foundation leaks permanently. While concrete cracks appear to be typical, it is not recommended that they remain ignored. Most homeowners best identify concrete cracks in their basement, either on the foundation wall or on the floor.

These cracks, typically due to drying shrinkage, thermal movement or other causes usually are minor and result in few problems. More often than not, a foundation crack will widen over time and result in water seepage or possibly the loss of structural integrity. Foundation and slab cracks are not only an eyesore, but they may hinder the value of the home.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to permanently repair such cracks without the need for costly and disruptive excavation or drain tile. Poured foundation cracks may be repaired by using low-pressure injection of an epoxy or polyurethane foam material.