Did you know that air leaks can account for 25-40%* of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical home? That's a lot of wasted energy! Thankfully, AM Conservation’s weatherization toolkit now includes HandiFoam®’s spray foam products. These versatile solutions help homeowners and businesses save energy, increase comfort, and control moisture and pests.
What is Spray Foam?
Weatherization spray foam is an advanced air-sealing product, made from a polyurethane-based formula engineered to expand when sprayed to fill gaps, cracks, and crevices in a building’s structure. It also has a high R-value, or the ability of the insulation to resist heat, and be used as an effective solution for insulating between studs and joists. Common application sites include inside wall cavities, around window and door frames, gaps in basements, attics, ceilings, and other areas prone to air leakage and moisture penetration.
When applied, the foam expands to fit the precise contours of the space, providing insulation and an airtight seal, preventing drafts, moisture, and pests from infiltrating a building. By sealing gaps to eliminate leaks, spray foam fortifies a building’s envelope to improve the overall energy efficiency and comfort of a space.
How Does Spray Foam Compare with Other Weatherization Products?
Let’s examine how spray foam stacks up against other weatherization products that AM Conservation offers.
| Spray Foam | Traditional Insulation |
| Spray foam not only insulates larger areas between studs and joists but also creates an airtight seal, filling gaps completely. | Traditional insulation, while effective for large, flat surfaces, often leaves gaps in irregular spaces, allowing air to penetrate. |
| Spray Foam | Tapes |
| By filling all the nooks and crannies of a space, spray foam provides a durable seal for long-term weatherization. | Great for sealing joints and seams around doors or windows, tapes don’t insulate or seal large gaps well and don’t provide the same R-value as foam spray. |
| Spray Foam | Caulks |
| Compared with caulk, spray foam offers a higher R-value. Due to its cellular construction. |
Precise and easy to apply with a gun, caulks are good for small cracks and gaps but can be time-consuming and difficult to use on larger areas. |
What are the Benefits of Spray Foam?
Spray foam is a versatile weatherization tool with many benefits that complement any weatherization toolkit.
- Comprehensive Air Sealant for Odd-Sized Spaces
Unlike other products that seal specific areas, spray foam provides full coverage in irregular spaces, offering a tight, uniform seal against air leaks. Spray foam has an R-value of around 3.5 to 4.0 per inch of thickness for open-cell foam often used in interior spaces such as attics and wall cavities where air sealing is more important than high insulation value. Denser closed-cell spray foam, ideal for exterior applications or areas with higher moisture exposure such as basements or crawl spaces, has an R-value typically around 6.0 to 7.0. - Durability
Once applied, spray foam doesn’t shrink or crack over time as caulk or tape might. By maintaining its effectiveness for years, spray foam provides a durable solution that is superior to other weatherization products. - Versatility
Whether applied to small gaps around windows or doors that tape and caulk can’t cover, or larger voids in attics, crawlspaces, or walls, spray foam is a versatile weatherization solution.
Add Weatherization Foam Spray to Your Toolkit Today
No matter the size of your building, spray foam is your go-to solution for reliable and effective sealing and insulation. Ready to make your space more energy-efficient and comfortable? Head over to AM Conservation’s Weatherization section to discover our range of spray foam and other top-notch weatherization products.
*https://www.energystar.gov/ia/home_improvement/home_sealing/AirSealingFS_2005.pdf