If you’re in the process of planning to have your home insulated, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the basics of soy insulation. After learning what it is, how it works and why it’s such an effective material for insulation, you may just find that it’s the right choice for you. The professionals at Harris Insulation will be glad to assist with your spray foam insulation needs here in Little Rock, AR.
What is soy insulation?: Soy insulation starts off in the form of a spray-on foam. Like all spray-on foam insulations, soy insulation is petroleum-based. With soy insulation, some of the petroleum is replaced with soy. The technicians you hire will arrive at your home equipped with suits and tanks and spray the soy insulation into the walls of your home. Soy insulation expands up to 100 times its size, filling every nook and cranny and making an extremely tight seal.
All spray-foam insulation consists of an “A side” (the catalyst) and a “B side” (the resin). The two sides are mixed together as they come out of the tank. This causes a chemical reaction and creates the spray foam.
How does soy insulation work?: Soy insulation comes in two forms: open cell and closed cell. With open cell insulation, your walls will be soft. Air gets trapped in the insulation, working like a down sleeping bag. Open cell insulation is lightweight, so you can often use fewer building materials with this type of insulation. Closed cell insulation is more densely packed than open cell insulation. The hardness of the insulation will improve your home’s strength in high winds. Closed cell insulation may be the right choice for you if you live in a very cold climate or are concerned about structural strength.
Soy insulation also results in a strong sound barrier. (Say goodbye to hearing the ambulance making its way down the neighboring street!) In addition, because it is airtight, it will improve your indoor air quality by blocking out pollen and pollution.
Why is soy insulation so effective?: Because soy insulation is sprayed on your home’s walls using water, the off-gassing (the release of volatile organic compounds) that can result from fiberglass insulation will not occur. This leads to a smaller environmental footprint. Spraying on this insulation with water also ensures that it’s safe for our bodies.
Soy insulation resists moisture, so it will continue to protect your home without the concerns associated with the mold and fungus growth that can develop over time from wet fiberglass insulation. Also, rodents will not eat soy insulation, so you don’t have to worry that your insulation will become less effective or disappear over time.
Interested in finding out more about spray foam insulation in Little Rock, AR, or in scheduling an installation? Contact the experts at Harris Insulation at 501-412-3210 today!