Pros & Cons of Icynene Insulation in the Roof

Installation

• When done by a professional, the installation process of Icynene insulation is a quick and painless one – even in homes that are still occupied or being remodeled. It is installed behind finished surfaces simply by cutting a small hole and pumping the foam into the cavity via a small hose. This also makes it ideal insulation for hard-to-reach areas of a structure. Once it's had time to harden and settle, excess foam around the opening can be scraped away and the hole patched to restore the surface’s original look and feel.

Insulation

• All forms of insulation are given a rating based on their R-value, or the amount of resistance provided against the flow of heat. Icynene insulation has an R-value of 3.6, which provides nearly an 82 percent reduction in the area’s conductive heat flow. Moreover, the R-value of Icynene insulation is maintained at its rated level indefinitely, unlike other forms of insulation which tend to degrade and become less effective over time.

Strengthening

• Before it has time to settle and harden, Icynene insulation seeps into and in between layers of porous construction materials like drywall and wood. Once it has time to settle, the Icynene insulation acts as an added construction adhesive and actually strengthens the walls and foundation of a structure.

Appearance

• All types of insulation, if not installed correctly, have the potential to overfill their cavity and cause a bulge in the drywall. The key difference between Icynene and other types of insulation is that one would easily notice if a batt of insulation was protruding outside of the frame and pushing on the drywall as they were installing it, whereas bulging caused from Icynene insulation may take weeks, months or even years to manifest and make itself visible.

Cost

• Icynene insulation is one of the most expensive options when it comes to insulation in a structure. Moreover, Icynene insulation requires the use of professional equipment and professional expertise, meaning you really can’t save any money by doing this task yourself. This is in stark contrast to rolled fiberglass insulation, which can be installed without too much difficulty by your average do-it-yourself enthusiast.