Spray Foam Insulation R Value Per Inch

Spray foam insulation r value per inch measures its resistance to conductive heat flow-and, consequently, its ability to adequately insulate your home. We explore how insulation helps homes retain heat, and why spray foam is the most effective method overall…

What are R Values, and Why Do They Matter?

R values are a helpful way of determining the efficacy of your current insulation, as well as whether it requires an upgrade.

Over time, the effectiveness of traditional insulation materials decreases, consequently compromising their performance.

This is certainly the case for cellulose and fibreglass, which are known to sag and settle, losing their shape, and leading to leaks.

Put simply, the greater the heat flow resistance of a material, the lower your bills will be.

R values are influenced by several predominant factors. These include: type of insulation, thickness, and ability to protect against moisture. Let’s look at each factor in a little more detail:

-Type of Insulation:

There’s no denying that insulation products are plentiful. From rockwool and fibreglass, to cellulose and soy, the options on offer are as varied as their ability to retain heat.

On an atypical R Values scale, polyurethane foam takes the top spot, with loose fibreglass performing worst overall.

-Thickness:

In most cases, as the thickness of the insulation increases, so does its overall efficacy. However, in the case of older homes, thickness can prove deceptive.

A common misconception among homeowners is that if their loft space is stuffed with old insulation, it’s probably still up to scratch.

It’s not. And it’s letting heat disappear into thin air as a result-and with it your hard-earned cash.

-Ability to Protect Against Moisture:

Moisture doesn’t only lead to mould; it some cases, it also compromises thermal resistance, due to droplets accumulating between fibres.

In contrast, a material such as spray foam insulation controls airborne moisture completely, radically reducing this risk.

R values are influenced by several predominant factors. These include: type of insulation, thickness, and ability to protect against moisture

Spray Foam Insulation R Value

Spray foam insulation’s R Value per inch is between 5.6-8.0-the highest R Value overall. 

However, don’t be misled; spray foam substitutes abound, which although seemingly similar, have far lower R Values, and are therefore far less effective.

Take a look at how each insulation material compares in descending order of thermal resistance:

• -Polyurethane Foam: 5.6-8.0
• -Cellulose: 3.1-3.8
• -Cotton Batts: 3.0-3.7
• -Fibreglass Batts: 2.9-3.8
• -Fibreglass Loose: 2.2-2.9

Worried about weeping windows? Spray foam curbs condensation, by providing an impenetrable barrier, that slows down the rate of heat transfer

Additional Benefits of Spray Foam

Spray foam stops at nothing in its bid to perfect your home. From minimising moisture, to restoring your roof, this insulation takes multitasking to a whole new level. Take a look at these additional benefits provided by open-celled foam:

-Curbs Condensation:

Worried about weeping windows? Spray foam curbs condensation, by providing an impenetrable barrier, that slows down the rate of heat transfer.

-Increases Structural Integrity:

Spray foam offers additional structural integrity, making it the perfect roof restoration product.

-Performs for the Life of the Building:

There’s not much you can rely on these days, but spray foam’s impressive longevity is pretty much guaranteed-and so is a 25 year worldwide warranty, if you opt for a licensed contractor.

How Spray Foam’s High R-Values Have Helped Our Customers

Still undecided? We asked our customers whether they’d noticed a difference in temperature since having spray foam installed. Here’s their response:

‘We went ahead and had our loft insulated, and what a difference, its now cosy, warm, drier, and good enough to put a room there. We have only had it installed since March 2017, and the first thing I noticed was our thermostat did not need to kick our heating on.’ (Paul Vernon, Trustpilot Review, 12/05/2017)

‘We had our loft sprayed a few weeks ago,and we can already feel that the upstairs rooms are warmer.’ (Geraint Jones-Parry, Trustpilot Review, 11/05/2017)

‘From arriving to leaving took 3 hours to foam insulate our loft space. Already the loft feels warmer. But the biggest difference is inside the house; already it feels warmer, and there is less condensation upstairs, which had been a big problem for us. Still early days, but we are very pleased, and have no qualms recommending this company and product.’ (Bernie Murphy, Trustpilot Review, 02/04/2017)

Ready to take the next step? Request your free roof inspection today by calling 0800 1700 636, or by simply clicking the button below!