Comparison Table Between Open Cell and Closed Cell Foam
| Parameters of Comparison | Open Cell Foam | Closed Cell Foam |
| Composition | Light | Dense |
| Blowing agent | Water | Chemical |
| Expansion | High | Minimal |
| R-value | Lower | Higher |
How much does closed cell insulation cost?
It provides a leak-tight envelope, and reduces heat loss. Closed Cell Spray Foam (6.75 – 7R value) insulation costs between $0.75 to $0.95 per foot-inch (1 sq. ft. of area, 1 inch thick). Open Cell Spray Foam (3.5R-value) costs about $0.35 to $0.45 per foot-inch, depending on where you live in US.
Where to buy closed cell foam?
Foam Cut To Size
- Foam Types
- Six Pound Rebond Foam. Price Per Sheet $22.21
- 10 Pound Rebond Xfirm Foam. Price Per Sheet $43.88
- Foam Shapes
What is a closed cell foam?
What’s the Difference?
- Cell Structure. Spray foam is referred to as either closed cell or open cell due to the structure of the material itself and the makeup of the cell structure.
- Density. The density of each spray foam is a direct correlation to the cell structure of each. ...
- Expansion and R-Value. ...
- Cost. ...
Will Mold grow on closed cell foam?
Foam building insulation, in both spray foam and foam board products, is resistant to mold growth but as we will explain here it is not absolutely mold-roof, and on occasion we do find mold growth on the surface of even closed-cell foam, in open-celled foam (rare), and on th surface of EPS and other foam insulating board products (uncommon).
What is closed cell foam used for?
Closed cell foams are the most popular type of insulation used in remodeling and new construction applications. They can provide support to the structure due to the composition of their cells. They protect against water damage, and generally provide a higher r-value per inch than open cell foams.
What are the disadvantages of closed cell spray foam?
Closed Cell Foam PROSClosed Cell Foam CONSSelf-cleaning pores prevent glazingMay have lower shock absorption than open cell foamsImproved Coefficient of FrictionTend to have higher densities than open cell foamsSuperb strength, and tear resistanceLower breathability than open cell foams2 more rows
Is open cell foam worth it?
In the case of leaks, open-cell foam will absorb water and hold it against the framing and sheathing elements facilitating mold and rot. Bottom Line: It's a great and affordable insulation option when there is no chance of water intrusion, but you're rolling the dice if you think it might get wet.
How can you tell the difference between open and closed cell foam?
Open-cell and closed-cell spray foams differ greatly in terms of their density once they have fully cured. Simply put, open-cell varieties have a much lower density — about 0.5 pounds per cubic foot. Closed-cell spray foam, on the other hand, tends to have a density of approximately 2 pounds per cubic foot.
Why do lenders not like spray foam insulation?
So why is it a problem for mortgage lenders? By sealing the roof space with this material, air circulation can be restricted to the roof and timbers. This can lead to condensation, which in turn can eventually lead to the rotting of the wooden roof supports.
Which spray foam insulation is best?
Closed cell foam is the best choice for robust insulating where space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cell inside a standard wall. Its rigid nature also adds to the structural integrity of the building and E84 fire rated versions are available.
What is the downside to foam insulation?
On the downside, spray foam insulation comes at a price that is considerably more expensive than fiberglass. Often times, spray foam is triple the price of fiberglass and sometimes it can be more. Applying spray foam insulation is also something that is not advised to do by yourself unless it is a very small job.
Is great stuff closed cell or open cell?
Great Stuff Pro™ foam sealants are closed-cell, single part polyurethane foams that expand and cure when they come in contact with air and moisture.
Is 2 inches of closed cell foam enough?
Closed cell spray foam should be 4- to 5- inches on the ceiling and 2- to 3-inches in the walls. This might come as a surprise to you, but honestly, this is all the spray foam it takes to get the biggest bang for your buck with the air seal and thermal resistance needed for certain areas of the home.
How to distinguish closed cell foam from open cell foam?
It is simple and easy by just pouring some amount of water on both types of foam materials. You can suddenly find out one type of foam absorb water and take water inside the tiny cells.
What happens to open cell foam?
During an open cell foams expansion and curing, the gas bubbles used in its production are released into the atmosphere as against being locked in place as with closed cell foams. These holes within open cell foams enable them to interlock and interconnect.
What type of foam absorbs water?
But the rest one do not absorb water and keep water out from their surface. So now you might know the first one is open cell foam and the rest one is closed cell foam .
Why is closed cell foam used?
While closed cell foam usually provide better performance on insulation and durability, it is also leads to a higher material cost.
What materials are used to make closed cell foam?
