By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Every homeowner understands the importance of having a well insulated home.
After all, the better a home is insulated, the lower the heating bills will be during the long, cold Aroostook County winters. But not every homeowner may be aware that advances in technology have created many different options for insulating a home.
According to the Department of Energy, 44 percent of the energy used in the average American home goes toward heating or cooling.
Contributed photo
SPRAY FOAM — Jeff Webb of Houlton installs spray foam insulation in a home as part of a renovation project. Spray foam is one of the newest forms to insulate a home and offers a number of benefits, such as decreasing wind loss, strengthening walls and reducing moisture.
Spray polyurethane foam is one of the newer advances in home insulation, according to Bernie Webb of Webb Insulation, LLC of Houlton. Webb runs the family business along with his sons Jeff and Chris.
“Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is the ideal method for insulating commercial and residential buildings,” Bernie said. “Spray foam stops air and moisture intrusion, cuts energy bills, strengths the structure, and protects the internal air from mold, airborne pollutants, and allergens, thereby creating healthy buildings.”
Aside from having one of the highest R-values for insulation, spray foam also serves as a vapor barrier to keep moisture out of the home. When installed along exterior walls, it increases the strength of the wall. It also helps serve as a sound barrier, reducing the amount of exterior noise entering a home.
The walls in a home are the main structural component of the building, Bernie said. In wood frame construction, the weight of the roof, shingles and snow add weight and exert downward force on the walls.
In order to be installed, the interior walls must be stripped to the studs.
Spray foam insulation also does not provide a habitat for bugs, rodents or other pests because it hardens to a solid substance.
“It also seals any cracks, whereas fiberglass insulation allows air through,” Bernie said.
Attics are some of the most important, and yet often neglected areas, to have insulated, according to Jeff Webb. Basement walls are another often overlooked area that can provide large cost savings. Bernie said between 20-40 percent of a home’s heat loss is through the concrete foundation.
The Webbs had to take extensive training on the application of spray foam. A special “haz-mat” suit must be worn when applying the foam insulation. Sprayed polyurethane foam is applied as a liquid using plural-component spray equipment to fill cracks and crevices.
It then expands approximately 30 times its original liquid volume to form a hard, “closed cell” surface.
“People who have researched this type of insulation are usually sold,” Bernie said. “It seals your house completely.”
The Department of Energy’s recommended minimum R-values for homes vary by climate. How a house is built and the type of heating system used also affect it. In cold climates, such as those experienced in northern Maine, R-19 insulation in walls and under floors is essential, while R-38 to R-49 in ceilings below ventilated attics.
The attic is still the most important place. Buttoning-up an uninsulated attic can cut fuel bills by 30 percent.
To get a free estimate on how much it would cost to install spray foam insulation in your home, contact Webb Insulation at 532-6888 or 694-5205.
