Sugar & Corn Foam Insulation

Foam Insulation Uses

• Foam insulation is commonly used to either layer walls or fill in gaps. Foam board insulation, which can be made from sugar and corn products, are attached to walls to provide an extra layer of thermal resistance. They are installed beneath drywall or along the foundation walls. Spray foam, however, can be sprayed into walls, attics and crawlspaces in order to fix insulation problems and create additional protection.

Cost

• One reason that sugar and corn products are used in this foam is the cost. Creating the petroleum base components for traditional versions of the foam is expensive compared to using byproducts from other manufacturing projects. Apex Foam Industries, for example, reported that their EarthSeal foam was 35 percent less expensive than foam that used petroleum options.

Environmental Impact

• The other major reason for choosing foam made out of sugar or corn is the environmental impact. These products are based on renewable resourcese. They create fewer toxins than petroleum foam production and offer similar benefits, unlike soy foam products, which do not have the needed qualities.

Cell Options

• Sugar and corn spray foam come in two different types, closed and open cell. Closed cell foam tends to be more expensive, but each cell bubble is fully enclosed, which means air cannot pass through and the foam offers better protection. Open cell foam is less expensive but will not provide the same amount of thermal resistance.