Can Mold Grow On Spray Foam Insulation?

You likely understand by now all of the dangers that are associated with mold growth in the home. They can present health hazards that cause issues as minor as enhanced allergy symptoms or as serious as major lung damage. Aside from the health risks for home occupants, elimination and remediation of mold can be costly and very overwhelming.

Moisture accumulation is the key factor that leads to mold and mildew growth. Your best defense against moisture is prevention and this means creating an airtight seal in your attic, basement and other areas of the home.

Sealing off a space will rob mold spores of their comfortable environment to live, grow and multiply. Spray foam insulation is the best product on the market for completely closing up a space to prevent moisture. However, you may be wondering, “can mold grow on spray foam insulation?” Mold cannot grow on spray foam insulation because it is water resistant and unlike metal or wood, it doesn’t rust, rot or deteriorate.

The first step in mold prevention in the home is knowing all of the possible signs that it exists. Sometimes detection is as easy as noticing must odors, green or black spots on the walls or as complex effects on your own body.

If your home has a consistent stale, musty odor, this is a good indication that mold is hiding somewhere. However, the most common signs of mold are the ones that occur in your body. If you have mold growing in your home, it’ll be hard to avoid inhaling it. The symptoms associated with mold inhalation will often appear like allergy symptoms such as sneezing or coughing.

In some cases, you may experience lightheadedness or confusion when you’re breathing in mold. Never ignore any changes that your body may be trying to tell you. Schedule a visit to your doctor and they will be able to diagnose the signs of mold inhalation. Additionally, a mold expert can come out to your home, identify and locate the source of the problem.

Most often, the reason for mold suddenly appearing in the home has to do with water damage. This could be related to a burst pipe or flooding in an area of the house. Regardless, moisture is a major concern and should be taken seriously. While it’s very easy to repaint a discolored ceiling, it may have deeper structural damage that could lead to more serious issues down the road.

For mold to grow, it needs moisture, a warm climate and some type of biodegradable material to feed off of. If you haven’t experienced a burst pipe or flooding recently, the issue may lie in your attic. More specifically, your attic may have been improperly or insufficiently insulated.

An attic that is properly insulated will successfully keep moisture out and cool air in. However, any gaps that exist in the insulation will allow for humid air to enter and result in the ideal breeding ground for mold to form.

Additionally, your HVAC system can cause your minor moisture problem to become a major mold issue. If you have mold hiding in your attic or walls, mold spores can seep into your HVAC system. They will then travel through the pipes and continue growing and spreading throughout your entire home.

Spray foam insulation is a type of insulation and air-tight barrier material that is used to seal floors, walls, and ceiling cavities against airflow. It is commonly used in the home and commercially around electrical outlets, light fixtures, and where walls meet doors and windows. Spray foam can be applied to an open cavity, such as in crawl spaces, attics, rim joists, and in new construction.

The product can also be used in pole barns, commercial settings, and existing homes. So long as the cavities are open and easily accessible, spray foam can be applied. Unlike traditional insulation, spray foam does not lose its shape, and effectively seals gaps, cracks, and crevices upon installation. It also will not settle, sag, or compress as time goes on.

There are two main forms of spray foam insulation: open cell and closed cell.

In short, mold cannot grow on spray foam insulation. Unlike materials like wood and metal, spray foam does not rot, rust, or deteriorate. It is also water resistant.

With these attributes, spray foam can actually be used on currently developing mold patches, as it has been proven to hinder growth and prevent additional spread. The spray foam insulation does this by cutting off both the mold’s air and moisture supply.

Though, there are instances where mold may be found around spray foam insulation that are not directly related to the spray foam itself (more on this below).

In terms of counteracting moisture in your home, sealing up your attic is most likely the most important step. Spray foam insulation, sometimes referred to as polyurethane spray foam, is the only product on the market that will successfully and completely seal off an area.

This product is specially designed not to attract mold and unlike other materials, it does not rot, corrode or deteriorate over time. When you use spray foam insulation properly, the area will never become a source of food or hospitable environment for mold to grow.

Spray foam’s water resistance will keep moisture and humidity where it belongs: outside of your home. Its ability to form an air tight seal will also keep allergens and outside air from entering into your home. Subsequently, the fresh air provided by your HVAC system will stay inside, effectively reducing your utility bills.

However, keep in mind that proper insulation is only part of the solution to mold. You’ll also want to ensure that your home has appropriate ventilation to avert moisture accumulation through air circulation.

When it comes to closed-cell sprayed in foam insulation, the R-value can range from R-4.9 to R-7.1 per inch. Closed-cell insulation materials such as Icynene ProSeal, can allow you to reach R-21 with a three-inch layer.

With the proper installation, spray foam insulation can last you the entire lifespan of your home. Foam insulation adheres very well to typically any surface and will preserve its firmness when dry.

After applying spray foam insulation, it will generally take anywhere from five minutes to an hour for it to become tack-free. However, it will take around 8 to 24 hours for spray foam insulation to cure completely depending on the particular product and installation site’s conditions.

If you want to speed up the process, misting the area you’re applying it can increase dry time. Ironically enough, spray foam insulation needs moisture in order to expand.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people who become exposed to the chemicals in spray foam, whether it be through dust, vapors or aerosols, may run the risk of developing certain health issues. If you don’t wear the proper protection gear, you could develop asthma, lung damage, sensitization, skin and eye irritation or other breathing and respiratory concerns.