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Do I Need To Insulate My Garage?

You probably already know about the importance of home insulation, but do garages count? Since we’re not actively living in these spaces, many people think that it’s not necessary. However, insulating your garage can make a big difference in your home’s overall comfort while bringing you plenty of other benefits. Today, the experts at Foam Bear Orlando are here to show you why you need to insulate your garage.

How Garages Affect Your Home’s Temperature

If your garage is attached to the rest of your house, then it can have a direct impact on your home’s overall temperature. This is because, no matter how little time you actually spend in your garage, it acts as another room just like any other bedroom or living room. That means any heat that the garage collects during the summer months (or cold during the winter months) can easily seep into any connecting rooms thus affecting the indoor temperature. This phenomenon causes your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to, thus running your electric bill through the roof. So while you might think that it won’t make much of a difference, insulating your garage can greatly improve your life at home while effectively cutting energy costs.

What About Detached Garages?

For garages that are completely detached from the main house, putting in insulation won’t bring any noticeable benefits. Since you would just be using it to store your vehicle and maybe some tools, there won’t be any consequences for letting the space get too hot or too cold.

Signs That Your Garage Needs Insulation

It’s not too common for homes to come with garages already insulated, especially if the house is more than a couple of decades old. Some newer homes are built with garage insulation, but only for the walls that are directly connected to the main home. Even if you’re not entirely sure whether your garage is insulated or where it’s insulated, here are some signs that you may need to call your local insulation experts:

  • The rooms directly next to or above your garage will feel uncomfortable even with the air conditioner turned on
  • The walls and floors right on the other side of the garage will feel too hot or too cold
  • You will be able to easily hear noises coming from the garage while in surrounding rooms
  • Your energy bill will be higher than it needs to be
  • There will be frequent drafts near the garage area
  • If there’s outdated insulation present, it will start to crack or crumble

How Else Does Garage Insulation Benefit Me?

Other than regulating the temperatures in nearby rooms and reducing your electric bill, insulating your garage can help your home in many more ways. It can beef up your home’s structural integrity, prevent air and moisture damage, and increase your property value. Needless to say, garage insulation is well worth it!

Let Foam Bear Orlando Insulate Your Garage!

Want to insulate your garage for a more comfortable home and lower energy costs? Call the experts at Foam Bear Orlando at (727) 580-1090 to schedule your service and get a free estimate! We will use high-quality spray foam insulation to ensure a tight seal throughout your garage for the best living experience. Feel free to ask our friendly team for more information about the products we use to improve your home.

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How Long Until Spray Foam Insulation Has Fully Cured?

You’ve probably heard about how spray foam insulation is a better alternative to traditional fiberglass for countless reasons. It’s much more effective as an insulator, lasts way longer, and can even save you money on your energy bill. But what can you expect during the installation process? The experts at Foam Bear Tampa are here to tell you how long it takes for spray foam insulation to fully cure so you can plan your day around this essential project when the time comes.

Average Times For Each Stage of the Process

With spray foam insulation, it’s not as simple as how long it takes to dry. Since it’s a complex compound of various substances, there are different stages of the process that you need to actively look out for to effectively determine whether it’s done or not:

  • In less than a minute, the foam will become tack-free
  • In 2-5 minutes, the surface will develop a waterproof skin
  • In 4-24 hours, the spray should be fully cured

The span of 4-24 hours may be a wide gap, but that’s because it ultimately depends on the type of foam, how much is applied, and the temperature of the room. You also need to account for re-occupancy time to avoid exposing yourself to harmful fumes. In case you were wondering, the term “tack-free” refers to the initial dampness of the foam. If you can touch it with a wooden stick without it getting wet, then it is officially declared tack-free. Now, let’s move on to the other details that can affect the overall time it takes for spray foam to cure all the way.

Factors That Can Alter the Cure Time

One important aspect that’s difficult to control is the temperature of the room in which the spray foam is being installed. Just like with most liquids, the presence of heat will cause it to evaporate faster than if it were in the cold. The same goes for spray foam. The ideal temperature for insulating foam to dry quickly is anywhere from 70-80 degrees which is why installation tends to go more smoothly during the warm spring months. However, any atmosphere hotter than that can become too much during the curing process and cause the surface to become brittle and crack before it has a chance to finish. This is because spray foam starts curing from the surface while moving its way inward but once it’s done curing, your spray foam insulation will be able to effectively keep out the summer heat!

Another important factor is the density of the foam and how much is applied in one go. Since curing starts from the outside going in, you can deduce that denser foam like the closed-cell variety can take longer to cure than open-cell foam. And of course, the more that’s applied at once, the longer it will take to cure. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that open-cell is better than closed-cell foam because it can cure faster. Each kind has its benefits and uses, it’s just something to keep in mind.

Fast Spray Foam Insulation In Tampa

To ensure optimal curing time with the best spray foam products, call Foam Bear Tampa today at (727) 580-1090 for more information about our services and to receive a free quote! We will gladly work around your schedule and get the job done with peak efficiency so you’re not waiting around any longer than you need to.