Spray Foam Insulation in Savannah, GA

Spray foam insulation goes on as a liquid, expands to fill the cavity and cures in place, so it closes air leaks and adds R-value in one step. In Savannah, where summer dew points sit around 68°F to 72°F for months, stopping outside air matters as much as the R-value printed on a bag. Every bit of air that leaks in carries heat and water vapor that your air conditioner then has to remove.

Closed-cell foam

Closed-cell foam is dense and stiff, roughly R-5 to R-7 per inch according to HomeGuide, and at about two inches it slows water vapor too. We use it under raised floors, on crawl space walls and rim joists, on metal and in tight spaces where every inch counts. FEMA's flood-resistant materials bulletin rates closed-cell foam acceptable in areas below flood elevation, which matters on islands and low ground. HomeGuide lists it at $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot installed.

Open-cell foam

Open-cell foam is light and spongy, roughly R-3.5 to R-3.7 per inch, and runs about $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. It is the usual choice on the underside of the roof deck when the air handler and ducts sit in the attic, because it brings that equipment inside the cooled envelope. It lets vapor pass, so it does not belong below ground, under floors that can flood, or on the outside face of anything that gets wet.

Where foam makes sense in Savannah homes

• Attics with ductwork. Foam on the roofline keeps ducts out of the hottest air in the house.
• Raised floors. Closed-cell under the subfloor of homes on piers, blocks or pilings.
• Crawl space walls and rim joists. Closed-cell where the house meets the foundation.
• Bonus rooms and kneewalls. Foam fills sloped ceilings and kneewalls that batts never fit.
• Renovations. Foam in open stud bays while walls are exposed, common in older downtown and Midtown homes.
• Metal buildings and garages. Closed-cell stops condensation on steel.

Things we check first

Foam sticks to whatever it touches, so problems underneath get sealed in. We look for roof leaks, wet framing and plumbing drips, and we check that bath and kitchen fans vent outdoors, not into the attic. In crawl spaces we plan for termite inspection gaps, since Chatham County requires proof of termite treatment on new homes and foam on foundation walls can hide termite tubes. If the home is in a flood zone, we ask about the flood elevation before choosing a foam.

Curing and re-entry

HomeGuide advises staying out of the house for at least 24 hours after spraying, and the foam maker's re-entry time is the one we follow. We mask, ventilate during the work and leave the space airing out before you come back. Get a free estimate