Open-cell foam insulation in Big Spring TX - drafts sealed and done in the right order
Hot upstairs rooms, drafts and a high power bill usually trace back to air leaks. We seal and insulate them in one layer of foam.
Is open-cell spray foam right for your Big Spring house?
Open-cell foam insulation is a soft spray foam that stops air leaks while it insulates, so the cooling and heat you pay for stay inside instead of slipping out through gaps. In Big Spring, TX, it's a good fit for attics and walls where drafts are the main complaint.
Most people call us because the upstairs runs hot, the room over the garage never feels right or the power bill keeps climbing. Foam costs more than blown-in loose fill, which is insulation blown through a hose, but it seals air as it insulates, so when your ductwork runs through the attic I usually lean toward foam, and when it doesn't, sealing the gaps and topping up loose fill is often the better buy. The price moves with how much area we're spraying, how thick it goes, how easy the space is to get into and whether old insulation has to come out first. The schedule turns on that removal and on when your household can stay somewhere else, and I put both into the estimate once I've seen the space. We check with the city's building office before we start and take care of any permit the job calls for.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Spray foam, vapor barriers and commercial work
How we install open-cell foam insulation
I start by checking the space, because soaked or droppings-filled insulation has to come out before foam goes anywhere near it, and a gas furnace or water heater up there still needs its air. Then we cover what shouldn't get foam, everyone in the house heads out, and our crew sprays to the thickness we agreed on, filling the gaps around pipes, wiring and the hatch as it goes. Open-cell is softer and quieter than the denser kinds, but it lets water vapor pass through, so it doesn't stop moisture and we're careful about where it goes. Once it's set, we trim the extra and clean up, and you come back after the re-entry time, the wait before it's okay to be inside again.
Because open-cell foam doesn't hold back moisture, a damp space under the house usually needs a crawl space vapor barrier, a sheet laid over the dirt, rather than more foam. Business owners call us too, and our commercial insulation work follows the same order of checking the space, planning around the people inside and then spraying.
Why Big Spring homeowners call B&S Big Spring Spray Foam Insulation for open-cell foam
I look at it and price it
I'm usually the one who comes out to look at the job and write the estimate, and a lead installer runs the crew on the day of the work. That way the questions you ask on the walk-through get answered by the person planning the job.
Learned the trade in hot attics
I started as a helper hauling bags and running hose, and I opened this business in 2013. That's where I learned to check the space and seal before anything else goes in, because doing it out of order just covers a problem up.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to show you proof before we start. That matters when a crew is working above your ceilings and around your wiring.
We know Big Spring's code office
Big Spring's Building Permits and Inspections Department enforces the city's construction codes, including an energy code the city has adopted. It's the office you can contact about your job too, and we find out what it wants before any foam goes in.
We're based in Big Spring and work in Midland and the cities around them, so ask for an estimate or call (432) 263-5187 when you're ready. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a written estimate for open-cell foam
Tell us which spaces you want foamed and any health history at home, and we'll get back to you within 1 business day to set up a free on-site estimate. No pressure, no obligation.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What happens after you call about open-cell foam?
Call or send the form
Call (432) 263-5187 or send the form, and we'll set up a time for me to come look at the job. Bring every question you've got, because I'd rather answer one twice than have you guess.
I check the space first
I look over the attic, crawl space or walls for anything that has to be fixed before foam goes in, like soaked old insulation or a furnace that needs its air. Then I walk you through your options and write up an estimate that spells out what you're paying for.
We line up the city and dates
Once you say go, we check with the city office and set the work in the right order. You line up a place for everyone in the house, pets included, to stay while we spray.
Our crew sprays and cleans up
A lead installer runs the crew, sprays the foam to the planned thickness and cleans up before leaving. You come back once the re-entry time for that product is up.
Open-cell foam questions from Big Spring
How long do we have to stay out of the house after spray foam is installed?
Some foam makers recommend staying out for 24 hours after spraying before anyone moves back in, but the wait varies by product. I'll tell you which foam we're using so you can check its maker's re-entry time and plan your days around it.
Is open-cell foam a good fit if someone in the home has asthma?
It may not be, because anyone with asthma, respiratory allergies, skin conditions or a past reaction to spray foam chemicals should carefully review the product information first, and some of those households may want another kind of insulation. I'd rather talk that through at the estimate than after the foam is in, so tell me about any health history when you call.
How thick should open-cell spray foam be in an attic?
General guidance says open-cell foam needs to be at least 5.5 inches thick to act as the air barrier, the layer that stops air leaks, as well as the insulation. Ask any installer how thick they plan to spray, since that thickness is what lets the foam do both jobs, and I write ours into the estimate.
Who issues building permits in Big Spring, TX?
The city's Building Official issues permits to alter or repair a building in Big Spring. The city's permit list names jobs like roofs, siding and remodels but doesn't name foam insulation, so the building office is the place to ask whether your job needs one, and that's the call we make before we start.
How much does open-cell foam insulation cost in Big Spring?
There's no set price, because it comes down to how much area we're spraying and how thick it needs to be. Old insulation that has to come out first or a tight space that's hard to reach adds work, while an open, easy attic costs less. I'll walk the space and put your number in writing so you know what you're paying for.
What is the best way to choose between open-cell and closed-cell foam?
Choose by the spot it's going into, since closed-cell foam is the dense kind that blocks moisture and suits damp places, while open-cell works well where things stay dry. Closed-cell also acts as the air barrier at a thinner layer, at least 1.5 inches thick. I'll show you which one I'd put where when I look at your house.
Insulation work in nearby cities
Work that goes with open-cell foam insulation
Crawl space vapor barrier
Cold floors and a musty smell usually mean a damp crawl space, and a barrier over the dirt keeps that moisture from rising into the house.
Commercial insulation
Shops, offices and rental buildings get the same careful order we use in houses, with the work planned around the people who use the space.