Insulation
Spray Foam Insulation in Charleston, SC
Air sealing and insulating in one, which is the point of it.
Air sealing and insulating in one, which is the point of it.
Quick answer: Spray foam is chosen for air sealing more than R-value, which matters in a humid climate. Closed-cell is denser, has a higher R-value per inch and acts as a vapor retarder, so it is used in crawl spaces and on rim joists; open-cell is cheaper and does not, and in the wrong place it can trap moisture. A well-sealed house may need planned ventilation. Southeastern Renovation installs spray foam in the Charleston area and York County. Call (843) 718-8177.
Related: Why Does My House Smell Musty Downstairs (and Not Upstairs)?.
Fibrous insulation slows heat but does very little to stop air movement, and air movement is how humidity gets into a building. Closed-cell foam seals as it insulates, which is why it is used in crawl spaces and rim joists where moving humid air is the actual enemy.
Open-cell and closed-cell are different products for different jobs. Closed-cell is denser, higher R per inch and acts as a vapor retarder; open-cell is cheaper, lighter and does not. Using the wrong one against an exterior surface in this climate can trap moisture rather than exclude it.
It changes how a house breathes. Sealing a house properly can mean it needs deliberate ventilation where it previously leaked enough to get away without, and that belongs in the plan rather than being discovered afterwards.
We take this work across greater Charleston, from Summerville and Goose Creek to Mount Pleasant, West Ashley and the sea islands, and on the York County side around Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie. More on our insulation services.
They are different products for different jobs. Closed-cell is denser, higher R per inch and acts as a vapor retarder, which is why it is used against exterior surfaces and in crawl spaces here.
Open-cell is cheaper and does not, and using it in the wrong place can trap moisture.
Where air movement is the problem — crawl spaces, rim joists, complicated roof lines — usually yes, because that is what it does that fiberglass does not.
In a simple attic it is a much closer call on cost.
Often yes, and it should be planned rather than discovered. A house that previously leaked enough to ventilate itself does not once it is sealed properly.