Spray Foam Insulation: A Smart Choice All Year Round

Spray foam insulation is changing how Canadians keep their homes comfortable year-round.

If you’re tired of high energy bills, cold floors in winter, or stuffy rooms in summer, you’re not alone. Many homeowners search for a better way to insulate, something that actually works in our climate. Spray foam insulation offers a smarter, longer-lasting solution that goes beyond what traditional materials can do.

In this article, you will learn:

• How spray foam insulation improves comfort and energy efficiency
• Where it works best in homes and buildings
• Why it outperforms other types of insulation

Let’s take a closer look at what makes spray foam such a reliable choice.

What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation is a high-performance insulating material that’s spray-applied as a liquid and expands to fill gaps, cracks, and cavities. It creates an airtight seal that helps reduce heat transfer, air leaks, and moisture problems in both residential and commercial buildings.

There are two main types of spray foam: open-cell and closed-cell. Open-cell spray foam is lighter and softer, expanding more and offering excellent sound dampening. Closed-cell spray foam, or closed-cell foam, is denser, provides a higher R-value per inch, and acts as both an air and vapour barrier, ideal for unvented attics, crawl spaces, or wall cavities exposed to moisture.

Both types of SPF (spray polyurethane foam) improve a building’s energy performance, but closed-cell spray foam insulation offers the highest R-value and resistance to heat flow. It’s one of the most efficient insulation products available today.

When properly installed, spray foam provides long-term energy savings and increased comfort.

Key Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

Many homes lose energy through air leakage, gaps in insulation, and poor resistance to heat flow. Spray polyurethane insulation fixes all three problems at once.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Spray foam provides one of the highest R-values per inch among insulation materials. This high thermal resistance helps reduce heat transfer and keeps warm or cool air where it belongs. 

Over time, it can significantly reduce energy costs tied to heating and cooling. Compared to traditional insulation products like fibreglass or cellulose, spray foam is often more effective in preventing energy loss.

Air Sealing and Moisture Barrier

Unlike other materials, spray foam acts as both an air barrier and a vapour barrier. It expands into tight areas and seals off air infiltration around windows and doors, electrical outlets, and attic spaces. 

This tight air seal prevents drafts and helps control indoor humidity, which protects against mould and moisture damage.

Closed-cell spray foam, in particular, has a higher density and cell structure that resists water penetration, which makes it ideal for basements, crawl spaces, and roofs. 

The result? 

A more durable, weather-resistant building envelope.

Noise Reduction and Indoor Comfort

Thanks to its sound-dampening properties, open-cell foam is great for reducing outside noise and making your home more comfortable. It also reduces air movement between rooms, improving privacy and consistent indoor temperatures.

Where Spray Foam Insulation Works Best

Spray foam insulation is versatile enough to be used in almost any part of a commercial or residential building. If it’s a new build or an existing home, this spray-applied solution adapts to tight corners, irregular surfaces, and hard-to-reach areas.

Attics, basements, garages, and steel buildings are some of the most common and effective applications. These spaces often suffer the most from energy loss, drafts, and poor insulation value. 

Closed-cell spray foam insulation is ideal for these areas because it adds structure, seals out moisture, and resists air movement.

In living spaces above garages, spray foam can make a major difference. One homeowner shared how a ceramic floor above the garage used to feel 18°C colder than the room. After replacing fibreglass insulation with closed cell spray foam, the temperature difference dropped to just 2°C—plus, no more frozen pipes.

From walls and ceilings to crawl spaces and steel frames, spray foam is easy to apply and incredibly effective. Open cell spray is excellent for interior walls and soundproofing, while closed cell foam adds strength and water resistance where needed most.

No matter where foam is applied, it’s designed to improve a building or home’s energy performance from the ground up.

Why Choose Spray Foam Over Traditional Insulation?

When comparing insulation options, spray foam stands out for performance, longevity, and total value over time. While fibreglass insulation and cellulose are lower in upfront foam insulation cost, they don’t match spray foam’s ability to reduce air leakage or resist heat transfer.

Spray foam acts as both an insulating material and air barrier, filling every gap as it expands. That means fewer cold spots, better comfort with spray, and reduced strain on HVAC systems. Open-cell foam is great for soundproofing and filling interior cavities, while closed cell spray foam adds rigidity and moisture resistance.

The R-value per inch of closed-cell spray foam insulation is among the highest of any product. It’s a top choice for builders aiming to improve a building’s energy profile and long-term durability.

In terms of return on investment, the higher insulating value of spray foam means lower energy costs year after year. It also lasts longer, won’t settle or sag, and resists mould and moisture, which cuts down on maintenance in the future.

Thanks to its building science benefits and two-component application, spray foam provides a smarter, more complete solution than traditional fibreglass or cellulose ever could.

Local Expertise: Spray Foam in Calgary & Lethbridge

Alberta’s climate demands serious insulation. Winters are long and cold, while summers bring heat that seeps through poorly sealed walls and ceilings. If your insulation isn’t up to the task, your energy costs spike, and your comfort drops.

That’s where local expertise makes a difference. In areas like Calgary and Lethbridge, knowing how to apply the right type of spray foam in the right place is key. Regardless of whether it’s a heated garage, steel building, or unvented attic, not all buildings need the same approach.

At Sunny South Inc., we’ve spent years working with Alberta’s toughest weather conditions. We use both open cell and closed cell spray foam insulation to deliver maximum efficiency based on the structure, layout, and environment. 

Every project is handled by certified installers who understand how to make spray foam perform its best because, in our climate, proper insulation isn’t optional.

Make the Smart Move Toward Better Comfort and Efficiency

Spray foam insulation is a long-term solution to some of the most frustrating problems homeowners face: high energy bills, inconsistent temperatures, and unwanted noise.

If you’re ready to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient all year round Sunny South Inc. is here to help. We proudly serve homeowners and businesses across Calgary, Lethbridge, and surrounding areas.

Our team is fully certified in both open-cell and closed-cell spray foam applications. We can recommend the right insulation foam for the job regardless of whether you’re planning a renovation or building something new.

Get a free, no-commitment quote today and discover what proper insulation can do for your space.