People have to pick the right insulation for their buildings. It matters a lot because it affects how much energy you use, how comfy your place is, and what you’ll pay over time. If you live around Rochester, NY, you should know what makes spray foam different than fiberglass batts. Both these kinds of insulation have their good points, and knowing what they do helps you pick the right one.
With energy prices going up these days, more folks are thinking hard about their insulation choices. Good insulation ain’t just about staying warm in winter or cool in summer it’s about making smart choices that’ll save money year after year. Whether you’re fixing up an old house or building a new one, picking the right insulation is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
Here’s a guide that looks at both types really closely, so you can figure out which one’s best for what you need.
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray foam’s this cool stuff that gets bigger when you put it on. It makes everything super tight against air getting in. You can get two types – there’s the closed-cell kind that’s real thick and keeps water out good, and then there’s open-cell which isn’t as dense but helps keep noise down better. People usually spray it in walls and attics and stuff using special equipment that gets it everywhere it needs to go.
What makes it real good is how it fills up all the little holes and stops air from sneaking through. Works great when you need something that’s gonna keep the temperature just right for a long time.
What is Fiberglass Batt Insulation?
They make fiberglass batts from tiny bits of glass that’s been stretched real thin. It comes in these big sheets or rolls that you can just put in place. Most folks have seen this pink stuff in walls and floors. Sometimes it’s got paper or foil on one side which helps keep moisture from being a problem.
It don’t cost as much as spray foam insulation, but you gotta put it in just right. When somebody installs it good, it works pretty well, but if there’s gaps or it gets squished, it won’t work as good. Lots of people pick this kind when they got normal-shaped spaces and don’t wanna spend too much.
Key Differences Between Spray Foam and Fiberglass Batt Insulation
Thermal Performance
The R-value’s better in spray foam closed-cells got like R-6 to R-7 per inch, while open-cell’s around R-3.5 to R-4. That means it keeps heat where it should be better than other stuff. Fiberglass batts only got R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch. They work okay if you put them in right, but air sneaks through easier.
Spray foam makes everything real tight, so it works amazing in weird spaces or places where the weather gets crazy. Fiberglass batts do their job best when walls and stuff are normal shaped.
Moisture Resistance
Closed-cell spray foam’s like a shield against water. Keeps mold from growing too. Open-cell ain’t as good with water but works fine inside where you don’t worry about that stuff so much.
Regular fiberglass works good when everything’s dry, but it gets messed up if water gets to it. Then it might grow mold and stop working right. That’s why spray foam’s better if you think water might be a problem.
Installation and Cost Considerations
You need pros to put in spray foam insulation cause they gotta use special equipment and know what they’re doing. The foam gets bigger and fills up all the tiny spaces, which makes it work real good. It costs more at first – like $1.50 to $3 for each square foot of the open-cell kind, and $1.50 to $4.50 for closed-cell. But people save money later cause their heating bills go down.
Fiberglass batts are easier to deal with, and some folks put them in themselves if they know what they’re doing. They’re way cheaper upfront – usually between 30 cents and $1.50 per square foot. Thing is, if they ain’t put in just right or they start sagging, your energy bills might go up over time.
Durability and Maintenance
When someone puts spray foam in right, it lasts more than 20 years. Bugs don’t like it, mold can’t grow in it, and it don’t fall apart easy. Once you get it done, you pretty much forget about it.
Fiberglass batts might get squished down after a while, which means they don’t work as good. You gotta check on them sometimes to make sure they’re still doing their job and ain’t got wet. Most times, you need new ones after 10-15 years, depending on where they are and what’s happening around them.
Environmental Impact
Both types affect the environment different ways. Spray foam helps save lots of energy over time, which is good for the planet. But making it involves some chemicals that ain’t so great for the environment. The closed-cell kind especially might not seem eco-friendly at first, but it saves so much energy later that it makes up for it.
Fiberglass batts got recycled stuff in them, so they’re pretty good for the environment when they’re being made. But since they don’t work quite as good as spray foam, you might use more energy heating and cooling your place. You gotta think about both the short-term and long-term effects on the environment.
When to Choose Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam’s your best bet if you really care about saving energy and keeping water out. It works amazing in basements and crawl spaces where you got weird corners and might get leaks. Yeah, it costs more at first, but lots of folks think it’s worth it cause their energy bills go way down and their houses feel more comfortable.
If your house got strange angles or you need really good temperature control, spray foam’s probably your best choice. The money you spend upfront comes back to you cause you save so much on heating and cooling.
When to Choose Fiberglass Batt Insulation
If you’re watching your money and got normal walls and spaces to fill, fiberglass batts might be just right. They’re cheaper and easier to put in, which makes them real popular for regular walls, floors, and ceilings. When somebody installs them proper, they do a decent job keeping the temperature right.
For people who like doing stuff themselves or need to get insulation done quick, fiberglass batts make sense. They might not last as long as spray foam, but they work good enough for lots of homes and businesses.
Comparing Energy Savings
The folks at the U.S. Department of Energy say houses lose about 30% of their energy through walls and stuff that ain’t insulated right. Spray foam stops almost all that loss, and people usually save 15-20% on their heating and cooling bills every year. Fiberglass batts can help you save money too, but it really depends on if they’re put in right and kept up good.
People who want the most energy savings usually pick spray foam. Fiberglass batts work okay, but they might let some air slip through over time, so you don’t save as much money.
How Albone’s Spray Foam Can Help
If you’re in Rochester, NY, Albone’s Spray Foam knows how to fix you up with the right insulation. Whether you got an old house that needs better insulation or you’re building something new, our team can help you figure out what’s best and put it in right.
When you pick Albone’s Spray Foam, you’re getting people who know what they’re doing and use good materials that last a long time. We’ll help you pick between spray foam and fiberglass batt insulation so you get something that works for your budget and helps save energy.
Contact Us Today for Expert Insulation Services
Want better insulation? Albone’s Spray Foam can help you out. We know all about putting in spray foam and fiberglass real good in Rochester, NY homes and businesses. Call us at (585) 560-1369, check out our website, or send us an email. We’ll help you figure out what’s best for your place.
Get your place fixed up right with Albone’s Spray Foam we know what we’re doing with insulation.
FAQs
1. How does spray foam improve energy efficiency?
It makes everything real tight so air can’t leak in or out.
2. Can fiberglass batts be installed as a DIY project?
Yeah, you can do it yourself, but getting pros to do it works better.
3. Which insulation is better for moisture control?
Closed-cell spray foam keeps water out way better than fiberglass batts.
4. How long does spray foam insulation last?
It usually keeps working good for more than 20 years without needing much attention.
