Spray Foam Insulation in Gaylord, MI

Spray foam insulation sprays on as a liquid, expands into gaps and cracks, and cures into a solid layer that both insulates and blocks air. In a Gaylord house, with a January daily mean near 16F, the places where cold air and warm, moist indoor air meet are where foam matters most: the rim joist, basement and crawl space walls, kneewalls, vaulted ceilings and the gaps in the attic floor.

Closed cell vs open cell

Closed-cell foam is dense and stiff after curing. HomeGuide rates it at R-5 to R-7 per inch. At normal thickness it slows water vapor and does not absorb water. In Climate Zone 6A that makes it the default for any surface that gets cold in winter: rim joists, foundation walls, crawl space walls, the underside of roof decks with no vent space, and steel buildings.

Open-cell foam is soft and expands a lot, at R-3.5 to R-3.7 per inch. It seals air and absorbs sound, but water vapor moves through it, so in this climate it needs a vapor retarder on the warm side. It works in interior walls and some above-grade cavities.

Good uses for foam up north

• Rim joists. The most common foam job, sealing the perimeter where the house sits on the foundation.
• Vaulted ceilings. Cabins and resort homes often have cathedral ceilings with no attic; closed-cell under the roof deck reaches high R-value in shallow rafters.
• Cabin floors and crawl spaces. Foam on crawl space walls brings the space inside the house and protects plumbing.
• Attic bypasses. Foam seals the gaps before blown-in goes on top.
• Pole barns and shops. Foam on steel stops condensation.

When foam is not the answer

On a large open attic floor, sealing and blowing in cellulose or fiberglass reaches R-60 for less. Foam should never cover wet framing or a leak. Old wiring and suspect vermiculite get flagged before anything is priced.

Cold-weather application

Foam needs the surface and material within a working temperature range. In a heated basement that is easy any time of year. Unheated attics, crawl spaces and buildings may need to be warmed or scheduled for a milder stretch. HomeGuide advises staying out of the house at least 24 hours after spraying.