The materials which can be used to produce the closed cell foam vary greatly from EVA, polyethylene, polystyrene, rubber to polypropylene etc.. The closed cell foam principally contains trapped gas bubble which are formed during the expansion and cure of the foam. These bubbles constitute a blowing agent.
What is polyurethane foam?
Polyurethane foam is one of the most frequently-used open cell foams. They are widely used in insulation, sound and shock absorption application across a range of industries and materials, including furniture upholster, seat cushion, medical packaging, electronics, power equipment and so much more. Open cell Polyurethane foams are superior ...
How many closed cells are in foam?
While a closed-cell foam contains more than 90% closed cells, for open-cell foam, of which there is as yet no official definition, the figure is usually below 20%, although it may have higher proportions. Open cell and closed cell foam have indeed some common features such as shock absorption, thermal insulation and noise deadening etc..
Open Cell Foam vs Closed Cell Foam
The difference between open-cell and closed-cell foam is that the composition of the open-cell foam is very light, and the composition of closed-cell foam is very dense. Open-cell foam, as the name is, its cells are open, which makes the foam softer and flexible material. Whereas in closed-cell foam, as the name is, cells are closed.
What is Open Cell Foam?
Open-cell foam consists of cells that are not encapsulated, i.e. not closed. So because of it, it becomes a very much soft and flexible material. The density of the open-cell foam is very much less in comparison with closed-cell foam, i.e. .5 pounds per cubic foot.
What is Closed Cell Foam?
Closed-cell foams are completely encapsulated and are compressed together. It is so much compressed that even moisture and air can’t pass through it. It is very much dense, strong and rigid than open-cell foam. It has three times more density than an open cell, i.e. 1.75 pounds per cubic foot. Its R-value is very much higher, i.e.
Main Differences Between Open Cell and Closed Cell Foam
Open Cell foam has a very light composition. It is soft and durable. Closed-cell foam has a very dense composition which makes it strong and rigid.
Conclusion
Both open-cell and closed-cell foam are cellular materials that are made up of foam. Both are similar in appearance, but they should not be mistaken as one product. As both have different properties and their performance on a product is also different. Both have different applications. Open-cell foam is less costly than closed-cell foam.
Open-Cell Foam
Open-cell foam is a thermal insulating material with some unique properties. Open-cell foam contains cells that are deliberately left open, and it expands up to 120 times its initial size. This makes it ideal for tackling insulation projects in smaller spaces.
Closed-Cell Foam
Closed-cell foam uses cells that are completely closed or encapsulated. These cells are tightly packed together so that air, moisture, and other conditions can’t pass through. Because it prevents moisture buildup, it also protects against mold growth and humidity.
Differences
Whether a foam’s cells are fully encapsulated or not gives them different benefits. For example, open-cell spray foam expands to cover a larger surface area than closed-cell foam, which is denser. This also means that you’ll need to invest in more closed-cell foam for a single project than you would for open-cell foam.
What is open cell foam?
Open cell foam is a rubber-like product made by incorporating an inflating agent, such as sodium bicarbonate, into the rubber compound; this agent gives off a gas, which expands the rubber during vulcanization. Foam is usually classified as “open cell” when more than half of its cells are open. Common open cell materials include reticulated foam, ...
What is the difference between PPI foam and reticulated foam?
Reticulated foam is usually classified by PPI (pores per inch). 10 PPI foam would have large cell structures and allow the most flow , while 80 PPI foam would have very small cells and be more restrictive.
Is open cell foam breathable?
Some open cell foam is unique in that it operates more like a spring, easily returning to its original state after compression thanks to the unrestricted air movement and chemical makeup. Soft and breathable, open cell foam is generally more flexible and can more easily conform to sealing applications than closed cell foam.
What are the Differences?
Open cell and closed-cell spray foam are the two varieties available to homeowners, and they each have their own unique qualities. While open-cell is often cheaper, it has a lower insulation value. Open-cell spray foam has a porous composition which allows it to be flexible, and also allows it to be permeable to water while sealing out air.
Density
Density is the biggest thing that sets these two types of insulation apart. The typical density of open-cell spray foam is around 0.5 pounds per cubic foot, while closed-cell foam can come in at more than triple that, roughly 1.75 pounds per cubic foot.
R-Value
R-value measures an insulation material’s ability to slow the flow of heat energy. While open cell spray foam generally has a lower R-value of around 2.5 per inch, closed-cell foam’s R-value tends to be much higher, up to 7 per inch.
How Much Do They Expand?
Open cell insulation can quickly expand as much as 100 times its original size. While closed cell spray foam does expand, its rate of expansion is not nearly as high as open cell.
