A Beginner's Guide: Open Cell vs Closed Cell Spray Foam

We made this edition of Inside Lighthouse for anyone who is looking for a launching point into the world of spray foam insulation. The most logical place to begin that journey is by taking a broad view of the two most popular - and often mis-understood - types of spray foam insulation...open cell spray foam and closed cell spray foam.

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[thomasshort]

One of the most precise and clearest explanations I've heard on YouTube for a while.

[BearConditioned]

I appreciate you taking the time to explain the difference between open and closed . I hung batts like r-11 to r-38, kraft & unfaced, poly, flame spread, etc. then our company went to spray foam insulation, but I was trained poorly bc the new guys just wanted to get the job done. I no longer work there, but I found out they made serious mistakes on the job that got them into a lot of lawsuits.

[klaymoon]

Thanks for the video. The best I watched so far! Can I ask a couple questions? First, some people warned me that the closed cell foam can hinder the expansion and retraction of the wooden ceiling structure possibly damaging it. Is that true? Second, do you recommend a vapor barrier or chamber on a wooden ceiling before applying the foam? Thank you so much!

[bobbydelamar]

I live in the south and have an older house with ridge vents and side drafts exits. Do those vents stay there, I heard the house has to breathe? And can you leave in the blown in insulation, since you only spray the roof?

[paradoxdea]

Excellent analysis and excellent video!!

[MagentaRV]

What is the gas for closed cell? Is it possible to choose different gases in closed cell, for example to improve fire resistance?

[charliekrukowski]

I have built a shop that is 20x28 and two stories. Unheated garage below, heated shop above. The shop is insulated with fiberglass. I want to insulate the floor of the shop, which is the ceiling of the garage with closed cell foam to provide a vapor barrier and rigidity. The floor joists are 9 1/2" TJI's 20" long. I was going to install a row of solid bridging when I thought that I would be insulating with fiberglass, but now wonder if it is needed with the additional structural support from the closed cell. I also wonder if the bridging/blocking would take away from the structural integrity of the foam by preventing a continuous application of foam. The floor is pretty stiff with only a little spring to it, but any improvement would be welcome. Thank you for reading my ramblings', and I look forward to your response. Thank you, Charlie

[f.joebidencommunistpartyof]

I am looking for different information: I am looking for a picture of the can of spray foam on the shelf at Menads, Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc. that says >>> this can of spray foam is open cell >>>> this can of spray foam is closed cell.
What I am thinking, or finding, is that the low-expanding type that they sell for window and door frame is probably Closed Cell. They claim it will not bow the frame of the window or door, so it will still open and close easy. They say it only expands up to 1 inch layer. On the other hand, the one they advertize as Gap Filler that expands 3 inches or more is probably Open Cell.

[mecksavanhxayasouk]

I live in eastern Iowa I'm about to install the spray cell foam insulation. Do I have to use the closed cell foam because of the the winter in Iowa is too cold. Will the spray cell foam insulation affect my house value and I heard a lot of people talking. I probably can't sell my house if the buyer find out I had the space cell foam insulation installed, is it true?

[safffff]

Simple for exterior use closed, for interior walls for sound insulation use open cell

[PrimeAlphaMorph]

I'm looking of doing a metal shed for a living space. So 2" closed cell first then open cell to top it off

[martypope]

so if its metal sided in oklahoma would you need a vapor barrier with close cell?

[garyferguson]

Great Video
Question; is foam in a can (Great Stuff) open or close cell?

[danjensen]

what is your take on this study?



The largest factor that can affect the insulation's performance is moisture. Usually insulation is expected to keep something warmer or colder than the other side of the insulation. This temperature differential (TD) causes, in many cases, a dew point to form inside the insulation. Once the dew point is reached, moisture is trapped. As water has a much lower R-value than insulation, the water reduces the R-value of the insulation. The more water resistance the insulation has, the better the insulation performs in high TD situations. Since walk-in coolers and freezers are high TD applications, sometimes 110º F on the outside and -20º F on the inside, the higher the moisture resistance of the insulation, the better. When looking at the water vapor permeance of the different foams, it is found that polyurethane allows more water vapor permeance and extruded polystyrene the least. Since water lowers the R-value of insulation, extruded polystyrene retains its R-value better than polyurethane.

In the preceding graph, polyurethane loses over 75% of it's R-value in five years and extruded polystyrene loses only 25% of its R-value. Therefore, extruded polystyrene's performance, in actual walk-in conditions when moisture is considered, is over three times as good as polyurethane.

References
U.S. Cooler Company

401 Delaware St.

Quincy, IL 62301

800.521.2665

U.S. Cooler Walk-ins

Reference 1

Owens Corning Internal Study

Owens Corning

One Owens Corning Parkway

Toledo, OH 43659

1.800.438.7465

Owens Corning Website

Reference 2

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (CRREL) test data. "Wetting of Polystyrene and Urethane Roof Insulation in the Laboratory and on a Protected Membrane Roof." Wayne Tobiasson, Alan Greatorex, and Doris Van Pelt; Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH 1987.

Reference 3

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (CRREL) test data. "New Wetting Curves for Common Roof Installations, " by Wayne Toblasson, Alan Greatorex, and Doris Van Pelt; Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH 1991.

[eduardoconstante]

Hi we hope you are doing good! We are building our house in houston texas what do you recommend?

[dragosnuta]

Hi and thanks for this great video! I live in Europe, in a 4 season climate country, where you can get 100F in the summer and -60F in the winter with abundant snowfalls. What would you recommend for a container home building (shipping metal container) where there are no cost concerns since I’m quite limited on space? My only concern is the condensation from inside! Thanks a lot!

[chrisoliver]

Hi liked your video . I live in SE North Carolina and have a new metal garage and want to spray foam it. I'm thinking close cell in the ceiling and sides.Please tell the negatives if any using the close cell foam...Thank You..Chris

[Jonacarpenter]

Great video. Thanks for the information. I'm looking to insulate a couple of 'vaulted' rooms in our home, that are easy to make isolated, due to the lay out of the rooms and roof rafters. I am thinking closed cell, because the rafters are 2x4. The home was built in the 50s. Also I am thinking about eliminating the vent baffles so the foam can be sprayed right on the roof sheeting, with no ventilation, and we get the maximum depth. The home is in any thoughts?
Thanks again.

[mariuszwybraniec]

Hello, my name is Mario and I don't know what foam to use to fill a hot tub inflatable instead of air so it will be a closed chamber to be filled with foam.please can you advise me what foam would be best for this task high density and is able to cure in closed chamber thankyou

[collef]

Thank you
I’m building a shed/workshop in Ontario Canada. Same weather as Chicago I would guess. Hot summers cold winters. Looking for the best way to insulate for comfort. Window a/c and base board heat . 10x16’ gravel base with silver bubble wrap between floor joist and subfloor. House wrap. So my questions…
If I do 2” closed cell insulation walls and ceiling do I still need gable vents and soffit vents. Do I still want to do vapour barrier?
Thank you kindly for your time, knowledge and skill. Much appreciated