When you make the decision to insulate your home, you can choose from a variety of insulation products. These include blanket insulation made from fiberglass, natural fibers, or other materials, concrete insulation, and foam boards. Icynene insulation is one option to consider, which comes in the form of a spray foam. Like any type of insulation you can use for homes and other buildings, it has both pros and cons.
It’s important to consider all the benefits and drawbacks to decide if this particular form of insulation is right for you. We haven’t included energy cost savings as a pro, as it is the most important benefit of efficient insulation. Read the advantages and disadvantages of icynene insulation below to work out if it’s the best choice for your property.
Pros of Icynene Insulation
Easy to Install
One of the benefits of icynene insulation is that it’s easy to install. Although it’s not a project you can complete yourself, when the professionals come in, it’s easy for them to get started. With some other forms of insulation, there might need to be more work done before the insulation can be installed. But with icynene insulation, there’s no need to strip walls down, put in new studs and drywall, and other tasks. It’s even great for insulating hard-to-reach areas.
Great in the Long-term
Icynene insulation is an excellent long-term option to insulate your home. When you use fiber insulation, there is a risk that it will slowly settle and leave the top of the wall without insulation. But if you use foam insulation and it is installed correctly, it should completely fill your wall cavities for decades. It won’t shift and leave gaps, and it’s harder for any pests to get in and start making nests in your walls too.
Eco-friendly
Foam insulation is becoming more environmentally-friendly, so you don’t have to worry so much about the impact it has. Newer formulations use more oils derived from plant-based sources, instead of the petroleum product that was previously used. It’s free from HFCs and uses a water-based blowing system. If you are trying to fulfill requirements for any green building standards, using icynene insulation can contribute.
Cons of Icynene Insulation
Can Be Costly
Icynene insulation can be more expensive to install than other options if you don’t find the correct installation company. However, it also requires less disturbance and can give you instant energy savings, so the cost is worth it.
Challenges with Installation
One of the concerns to be aware of if you’re considering icynene insulation is that the installation can be messy. If you use professional installers, they should be diligent about cleaning up as they go along. But if any foam isn’t wiped away soon enough, it’s difficult to remove. After installation, you also need to wait for 24 hours before you can go into the area where the insulation was installed.
There are plenty more issues to read up on here. Although, if you go with an approved installer, most of these issues should no longer be concerns.
Make sure you consider the pros and cons of icynene insulation before you decide if it’s right for your property.