Insulating your home is a great way to ensure comfort, energy efficiency, and safety of the house. Of all the ways to insulate your home, spray foam insulation is one of the very best when it comes to efficiency.
But no matter how good a product is, when choosing it, people will always look into their wallets to see if they can afford it. So, how much does spray foam insulation cost?
The cost of spray foam insulation depends on a lot of factors. These factors include the type of spray foam, how large the area that is being insulated is, where the insulation is being put in, additional costs, etc. On average, the cost of installing spray foam insulation in homes ranges from $0.44 to $1.50.
Let’s take a detailed look at the cost of spray foam insulation.
Spray foam insulation cost
Insulation is the best way to keep the harsh weather condition out of the house, that is, keep the heat in the summer and cold during the winter from entering the house. There are plenty of popular insulation methods people choose from, such as cellulose, fiberglass and spray foam insulation, etc.
Among all of them, the best insulation for keeping your homes comfortable and healthy is spray foam insulation. If you want to install this type of insulation in your home, one thing you have to consider is how much it costs.
How spray foam insulation costs depend on a lot of factors. Let’s take a look at them–
The thickness of the Spray foam
The very first factor that affects the spray foam cost per square foot is what kind of spray food you are using. Let’s take a look.
1. Closed-cell spray foam
This is the more expensive sort of spray foam insulation. This is thicker, has higher moisture resistance, and offers much more strength than its counterpart, which we will discuss in just a bit.
It also has better water resistance. Compared to the other type of spray foam, the layers of this SPF are thicker. The closed-cell insulation cost ranges between $1.00 to $1.50 per board foot.
2. Open-cell spray foam
Open-cell spray foam is the cheaper alternative to closed-cell one. It has better flexibility, a lower density, and moisture resistance. Compared to the closed-cell spray foam insulation, this insulation can block out noises a lot better.
The layers of open-cell spray foam insulation are thinner due to their low density. Open cell spray foam cost ranges between $0.44 to $0.65 per board foot.
Type of spray foam
Apart from the thickness, the cost of spray foam insulation cost per sq meter also differs according to the type of spray foam that is being applied. Let’s take a look at them:
1. Polyurethane Spray Foam
These are the regular spray foam that people use, which are made by mixing isocyanate and polyols which creates a foam. The cost of this SPF depends on the thickness of the foam. Closed-cell spray foam costs are more than open-cell ones, as mentioned earlier.
2. Soybean spray foam
Traditional polyurethane spray foams are just one type of spray foam insulation out there. Some people want the advantages of the traditional SPF but don’t want the chemical smell to linger around their homes.
They also wish to use eco-friendly insulation in their homes. Soybean spray foam insulations can be a great option for them.
Although soybean spray foam insulation is a greener solution to polyurethane spray foams, they cost almost exactly the same as the latter ones. The soybean spray foam cost per square foot is between $0.44 to $1.50.
3. Water-based spray foam
Another eco-friendly alternative to polyurethane SPFs is the water-based spray foam. This is a bit more expensive than an aforementioned couple of spray foams.
Depending on whether you are applying an open-cell or closed-cell SPF, the foam insulation cost per square foot can range from $0.50 to $2.50.
4. Vegetable oil-based spray foam
Although vegetable oil-based spray foam is advertised as being created from vegetable oil, it is actually produced from soybean oils. So, they are just a variant of soybean spray foam. So, the spray foam insulation price of vegetable oil-based spray foam is exactly like soybean-based spray foam.
Area of the surface
Another common factor that decided how much the spray insulation cost will be is the area of the surface to which you are applying the foam. The larger the area, the more you have to pay for insulating the surface.
For example, spray foam insulation in existing walls cost for a wall of 100 sq ft area can cost between $44 to $150, depending on how thick you have chosen your spray foam insulation to be. If you choose water-based spray foam insulation, the cost can go up to $250.
Which area you are insulating
The cost of insulating with spray foam insulation is not the same everywhere in your house. The average cost of spray foam insulation differs from place to place. Let’s take a look:
Cost to spray foam basement
The base price of the spray foam insulation in your basement is around $2.40 per square foot. The total price will depend on how large your basement is and where you live. You also have to include labor prices in the final cost.
Cost to spray foam attic
The spray foam attic insulation cost is a bit lower than that of insulating the basement. The per-square-foot cost of insulating an attic is around $2.20, which is then multiplied by the attic’s area and increased by the labor cost to get the final cost of insulation.
Cost to spray foam roofs
Roofs are one of the cheapest areas to insulate with SPFs. The average cost of insulating a roof is $1.65 per square foot. This will also vary according to the area you are living in, and the labor cost has to be added.
Cost to spray foam garages
Garages are another expensive area to insulate, and the insulation cost per square foot ranges between $0.94 to $2.13, depending on the type of SPF you are choosing. Take note that the cost is not fixed as it depends on where you live.
Cost to spray foam crawl space
By far the most expensive part of the house to apply spray foam insulation is the crawl space. Insulating the crawl space with SPF can cost up to $4.00 per square foot, excluding labor prices.
The geographical location
The cost of insulating your house with SPF also depends on where you are living. It changes from state to state, so the best way to find out what the insulating rates of your state are, speak with two or three insulating services.
In this way, you can get a general idea about what is the price range.
Additional Costs
Apart from the per unit area cost, there are some other costs you have to consider as well when installing spray foam insulation in your house. These costs include the removal of mold and older insulation installing vapor barriers, installing soundproofing means, etc.
Labor costs
Another major factor that decides the final cost of spray foam insulation is the labor cost. The cost of labor depends on two things. First, how long they are working for, and second, the place where you live.
In general, the average labor cost of installing spray foam insulation varies from $50 to $100 per hour. It doesn’t depend on what type of SPF you are using.
Advantages and disadvantages of spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation has a lot of advantages as well as some distinct drawbacks to them. You have to consider them first before you decide to have this insulation in your home.
The advantages of spray foam insulation are:
- It keeps your house warm in winter and cools in summer.
- It helps to reduce your energy bills.
- It makes the house energy efficient.
- It blocks out noise.
- It prevents water damage.
- It increases the resale value of the house.
The disadvantages of spray foam insulation are:
- It is quite expensive
- It can not be applied by the DIY method.
- It is a big obstacle in granting mortgages.
- It can be quite toxic when left open.
Final Words
Since it is best to consider all the costs associated with an insulation method, it is best to ask a professional “How does spray foam insulation cost?”.
Once you estimate how much you have to pay for spray foam insulation, compare it to the budget you have and decide whether it is within your affordable range. If so, contact us to install SPF in your home for better comfort and energy efficiency.
FAQ
1. Is spray foam worth the money?
People often get scared to install spray foam insulation in their homes because they are costlier than other insulations.
But as you can save up to 40% on your energy bills, and don’t have to pay for fixing water damages, it is totally worth the money.
2. Can I spray foam insulation myself?
Spray foam insulation is made up of a few chemicals, all of which are harmful to health.
This is why you need experts to install this insulation in your home. So, it’s a bad idea for you to spray foam insulation yourself.
3. What is the cheapest way to do insulation?
Installing batt and roll insulation, also known as blanket insulation is the cheapest way to do insulation.
But it is not the most common way to go about it, as using fiberglass is the most common insulation out there.