Closed cell spray foam sets hard and blocks moisture, while open cell foam is soft and costs less per inch. Putting each in the right place gets the most value from the job.
We install both products across Waterloo, and the quote explains the choice area by area. Both products go in under the same full insurance.
Closed cell spray foam rates between R-6 and R-7 an inch. At roughly two inches deep it doubles as a vapour retarder, so moisture stays on the outside of it. It cures rigid, stiffens the framing and sheds water instead of absorbing it.
That makes closed cell spray foam the choice for foundation walls, rim joists, crawl spaces, roof decks and garage walls. Anywhere moisture is a concern, it is the product we recommend.
Open cell foam rates between R-3.5 and R-3.8 an inch. It stops air but lets moisture pass, so it needs a separate vapour barrier in outside walls. It is softer, quieter and less costly to install.
Open cell is a good fit for attic floors, interior walls between rooms and the ceiling of a home theatre or office.
Plenty of jobs use both foams. One plan we use often: basement walls and the rim joist get closed cell spray foam, and the attic floor above the bedrooms gets open cell. In a newer Westvale house, the garage ceiling below a bonus room might take closed cell, while the bonus room walls take open cell.
In an attic, open cell prices out between $2.50 and $4.50 a square foot. Closed cell spray foam under a roof deck sits between $3.50 and $7, and on basement walls between $3 and $5.50. The difference is the material and the depth.
Open cell foam is soft and full of tiny open pockets, so it soaks up sound better than dense foam does. It works well in the ceiling of a basement rec room, the walls of a home office or around a bathroom. It is not a full soundproofing system, but it makes a clear difference to voices and footsteps.
Closed cell spray foam is our usual pick below grade. Foundation walls stay cool all summer, and humid air needs a barrier to keep it off the concrete. Closed cell spray foam gives that barrier in the same pass that adds the R-value.
It also costs more per inch, so we keep it where moisture is the concern and use open cell where it is not. The quote shows which areas get which foam and why.
A flat or low-slope roof over a Waterloo addition has no attic space to vent. Closed cell is the safer pick there, because it keeps moist indoor air from reaching the cold roof boards. A steep roof over a vented attic can take open cell on the attic floor instead. We look at the roof shape before we suggest either one.
Call (226) 407-7718 to ask which foam fits your project. The free visit ends with a written quote that names closed cell spray foam or open cell for each area. The main page lists every service, and the attic page shows both foams at work.
Pairing two of these in one trip means the rig only sets up once.
Attic spray foam insulation is how we keep warm air from rising out of upstairs rooms, by sealing across the attic floor or coating the roof boards from below. It is the quickest way to cut ice dams and cold upstairs bedrooms.
View Attic Insulation
Basement spray foam insulation grips the concrete itself, so humid air never touches the cold wall. It keeps the room warmer in winter and stops the damp smell in summer.
View Basement Insulation
Wall spray foam insulation packs the stud cavity from side to side, so there are no gaps for cold air to move through. It is the best way to insulate an outside wall when you have the drywall or plaster off.
View Wall Insulation
With closed cell foam on the rim joist, the wooden band between floor frame and concrete stops leaking air. It takes one day and makes a big difference to basement comfort.
View Rim Joist Insulation
New home spray foam insulation wraps a new build's walls, rim joists and roof in one step. It helps builders reach the tighter energy and air leakage targets in the current Ontario code.
View New Home Insulation
Garage spray foam insulation lets you work in the garage all winter and takes the chill off the bedroom over it. It seals the walls and ceiling against cold air and moisture in one step.
View Garage Insulation
Commercial spray foam insulation seals the roof, walls and slab edges of a business building in one step. It keeps work space at a steady temperature and cuts heating and cooling costs.
View Commercial InsulationSend a ballpark size and what the space is for, and we phone back to set up the free visit.
Once the form arrives, we phone you to settle on a visit time. Calls go to +1 (226) 407-7718.
