Use Foam Home Improvement Products to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Bills

Climbing energy costs, a difficult economy and one of the most volatile housing markets in decades have all played a role in making homeowners realize the importance of improving and maintaining their homes. This has led many to take a money-saving, do-it-yourself approach to maintaining the value of their homes or enticing buyers who have more options than ever. With its affordability and versatility, foam is one material that is very useful for those looking to boost the value of their homes or just keep them in top working order. With the wide range of foam materials and customization services The Foam Factory can provide, they are an excellent resource for keeping your home in showroom shape.

Open-Cell Painting Sponge

One of the simplest but most beneficial improvements that can be made to a home is water pipe insulation. Not only can this potentially help lower energy costs, it also can assist in preventing damage caused by extreme temperatures. Applying insulation wrap adds thermal resistance to the pipes, reducing the ease with which conditioned water temperature is lost. Minimizing the amount of temperature lost through the pipes means water systems use less energy trying to maintain the water’s intended temperature. In the summer, pipe wrap insulation can guard against condensation and moisture, while in the winter, hot water pipe insulation can help prevent frozen or burst pipes. The Foam Factory manufactures closed-cell foam insulation which is able to resist moisture and has high R-Values, a measure of thermal insulation. Polystyrene foam pipe insulation is sliced into two identical sections with interior cutouts that snugly surround the pipe and can be secured with glue* or tied or even taped together. Polyethylene foam roll or polyethylene sheeting is a DIY foam wrap option that allows the homeowner to tailor the amount of pipe insulation without ordering too little or too much. These can be wrapped around pipes to any thickness desired, depending on anticipated temperatures. Polyethylene foam also can be cut in thicker sections that can cover pipes in a similar fashion to polystyrene. Another benefit of pipe insulation wrap is that while effective, it can be easily removed for work or repairs.

Foam can play a major role in the interior decorating and design of a home as well. An excellent material to use in painting, foam is able to be cut into nearly any design for stamping or used for textured stroke patterns. From animals, dinosaurs or night sky designs for a child’s room, to intricately detailed patterns in personalized border accents, open and closed-cell foam is an outstanding stamping product. The Foam Factory’s computer-programmed cutting capabilities can easily and affordably produce designs that would be incredibly time consuming or impossible to create accurately by hand.

Foam weather stripping is another addition to the home that can produce major dividends in energy savings. In creating tight seals around windows and doors, heated or cooled air in the house is unable to escape through the cracks and outside air won’t enter as drafts. This helps reduce the stress on heating and cooling systems, which can draw large amounts of energy to maintain temperature. The tight seal also prevents moisture and even insects from entering through the cracks. Closed-cell foam like neoprene is able to withstand the constant compression of door jambs and windows while maintaining the resiliency needed to form the seal. Foam rubber weather stripping is an excellent material for shock-absorption, functioning as a sound dampener for doors or windows that slam shut, which also reduces the abuse the joints and frames withstand.

Open-Cell Gutter Barrier Filtration Foam

Gutter guards are another use for foam that can help a home weather the elements. Custom-fit sections of porous, water-resistant foam are placed into gutters to keep them from being clogged by leaves, needles and other debris. By blocking debris that would normally fill gutters while maintaining a channel at the bottom of the form to allow water to pass through the body of the leaf gutter guard, water can flow without obstruction. Because the foam is cut to a wedge shape for a surface that guards against solid objects but allows maximum water passage, these guards rarely need to be cleared, reducing or even eliminating dangerous trips up the ladder to clear blockages.

Whether you’re remodeling or building a brand-new home, a polystyrene wall niche is one easy way to save on costs and materials while adding a personalized touch to the home. By using polystyrene to create a wall cutout in the shower or a shelving nook in the kitchen, a permanent and customized foundation for tiling or finishing with other materials is created. Because of the nature of polystyrene foam, the niche or shelf will not rot or degrade over time, even when mounted in damp areas. Another option for customizing your home decor is foam crown molding, which The Foam Factory offers in a variety of sizes and designs.

Home improvements can not only add value to your residence, they also make living there much more enjoyable. When the improvements are made yourself, you can take even more pride in your home. The Foam Factory offers the ability to personalize, protect and boost the efficiency of your home with their selection of foam materials and services, getting you the most out of your investment.

Note: The two sections of foam should be glued to one another, not the pipe.

Tags: Closed-Cell Foam, Home Improvement, Pipe Wraps, Weather Stripping

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