Open Vs Closed Cell Attic Insulation
Closed cell is denser better insulating.
Open vs closed cell attic insulation. Id go with closed cell. When applied on the interior open cell spray insulation provides performance advantages that differ from those of closed cell spray foam used on the exterior. Open cell foam is full of cells that aren t completely encapsulated. Seems like you wouldnt want to seal something susceptible to mold growth but maybe thats just me.
However open cell and closed cell have their different uses. Closed cell spray foam exterior applications. Open cell has an r value of 3 7 and closed cell has an r value of 6 5 based per inch of installed spray foam. Closed cell foam is made up of cells that are as the name suggests completely closed.
Open cell is more susceptible to mold and mildew but its expanding so it can hermetically seal an area. This makes the foam a softer more flexable material. When it comes to insulating a home whether that s a roof insulation or floor insulation it is ideal to use icynene open cell spray foam. In other words the cells are deliberatly left open.
Insulating value and strength open cell foam has an r value of about 3 5 to 3 7 per inch while closed cell foam has an r value of about 6 per inch. A spray insulation is referred to open cell or closed cell because of the difference between the small bubbles cells that make up the foam. The insulation is blown into the wall or attic one layer 1 at a time. Both icynene open cell and closed cell spray insulation are effective insulators with both working as barriers for air leakage.
The cells are pressed together so air and mositure are unable to get inside the foam.