Open Cell Insulation

The importance of insulation has become relatively well-known in modern times, and one of the most heralded insulation varieties in recent years has been spray foam insulation. Naturally, spray foam insulation comes in a couple of different compositions, open cell and closed cell insulation. Both of these represent excellent choices for your property, but which is right for you? Below, we’ll run through some of the details relating to open cell insulation, and the circumstances that might make it the most suitable choice for your property. At St Louis Spray Foam Insulation Pros, we have a wealth of experience in the application and installation of spray foam insulation, and open cell insulation specifically, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re in very safe hands. For more details on what to expect and why to choose open cell insulation, read on below.

What is Open Cell Insulation?

So, we’ve already mentioned that open cell insulation is a subcategory of spray foam insulation, but what exactly is it – and how does it work? In simple terms, the ‘cell’ in open cell insulation refers to the bubbles that you’ll see in the foam. Open cell insulation is full of cells that aren’t totally encapsulated, they’re left open on purpose – as the name suggests! The material consequence of this is that the foam tends to provide a softer, more flexible structure once it has been installed.

Major Expansion

When spray foam insulation is installed, it’s sprayed into the space that it’s needed before it expands to fill in the gaps, and once that’s done, it’ll harden. Open cell insulation expands to 3” of thickness (compared to 1” of thickness for closed cell insulation), which means that it does an excellent job at filling in spaces. This is particularly effective when you have awkward, hard to reach places in your property. These tiny nooks and crannies are typical of older properties, and although you might think these spaces aren’t so important, that’s far from the truth – they can have a devastating impact on the quality of your insulation system.

Soundproofing Quality

If you live in a property with other loud residents – something that is fairly typical for a family household – then you might want to consider the soundproofing benefits associated with open cell insulation. It does a wonderful job at blocking out noise, and without any downsides. This is also useful if you’re trying to keep roadside noise out of your home – a common concern for urban properties that we deal with.

Greater Affordability

A substantial benefit to using open cell insulation is that it’s the more affordable option compared with closed cell insulation. This tends to be because fewer materials are required (due to the greater expansion potential), and also because the installation process is less demanding. If you’re trying to get a thorough, comprehensive insulation installation on a tighter budget, open cell insulation is likely to be the solution that works best for you.