Hydrophobic Spray Foam: Waterproofing Excellence

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Spray Foam is Hydrophobic

Jun 21, 2022

Two-thirds of our planet is made up of water, and many times that water ends up going places we don't want it to.

Climate change is providing homeowners with unique challenges. Increases in the number, duration and severity of storms are wreaking havoc with buildings. Many property owners are looking for products that can better protect their buildings from the effects of climate change, such as rain, moisture and severe winds. Spray foam is a product that helps to make buildings more resistant to severe weather.

Polyurethane spray foam is a hydrophobic material, meaning that it repels moisture. It is not permeable to water whatsoever, meaning that water is unable to pass through it. In fact, spray foam can be an excellent way to protect different areas of your home against damage that can be caused by the infiltration of moisture and water.

In addition, sprayed polyurethane foam boasts a high insulation value of R 6 per inch. When exposed to water, this material remains dry because its foam cells are closed and impenetrable by water - think of the cells as tiny air pockets piled together in a compact configuration, resembling inflated balloons nestled tightly together. Unlike other materials used for insulation, spray foam is a moisture barrier. It doesn't absorb water and in case of flooding, won't retain moisture and remains effective after the building is dried out, making it uninhabitable for mold spores.

Because we can’t control what Mother Nature throws our way, it is becoming increasingly important to build with the proper materials that can withstand these forces. If a basement were to flood, traditional batt insulation would become a serious issue. It would not dry out, mold would become an issue and its Rvalue (ability to resist heat flow) would be seriously impacted. Replacement would be the only option.

Alternatively, if spray foam were used in the basement instead of the batt insulation, there would be no impact to the integrity of the insulation as a result of the water, Rvalue would not be affected, mold would not be an issue and there would be no need to replace the insulation. Although spray foam is more expensive than other forms of insulation, it has a long lifespan and will last the lifetime of the building.

Now that’s climate change in a good way!

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