Spray on Foam Insulation Costs

A brief look at what it costs to start a spray on foam insulation company may help you better understand why it is not as cheap as fiberglass to use as insulation, and provide an appreciation for advantages of using Spray on foam insulation and the commitment to quality that your spray on foam insulation contractor goes maintains.

The capital costs of Spray on

An Spray on foam insulation contractor has a significant outlay of capital in order to start his business. The equipment required includes a proportioner, a generator, an air compressor, drum stick pumps, a refrigerated air dryer, fresh air breathing system (and filters), his hose, guns, tools and a commercial truck to place it all in. The capital outlay runs from $65,000 - $140,000 for most Spray on trucks.

The cost of raw material

Now that he is ready to start spraying, he needs to buy the raw material that will make your spray on foam insulation. The product alone accounts for more than 50%, and as much as 60% of the total cost of the project, as opposed to most trades where labor is the expensive part of the equation. This is the reason that Spray on foam insulation is expensive and remains so in spite of new competition entering the Manitoba Spray on market.

Open cell foam and Closed cell Spray on are very different

Spray on foam insulation comes in two types, open cell foam and closed cell. While they share the same basic ingredients, they have vastly different properties. Open cell foam rises 120 times its original volume and is light and soft to the touch. Closed cell rises a mere 30 times its original volume and sets up hard and rigid. The two are used in very different applications accordingly with open cell foam making a very good sound barrier while closed cell foam is unmatched in its thermal properties.

The cost of Spray on for each project is different

There are numerous factors that go into the pricing of a spray on foam insulation installation and these cannot all be addressed in this article. Below you will find benchmarks that will give you rough ideas of the cost to install both open cell and closed cell Spray on foam insulation. Factors that will be accounted for include location of job site, size of project, details requiring additional preparation and cleanup, and variations in the Manitoba market due to fluctuating material costs.

Open cell Spray on, the numbers

Open cell foam is generally installed to fill the wall cavity and thus the cost depends on the framing you have in your home. 2x6 walls provide a higher R-value at a greater expense than 2x4 walls. In a 2x4 wall, the cost to install open cell foam will come to not more than $0.80 per board foot and result in an R-value of 13.5. In a 2x6 wall, this will result in an R-value of 21. It must be understood that because open cell foam is installed to slightly overfill the wall cavity so that it can then be shaved flush with the wall studs, there is a bit of waste built into the estimate.

Closed cell Spray on foam insulation costs.

Closed cell foam is generally installed in walls to R20 which does not require the full depth of the wall cavity to achieve - even in 2x4 construction. For this reason there is no waste materials as a result of this installation. The cost of closed cell foam is significantly higher than open cell foam however because it forms an air barrier and vapor barrier there is no need for a 6 mil polyethylene sheet, which saves time and money. Closed cell foam is installed at a cost of between $1.25 and $1.50 per board foot though there are again factors that will affect this both up and down.

How do Manitoba Spray on foam insulation contractors justify the cost of their product?

If your goal is to get "insulation" in your home before you install drywall, Spray on foam insulation is never going to fit the bill for it is significantly more expensive than fiberglass. If the goal is to make a sound financial decision about the total cost of owning and maintaining your home, than fiberglass is a waste of time and money. Because Spray on can save 50% or more in On-Going basis, your break even on the additional expense is a short 5 - 6 years, after which foam is the cheap solution...

To buy insulation just to tick the box is like buying a hummer just to get you there. While it will accomplish the task, it will do so at far greater cost in the long run, than the more efficient alternative.

Get a quote from a trusted Manitoba Spray on contractor

If you are interested in using Spray on foam insulation in your project, the best course of action is to contact a trusted local contractor and have him come out for a site visit so that an exact quote can be prepared for your job. You may be surprised at just how affordable Spray on foam insulation can be.