Foam Insulation Supplier & Manufacturer in Australia
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What is Foam Insulation?
Foam Insulation, also known as Spray Foam Insulation, has become more and more prevalent as a form of insulation used in residential and commercial properties. Previously, foam insulation was widely used since at least the 1940s, finding its predominant application in aircrafts until the technology developed enough to be effectively applied in homes and businesses.
Foam insulation is a liquid based form of insulation that is made by combining two ingredients together—an iso and a resin. When it is time for foam insulation to be applied by a professional installer, these two chemicals are merged to create the final material that gets applied. As a matter of fact, they are merged during the process of spraying itself, as two tubes carry the materials up together to bond through the heated gun that dispenses the insulation. This foam then expands almost instantly to fill the space to which it is applied. The size to which the foam insulation expands is dependent on whether it is open cell or closed cell. Depending on its format, foam insulation can expand up to 100 times its size when sprayed.
Due to the nature of handling and marrying the materials, a qualified foam insulation installer is required to undertake the process safely and effectively.
Foilboard® for Foam Insulation is now available in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and all regional Towns in Australia.
How Does Foam Insulation Work?
In comparison to all other traditional forms of insulation, foam insulation is radically different. While the majority of other insulation types, including foil, fibreglass and cellulose, have been around for a lot longer and come in sheets and rolls—spray foam is a lot younger in the insulation market and comes in the form of a liquid that expands into foam and creates insulation.
Foam insulation works via the principles of conduction and convection, also known as heat transfer and air flow. Essentially, the result of effective insulation is to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer by keeping the right air in and the wrong air out. This ensures that your living conditions remain as organically comfortable as possible.
Foam insulation can come in two variations, known as closed cell and open cell. Closed cell insulation is distinct as it is quite dense and heavy in comparison to the lightness of open cell. It is extremely durable and sturdy, creating a dense surface that offers strong weather resistance and it is largely unaffected by temperature changes. Open cell, on the other hand, is much lighter and more pliable in comparison to closed cell. Once applied, the airy composition of open cell allows the gas inside the foam insulation material to escape through its walls, creating a final product that shifts as it sets in.
Benefits of Foam Insulation
There are many benefits of foam insulation, especially in comparison to something such as wool insulation. While traditional insulations offer great protection, they often cannot completely cover the required space, due to their rigid nature. For example, if you’re installing wool insulation in a wall, it can be challenging to cover every nook and cranny of the wall, as some pockets are too misshaped or small. This is where spray foam insulation really shines. Due to the fact that it is a spray that comes out in a stream, yet expands exponentially beyond its original size when applied, spray foam insulation can cover very hard to reach places. This provides your home or business with greater coverage, and in turn makes for a potentially more effective solution.
Spray foam also offers all the benefits of traditional insulation, including greater thermal efficiency, savings on energy bills, reduction in carbon footprint, and a level of soundproofing. The added benefit is that it can completely eliminate any air leaks, which other insulation products mostly cannot. A popular way to get the best of both worlds in your property is to combine insulations. Many people install foil insulation in their property, and then complement it with foam insulation in hard to reach places.
The installation process for foam is not invasive and has greater potential for retrofitting in most buildings, which is great for older properties.
How to Install Foam Insulation Panels?
Installing foam insulation is easy. It doesn’t come in panels, but rather a liquid form, which is then sprayed out through a gun. Unlike some other forms of insulation, foam insulation is required to be installed by a qualified professional. This is due to the nature of the liquids used and the knowledge required in both mixing them and applying them to the correct areas.
Once you’ve arranged for a qualified foam installer to come to your property, they will begin by clearing out any existing insulation that needs to be removed before the new materials can be installed. In order for spray insulation to be installed, the liquids must be delivered through hoses. This means that hoses must be run into whichever areas of your home the spray foam insulation is being applied. Commonly, the areas in an existing home in which foam insulation are installed include the attic, crawl space and rim joist.
Generally the installation process is not very lengthy and usually completed in 1 to 2 days. The whole job is also relatively non invasive and leaves no visible alterations to the main areas of your property, which is important. For clear and detailed instructions on how to install Foilboard® for Caravan Insulation, please contact us on 1800 354 717.
R-Value of Foam Insulation
The R-value rating is the universal measure of the effectiveness of a specific insulation material, and is used across the board for all insulation forms, including foil, wool, fibreglass and foam. While different brands of foam insulation will differ in their exact R-value, it is noted that open cell foam insulation is generally rated between R-3.5 – R-3.7. On the other hand, closed cell insulation is significantly boosted in its R-value rating, generally offering a range of R-4.9 – R-7.1.
