There might never be a better time to consider the insulation and savings value of spray foam.

But don’t worry that you’ve never really had any experience with spray foam, because Standard Insulating is here to help.

There are three main types of spray foam:

Closed cell — also known as high density foam — has been around since the 1930s and delivers an R-value of around 6.7 per inch. That’s more than twice the R-value of fiberglass insulation, and means you would only need a little over three inches to create an R-21 in your sidewalls and just over four inches for an R-32 in your ceilings. The closed cells also boast their own air barrier and are a natural water repellent, plus they have a Class 1 fire rating.

Open cell spray foam, or low-density foam, gives an R-value of 3.6 per inch, offering both insulation and air barrier. Its Icyrene composition is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, formaldehyde free, and odorless, and expands at a fill ration of 100 to 1 to virtually eliminate air leakage and convection. It cures in 20 seconds to allow coverage immediately, and excess foam can be easily trimmed away. Because of its built in air barrier, the open cell spray foam brings very little loss of R-value performance under severe weather conditions, a flaw often seen with fiberglass. While Icynene doesn’t produce a vapor barrier, in most cases it doesn’t need one. Open cell also has a class 1 fire rating, and produces no off-gassing. It is less expensive than closed cell foam, and boosts your home’s insulation some 30 to 50 percent over fiberglass.

Green foam is also an open cell insulation, made using renewable or recycled content that meet or exceed requirements for environmentally friendly insulation products. This spray foam is composed of Icynene ’s LD-R-50 half-pound spray foam using a high-yield castor oil material. Castor oil, a natural ingredient renowned for years as a household “cure all” medication, is safe enough to use in personal care items like lip balm. It is 100 percent natural with no chemical additives, made from rapidly renewable crops that rely only on natural rainfall and little energy consumption to grow and maintain.

The time is right for new insulation; you’ll save energy and money, feel more comfortable and avoid damage caused by ice build-up. But act soon, because the ENERGY STAR program is only around for a limited time — for more information, call Standard Insulating today at (315) 738-1424.

Bill Chanatry Utica, NY