Cold weather seems to make any job harder, doesn’t it? The winter blues creep in big time during the dark, cold months to affect minds and bodies alike. The weather around us and the temperature of our surroundings can sway our decisions. The cold also deeply affects the inside and outside of our homes. Tasks take longer, objects can easily break down, and frustration tends to rise.

Nevertheless, you can find success by creating the right conditions for the job at hand. If that job is spray foam insulation, it’s critical to understand why the cold and spray foam are not close friends. When is it too cold for spray foam insulation? Let’s take a closer look at the facts to determine the best time frame and circumstances for this type of insulation.

SPRAY FOAM INSULATION: THE BASICS

Spray foam is a handy tool for the right situations—a perfect means that acts as an insulating and weatherizing barrier. Even in the most extreme climates of dry heat, intense humidity, or frigid cold, spray foam insulation successfully acts as an air barrier material to keep buildings dry, which maintains good structural condition. For homeowners, this type of sealing moisture-control insulation is the key to regulate temperatures within their homes.

Spray foam insulation is simple to understand, but the application process is a bit more complicated. The tricky question remains: when is it too cold for spray foam insulation? The answer is that spray foam can be installed in a majority of weather circumstances, but only with the right material and in the right environment. It’s all about making adjustments to reach the appropriate temperatures.

COMPONENT TEMPERATURES

The difficulty of applying spray foam insulation in the cold of the winter months lies in the issue of temperature variation. Spray foam likes to be applied to a comfortable, warm space, and it also has its own temperature sensitivity. The recommended air temperature range is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature, as well as the temperature of the surfaces to be sprayed—which should be between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit—must be maintained to remain consistent.

SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURES

Insulation contractors must be careful when applying the warm spray foam onto colder substrates or surfaces. Experienced insulation specialists can install spray foam insulation in less-than-ideal situations, but the best conditions will create the best adherence. Professionals may need to use more product to ensure an adequate air seal. A building must also stay heated after application to assure there’s proper curing to form a continuous barrier.

If you’re looking for insulation specialists to install spray foam insulation in your home, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Greenlink Energy Solutions, we provide high-quality service at an affordable price to help homeowners reduce their home energy use. Call us today with any questions or to learn more about how we can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Fill out our free energy assessment form to get started.