It ’s a frigid , unmortgaged winter solar day . Thesunis dazzling . Strolling down the block , you notice icicles string up from the roof of house . Some icicles are long and supple , gracefully edging a building ; others are stalwart chunks , glittering in the brightlight . How quaint . How wizardly . How expensive !

Those picturesque cone shape of frozenwaterare indications of money disappearing through the cap . After treasured heat Department of Energy escapes through the top of the firm , it melts the snow , which drip and refreezes to make icicle . Of course , if heating system is leaking out , either the temperature in your house is drop or the heating system of rules is using more energy to assert a comfortable temperature . Time to put on another sweater , kiddo , because you know your dad is not going to turn up thethermostat .

Ideally , in cold weather you want your home ’s detachment to keep warm gentle wind in , and in summertime you want the hot air restrain out . To accomplish this , homeowners and builders isolate the quad around ceilings , wall and trading floor . insularism is commonly mean of as a frigid - weatherproduct , but building in spicy climates , especially with high humidness , can also benefit by reducing the movement of breeze .

habitation insulation lessens rut transfer , but its effectiveness can vary . Perhaps the insulant is deficient for the climate ; perhaps it was poorly installed . Maybe it ’s just sure-enough and careworn . In any casing , if your roof is embellish with icicles , the roadblock between the inside and outside is not doing its job , and your heating vizor might be the evidence .

There ’s a relatively fresh insulant on the scene , marketed by a Canadian company since 1986 . It’sIcynene , nominate as a greener alternative to other insulations . Like many thing that are environmentally friendly , it ’s also more expensive . So why would customers choose Icynene when there are legion insularity option uncommitted ?

This clause will address that doubtfulness , exploring the nature of Icynene , its multiple mannequin and uses , the pros and cons of the Cartesian product , and comparisons to other insulations .

you may take off that wool sweater now ; we ’re about to enter the world of heavy - duty insularity .

Insulation Basics

Before we scrutinize Icynene , let ’s set the circumstance with some background knowledge in insulation . We know it ’s reckon to reduce the bm of air between indoors and outside , but how do we know which insulations are most efficient ? The effectualness of each sort of insulation is measure by an industriousness touchstone : R - value . R - time value transmit how successful a substance is at minimize the transfer of heat . The higher the radius - time value , the better the insularity is . A substance ’s universal gas constant - value is determined by its components , thickness and compactness . The fundamental interaction among the properties is essential . It wo n’t count how thickheaded an nonconductor is if warm melodic phrase can easily feed through the material .

R - values can be compare by the inch , although keep in judgment that several inch of detachment are normally installed . For representative , that old standby , fiberglassbatting , has an initial universal gas constant - economic value of 3.14 to 4.3 per inch [ source : ColoradoENERGY ] . liken that to blown cellulose , another pop choice , which runs between 3.13 to 3.7 per inch [ source : ColoradoENERGY ] . Why initial time value ? universal gas constant - value can be reduced by external influence , such as expertness of installation and nail down over meter .

So what R - economic value is right for your home ? And what type of insulating material is required ? To determine these affair , you need to ask yourself several questions , include :

Keep these consideration in mind as you move on to the next page to take on Icynene .

Icynene Basics

Icynene is a froth insulation that is spray or poured into building cavities , attach to the construction and reducing air motion between indoors and outside . It ’s bring out by one company named Icynene Inc. in Mississauga , Ontario [ source : Icynene Inc. ] . Installers apply a tenuous layer of liquid that almost immediately has the coming into court of welt cream ; this apace cures and becomes a upstanding yet compromising squashy meat [ source : Southeast Foam Insulators Inc. ] . In fact , on its material safety sheets , the fellowship compare the cured texture to angel intellectual nourishment cake [ beginning : Icynene Inc. ] . Water is the foaming agent : It interacts with the Icynene components , result in carbon dioxide accelerator pedal that generate the froth .

Icynene is an open - cubicle foam , meaning atmosphere is snare within the material as the bubbles created during the foaming process break unresolved . The air remains in space as the foam cures rapidly . Open - cell foam is less heavy than traditional unopen - mobile phone foams ; the bubble farm during closed - jail cell foaming rest inviolate .

Icynene Inc. manufactures four products :

Choices , choices . And , of track , if you ’re selecting insulation , there are option to Icynene . The upfront costs of Icynene seem rather high equate to traditional insulation such as fiberglass ( according to the Charleston Post and Courier , 50 to 60 percentage more ) and a bit more costly than other blown - in foams [ source : Natural Home ] . However , it also has advantages ( which we ’ll discuss later ) that make it a workable option for many contractors and homeowner .

Now that we know what Icynene is , it ’s meter to chance upon how well the production insulates .

How to Install Icynene

If you ’re run towards selecting Icynene for your insulation needs , sleep together this : It ’s not a do - it - yourself projection . Only authorise dealer recognized by the company are permitted to install it . Prior to receiving their Icynene license , prospective dealers must attend training that covers products , equipment , installation process and worldwide building knowledge . This background is require because components of Icynene are mixed on site ; it ’s an exacting procedure requiring specialise , expensive sprayer equipment ( $ 50,000 worth ) . Additionally , installers must fag out protective geared wheel , include a full mask that provides clean air while blocking the inhalation of any foam particulates .

But wait ! You ’re go to necessitate more protection . Because of the cohesive and adhesive properties of Icynene , it stick to itself and to most substances it contacts . Fortunately , this prevents Icynene from break down over time and loosening its grip on whatever construction stuff surrounds it . Installers , however , must take forethought to provide protection for surround unintended mark of overspraying , such as threshold , window , andwater heaters[source : Insulation for Life ] .

Professionals choose from the four Icynene product discussed on the preceding varlet , count upon the purpose . For novel construction , Icynene can be sprayed between rampart , ceiling and floor – the localization that are traditionally insulated . Within seconds , Icynene amplify a hundred crease . Workers can utilize the original spray or one of the green versions . Quick review : Remember the R - value we were examining on a previous page ? Icynene sprayer have R - values of 3.6 to 3.7 per inch – comparable to cellulose , which is composed primarily ofrecycledpaper .

If you want to insulate an existing bodily structure , installers can pour the original Icynene into hollows within a house . There is no motivation to change the building ’s structure , although you might need to drill a few openings in wall or roof . stream froth expands more slowly than spray , eventually achieving 60 time the starting volume within minutes . Installers pour doubly to ensure a complete filling . The universal gas constant - note value is standardized to fiberglass batting at 4 per inch [ source : Icynene Inc. ] .

Just need some minuscule areas replete in ? Perhaps your room access and windowpane seem leaky , or you ’ve had some reparation work done that leaves you a second vulnerable . Your installer will choose for a fresh kit specifically design for minor procedures . It ’s a speedy system ; it has the same expansion pace as sprayed Icynene , and its R - economic value is 3.7 per in [ generator : Icynene Inc. ] .

Now that we ’ve examined how to install Icynene , permit ’s consider why you might want to do so . What are the advantages of this production ?

Pros of Icynene

Foam insulating material is not a new product , but Icynene has some specific feature contractors and householder may desire to deal :

With all these advantages , why not call up a dealer and insulate right now ? Well , that ’s not how develop consumer function ; they examine pros and sting . As we see on the next Thomas Nelson Page , nothing ’s perfect .

Cons of Icynene

Nothing ’s thoroughgoing . observance emollient , not puppies , not Icynene . Here are some of Icynene ’s areas of concern :

Pluses and minuses , pros and cons – what ’s a consumer to do ? Your next footfall could be to compare Icynene to other insulation . In fact , let ’s do that on the following page .

A World of Insulation

Cost of insulation can vary greatly : insulating an attic can run $ .50 to $ 2.25 per square foot ( $ 5.38 to $ 24.22 per straightforward meter ) [ source : Costhelper ] . The average price to insulate an total home is $ 2,500 to $ 5,500 . You ’re not rifle to be capable to make an informed decision about family insulation without considering the variables you bring to the table , such as the case of social system , material used , area to be insulated , personal budget , individual concerns ( e. g. , environmental takings , allergies ) and availability . Once you understand your parameter , you’re able to personalise the selection . There are plenty of common insulation option useable besides Icynene .

Cellulose particles , made principally ofrecycledpaper intersection and flame - retardants , can be gasconade into cavities . This insulation is often impart to an existing structure as it fill in little and atypical outer space easily . It can settle over sentence and lose as much as one - twenty percent its initial R - value ( 3.13 to 3.7 ) [ root : Coloradoenergy.org ] .

Closed - cell polyurethane froth is a petroleum mathematical product , sprayed to meet in spaces . Hydrofluorocarbons may be used when fix the froth . It plugs space easily , insulate as well as creating a miserly gasbag . universal gas constant - value is 6.25 [ source : Coloradoenergy.org ] , though this may lessen slightly within the first few years of instalment .

cotton wool batten , with an radius - time value of 3.0 to 3.7 [ generator : U. S. Department of Energy ] , is considered a greener form of insulating material because it ’s a renewable resourcefulness , but petroleum products are still used to develop and rapture cotton .

fibreglass batting ( R - value 3.14 to 4.3 ) comes in rolls that can be set out by pro or homeowners to fill empty spaces [ author : Coloradoenergy.org ] . It can be unmanageable to localize the batting around irregular spaces or obstruction . Escaped fiber can cause short - term respiratory or hide irritation [ source : Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ] . Fiberglass can also come in loose - filling soma that is botch - in by professionals . It contains recycled ice and has an radius - value of 2.2 to 4.3 [ origin : Coloradoenergy.org ] . It can settle slightly over time .

Mineral woolen , a oecumenical term for stone wool and slag wool , is a manufactured idle - fill insularity contain just about 75 percentage reuse industrial fabric [ seed : U. S. Department of Energy ] . Its R - value is 3.1 to 4.0 [ source : Coloradoenergy.org ] .

Rigid polyurethane froth board have an universal gas constant - economic value of 5.6 to 7.0 [ source : U. S. Department of Energy ] and tend to hold up over sentence . They are primarily used during unexampled building .

Now you know the nature of Icynene , its advantages and disadvantages , and some of the alternative insulations uncommitted . So remember through the information and decide what ’s the good detachment architectural plan for your home – that , or go put on another wool perspirer . perhaps two .

For more entropy on topics related to heating system , insulation and energy efficiency , crack out the links on the next page .

Lots More Information

source