What is Used for Propellant?
Open-cell and closed-cell spray foam both have different propellants, otherwise known as blowing agents. Closed-cell foam typically uses an industrial chemical agent that may give off fumes temporarily while the foam is allowed to set.
Water Permeability
Differences in the permeability to water is another aspect of spray foam that you may need to consider. Open cell spray foam tends to be permeable to water, making it a less effective overall insulator.
Sound Reduction Qualities
When it comes to soundproofing, open-cell spray foam typically performs better than closed-cell foam. The open cell structure acts as a sponge, absorbing the energy from sound waves, while the rigid closed cell structure tends to conduct sound energy more easily.
What is Open-Cell Foam?
Open-cell foam is a soft, resilient foam that is used in a variety of applications. It gets its name because it is made up of cells that aren’t fully encapsulated. The cell walls are deliberately left open in order to allow air to flow through them.
What is Closed-Cell Foam?
Closed-cell foam is much more structurally rigid and dense foam because the cells within the material are closed off and encapsulated. This makes the foam not very breathable, but it still provides ample cushioning, just in a different way. Closed-cell foam is more ideal for:
When Should You Use Closed or Open-Cell Foam?
This depends on your application. While both foams are durable, have high tensile strength, and offer protection/cushioning, they are not meant for any application. There are also many types of foams within these two classifications, so it’s not as simple as picking open or closed-cell foam for your application.
What Are The Differences?
The difference between open-cell spray foam and closed-cell spray foam is that the latter is more rigid than the former. However, these two materials also differ in density, cell structure, expansion, R-value, and Cost. These differences make one more preferable than the other for certain projects.
Cell Structure
As mentioned above, the difference between closed-cell spray foam and open-cell spray foam is that the former has completely encapsulated cells, and the latter does not. Open-cell foams tend to have room inside each cell that is somewhat like little air bubbles. This makes them relatively softer and more flexible.
Density
Due to the cell structure of closed-cell foam, it is much denser than open-cell foam. The density of a Closed-cell spray foam insulation is enough to prevent drafts, protect it from air movement, and trap regulated temperatures. Its higher density also helps prevent and slow down the growth of molds. It does this by reducing the level of humidity.
R-Value
The R-value of spray foam is determined by how well the material insulates, that is, its ability to resist the flow of heat. Closed-cell foam has a higher R-value than open-cell foams, which makes them more suited for extreme temperatures. In terms of expansion, an open-cell can expand up to 120 times its original size because of its lower density.
Cost
Due to the chemical makeup of the two cell foams and their expansion rates, it may be more expensive to use closed-cell foam. This is because you will need more of it to cover up a larger space.
So Which Insulation Should I Use?
Your choice of spray foam is usually determined by your budget, insulation goals, the location of the house, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, if you need more help choosing the right insulation for your current project, visit https://fdinsulation.com/attic-insulation/spray-foam/.
What’s The Difference Between Open Cell and Closed Cell Foam Insulation?
- Open and closed cell foam are two different types of spray foam insulation. They have different strengths and weaknesses, and one is not necessarily better than the other. It comes down to understanding the benefits of open cell vs closed cell foam and choosing the type that fits your …
The Cells
- 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. Open cell foamis full of cells that aren’t completely encapsulated. In other words, the cells are deliberatly left open. This makes the foam a softer, more flexable material. Closed cell foamis made up of cells that are, as the name suggests, com…
R-Value
- A foams R-value is its resistance to heat flow or, in other words, how well they insulate. Closed cell foam has a higher R-value than open cell foam, usually about 6.0 per inch. But some closed cell foams, like Tiger Foam’s E84 Closed Cell formula, have even higher ratings that go up to almost 7 per inch. This higher rating makes closed cell foam better at keeping heat in or out of …
Expansion
- This is one of the most important differences from an application standpoint. Closed cell foam is designed to expand to about 1″ of thickness when sprayed. With each inch offering an r-value of 7, multiple applications can be applied to achieve higher total r-values. Open cell foam is designed to expand to 3″ of thickness, meaning only one application is possible in most standard walls.
What Do All These Terms and Ratings Actually Mean?
- At this point, you might be still be trying to decipher which type of foam insulation is right for your project. Here’s a quick summary of open cell vs closed cell foam strengths and the best applications for each: Benefits of Closed Cell Foam Closed cell foam is the best choice for robust insulating where space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cell inside a standar…
So Which Insulation Should I use?
- Ultimately, it depends on where a house is located, what the insulation goals are, and of course how big the budget is. Need some more help deciding between open cell vs closed cell foam? Give us a call!