Two of the most common types of spray foam insulation used in residential construction are open cell and closed cell. One of the main distinctions is that open cell foam uses 0.5 lbs per cubic foot while closed cell foam is denser and uses 2.0 lbs per cubic foot. As a result, there is a big difference between them in cost, application methods, and insulating values. The table below shows the main difference between these types of spray foam insulation. Since every application is different, it is important to understand each one of these characteristics to determine what kind of application better suits your needs.
|
CHARACTERISTIC |
CLOSED CELL FOAM |
OPEN CELL FOAM |
|
Density |
High |
Low |
|
Strength |
Difficult to compress or cut |
Easy to crush and cut |
|
R-Value (Approx.) * |
6 per inch |
3.5 per inch |
|
Resistance to water vapor |
High |
Low |
|
Cost per R-Value |
Higher |
Lower |
|
Installation |
Expands considerably |
Lower expansion |
|
Material Usage |
High |
Low |
* R-Value describes the capacity of insulation to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value the more it prevents heat transfer.
Additional information on Foam Insulation: