Over the years, open cell foam insulation has gained a reputation for being harmful for a roof’s stability. However, when installed correctly, open cell foam insulation in Little Rock, AR actually doesn’t have to pose any threat to your roof at all. To determine how open cell foam insulation can be used without harming your roof, let’s first take a look at some of the suspected sources for the excess moisture and humidity that could put your roof in danger.
Excess moisture in your attic
The two sources of concentrated moisture that would likely have the greatest effect on the condition of your roof’s sheathing are moisture that is created inside the home and moisture that is allowed to infiltrate your home through a barrier weakness. If you pay close attention to the steam that is generated every time you use your shower, you will notice that it rises above the surrounding air because of its buoyancy. The same goes for the steam and moisture that is created in the kitchen when you cook.
Exhaust and ventilation systems are responsible for removing this excess steam before the water vapor settles in your attic in the form of moisture and humidity, but oftentimes these systems do not work as well as advertised.
Moisture that is allowed to creep into your home from an outside source, meanwhile, is a sign that there is a weakness somewhere in your insulation, and as a result, these gaps are causing your home to be less energy efficient than it should be.
Making your open cell insulation work
Fortunately, there are fixes for both of these moisture buildup issues that will allow you to utilize open cell spray foam insulation in your home without worry. The whole point of installing open cell insulation is to take advantage of its superior sealing properties to insulate your home, so if there are weaknesses anywhere, you would want to get them taken care of anyway. Not only will having a contractor make sure your insulation is airtight improve energy efficiency, but it will also eliminate one source of excess moisture that could potentially cause harm to your roof’s sheathing.
As for the steam that is created within the home, making sure that you have an adequate exhaust system in place is the first step. From there, you can carefully monitor the humidity level in your attic with a thermo-hygrometer, which is an inexpensive and readily accessible measurement tool. You can also condition the air in your attic, which is a surefire way to make sure that moisture does not have a chance to collect.
Despite what you may have heard, when open cell foam insulation in Little Rock, AR is installed correctly and the humidity levels of your home are monitored closely, your insulation won’t pose any threat to the stability of your roof.
The effectiveness of any type of insulation system starts with sound installation, and here at Harris Insulation, we have the knowledge and expertise necessary to know what pitfalls need to be avoided. Give us a call today so that we can make sure that your open cell foam insulation is as safe and as efficient as possible for your home.