Spray Foam Insulation: Superior R-Value at a price

Spray Foam Insulation: Worth the Price?

• In a time of economic uncertainty, any additional cost to a home project in under heavy scrutiny. The benefits of spray-foam insulation are undeniable: superior R-value, no insulation settling over time, no pockets or voids, and a tight wall cavity for extra efficiency. At a cost that is at times twice or even three times more expensive than traditional insulating methods, many homeowners are faced with deciding if the benefits outweigh the costs.

Benefits:

• Stops air and moisture infiltration.
• Drastically reduces energy costs (especially in remodeling of older homes.)
• Increases strength of the structure by solidifying wall cavities.
• Does not sag over time like traditional insulation products and methods.
• Immensely reduces, if not eliminates, dust and pollen infiltration.
• Reduces capcity requirements, wear, and maintenance of HVAC equipment.
• Installer is required to be certified, you are guaranteed a professional result.
• If you choose soy-based foam, you are being extra green in your project.

Drawbacks:

• Costs around twice as much as traditional methods and materials.
• Limited supply for installers, affects price and availability.
• No flexibility for future remodeling, aftermarket electrical runs, etc. through the sprayed walls.

As you can see, the benefits greatly outnumber the drawbacks; however, if we place values on these variables you may still find that initial cost is too great an opportunity cost to overlook. Unfortunately, until the price decreases in the upcoming years, spray-foam insulation will lose a great number of consumers to the initial shock of the price.