How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost?

What’s The Cost Of Spray Foam Insulation For My Home?

Are you looking to seal ductwork or insulate a crawl space with spray foam insulation? Do you want to use spray foam for a do-it-yourself home project or renovations?

One of the most costly mistakes you can make with spray foam insulation is to choose the wrong product for your job or not use enough foam. For example, if you plan to install spray foam insulation under drywall you don’t need a fire retardant foam. Why? Drywall is a fire barrier. So purchasing the slightly more expensive E84 fire retardant foam is not necessary. You’ll also only need about 1” of foam to act as an air barrier.

This brief guide covers how to find the correct cost of spray foam insulation and how much foam you’ll need for your job.

Benefits of SPF

Spray foam insulation is the most effective form of insulating most spaces. It creates a secure barrier which retains the temperature of your home or business. It also helps keep out unwanted moisture, insects and weather. Properly installed spray foam can even save you money on your energy bills as it prevents drafts and air leaks.

Alternatives to spray foam insulation fail for two main reasons: efficiency and cost. Traditional fiberglass and cellulose products allow air to escape. This often leads to your HVAC system continuously running. The constant effort to heat or cool your space causes surges in your energy bill. Spray foam is designed to reduce drafts and create air tight barriers you can count on to keep your energy bills low.

Tips & Guidelines

There are hundreds of spray foam insulation options. How do you choose the right one for your job? Think about where the foam will be sprayed and used. Will it be sprayed behind drywall or exposed to weather elements?

You’ll also want to consider why you’re needing insulation. Do you need an air barrier, a moisture barrier or both ?

Here are general guidelines and tips to consider for your job:

Spray foam is calculated in board feet (bdft). Board feet refers to cured foam measuring 12″ x 12″ and is 1″ thick.

Most foam kits are available in board feet sizes such as 605 bdft or 205 bdft.

In general, 1″ of spray foam provides an air barrier. If you need both an air and moisture barrier, you’ll need at least 2″ of spray foam.

To control cost consider the “Flash and Batt” techniques. The technique applies 1” of spray foam and adds a less expensive layer of insulation (such as fiberglass) to get 2″. Keep in mind that the area between the two insulations will be susceptible to moisture. So this technique is only recommend in dry spaces.

R-value refers to how heat resistant the foam is. High R-value foams are recommended for exterior HVAC duckwork, critical seals in your attic, etc.

Recommended Spray Foam Insulation Products

Spray foam insulation is pretty straight forward from here. First, you determine the size of your space in board feet (bdft). Next, you check the kind of barrier you’ll need: air, moisture or both. Finally, you can choose your foam spray kit and product.

Our most popular products are the Handi-Foam Closed Cell Spray Foam insulation Kit and the Handi-Foam Quick Cure Closed Cell Spray Foam Kit.  They are both used for many common applications.