Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation: FAQs For Tiny-House Owners
The tiny-house life you have always dreamed about is coming to fruition, and it is time to start making some big decisions about how this thing will be built. One of the things you will have to decide on if you are handling the build on your own is what type of insulation will be used in the walls and under the floor to keep your new small home efficient, comfortable, and cozy.
Closed-cell spray foam insulation will likely be an obvious choice among the many options because it works well in a space of any size. Take a look at a few of the common questions people tend to have about closed-cell spray foam insulation for tiny houses.
How efficient is closed-cell spray foam insulation?
Efficiency is a top concern when you pick out wall insulation for your new tiny house, so of course, this would be a big question. Thankfully, spray foam insulation is highly efficient in its formulation. It is capable of seeping into all of those tiny turns, openings, and crevices that are in the walls or in the spaces being insulated. Therefore, every area that could be a concern is rightly protected. Even though rolled insulation can do a good job of covering most areas, it has limitations because you can't necessarily cut and stuff tiny bits of insulation into every last opening and get every potential draft-causing spot.
Is this form of insulation safe for small quarters like inside a tiny home?
One of the biggest misconceptions about closed-cell spray foam insulation is that it is not safe in tiny homes because it contains toxic chemicals. The majority of this type of insulation created these days is actually perfectly safe, even in the smallest homes. You can find some spray-foam insulation these days that is created with natural soy products instead of the typical petroleum-based ingredients that have always been used in the past.
Is it true spray foam can add strength to the walls?
When spray foam insulation is installed, it does become a dense material as it cures, which can mean the walls of your tiny house will have that added layer of strength. This is not something that occurs with typical types of insulation. For example, whether you are using rolled fiberglass insulation or some natural wool insulation, this material is soft, not rigid. Therefore, it really does not have any strength value at all.
