Spray Foam Vs Batt Insulation R Value

This is the comparison on spray foam vs batts.

Spray foam vs batt insulation r value. In comparison an inch of blown fiberglass insulation has an r value of 3 1 3 4 and. A higher r value prevents more heat from escaping through the insulation. The r value of spray foam insulation is approximately 6 per inch so those using spray foam as their insulator will need about 6 3 inches of thickness to reach r 38. Open cell spray foam insulation averages between 0 45 and 0 80 per board foot closed cell spray foam insulation averages between 1 and 2 per board foot total cost including installation averages between 3 95 and 7 20 per board foot depending on the quality of the insulation you choose.

But if you re looking to replace insulation air barrier water resistant barrier and vapor barrier with one product spray foam tends to be about 10 percent to 15 percent less expensive. R value is a measurement of thermal resistance and measures the ability of heat to transfer from one side of an object to another. The common denominator among varieties of insulation is the r value. If you re replacing r value with r value it s the most expensive product duffy admits.

Habitat for humanity s study on spray foam. Spray foam eliminates this possibility. Spray foam insulation offers more r value per inch of thickness than most other insulation products. Foam insulation vs standard insulations over the past 50 years when you thought of insulation it was a no brainer the only considerations were do i use fiberglass or cellulose and what r value did i need in my walls and attic.

As a benchmark one inch of solid wood has an r value of 1. For example roll insulation suitable for 2 4 wall and ceiling cavities is about 0 35 to 0 40 per square foot. Saves energy operating costs. Homes generally try and reach an r value of 38 with their insulation.

The r value is r 3 5 to r 3 6 per inch so filling a 2 4 cavity yields about an r 13. It has a lower r value per inch than closed cell foam and is vapor permeable. I ve seen countless homeowners have to completely clean out and re insulate their attics after having a rodent problem. If it gets wet r value will be decreased.

Fiberglass batt insulation is priced by the roll or by the square foot. Closed cell spray foam has a far better r value per inch than other less effective insulations like cellulose fiberglass or even open cell foam. Closed cell spray foam insulation cost is 1 25 2 00 per board foot for the material diy. Another advantage to spray foam insulation from a pest control perspective is its resilience to pests especially rats and mice.

It can sag and compress over time decreasing its thermal performance.