If you're fixing up your home with the goal of aging in place without having to make a lot of future home improvements, you may be weighing your options for attic insulation. An insulation contractor can help you make the choice based on longevity and cost, but you may want to consider spray foam. Here's why.
1. Spray Foam Should Last Several Decades
If you want to avoid the need to replace attic insulation in the next several decades, then spray foam is a good choice. Since it isn't damaged by insects or water, it doesn't have to be replaced and it doesn't wear down and lose the ability to insulate your home. Once you get spray foam insulation in your attic, you can forget about the need to have new insulation added to maintain the energy efficiency of your home over the coming years, and that could be helpful when you're living on a fixed income after retirement.
2. Spray Foam Insulation May Lower Energy Costs
All types of insulation can make your home more energy-efficient and lower your energy bills, but spray foam has an advantage. In addition to providing insulation, spray foam is also a sealant. It fills in holes and cracks to block air exchange with the outdoors. This improves energy efficiency, and sealing cracks may also help with pest control. Better energy efficiency could result in lower power bills during your retirement, and keeping out pests could help you avoid the need to make repairs to your home caused by pest damage.
3. Spray Foam Helps Control Mold And Allergens
Since spray foam seals air leaks to the outside, it blocks allergens such as pollen from entering your home. Allergens may still get in other areas of your home, but if you suffer from allergies, you may appreciate having insulation that blocks allergens from getting inside through the attic. Spray foam may also keep down mold in your attic, which could further irritate your allergies. Condensation is a problem when outside air gets inside your attic and mixes with warm air. Humidity increases in this situation and mold may start to grow.
Since spray foam seals all the air leaks, condensation isn't a problem in your attic, so the risk of mold is lowered. Plus, spray foam doesn't provide a food source for mold like other types of insulation or wood does, so mold has a harder time thriving when your attic is covered in spray foam. Spray foam could potentially save you money by avoiding mold spore problems and avoiding the need for mold remediation.
