Spray-foam segment to expand through 2013

The "U.S. Foamed Plastic Demand" report from market research firm Freedonia Group says spray-foam insulation in residential homes will grow 2.8 percent annually.

Slightly better growth is expected for foamed flexible urethane products instead of their rigid counterparts through 2013, says Corinne Gangloff, media relations director for Freedonia. She also says the firm forecasts annual growth for foamed insulation from 2013 to 2018 to be 2.6 percent.

"The new U.S. Administration has put energy efficiency front-and-center," says Torsten Kraef, vice president and general manager for Dow Building Solutions. "It is clear that we must stop the tremendous waste of energy and money spent operating poorly insulated homes, offices, schools and government buildings. That means building right the first time with products that perform as well today and 60-plus years from now."

The growth in the industry can also be attributed to less-costly alternatives such as mixing spray foam and fiberglass batts to create a hybrid insulation system.

Tom Quigley, vice president and general manager for Owens Corning Residential Insulation, says the prices for spray-foam insulation projects have eased somewhat in recent years. "Builders and contractors were eager to meet those demands but, until now, other options were prohibitively expensive, not easy to use or did not provide a sealing solution for the life of the home," Quigley says.