Spray Foam Insulation in Galveston, TX

Spray foam insulation in Galveston means working on some of the most varied housing on the Gulf Coast. Wikipedia notes that after the 1900 hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the city built a 10-mile, 17-foot seawall and raised much of the existing city behind it. Today Galveston has six historic districts with more than 60 structures on the National Register, while the West End beyond the seawall is lined with newer homes built up on pilings.

Historic homes in town

The East End Historic District holds 463 buildings around Broadway and Market Street, and the Silk Stocking district has homes built from the Civil War through World War II. Many have plaster walls, tall ceilings and attics with little insulation. Sealing and insulating the attic, dense-packing walls where possible, and closed-cell foam under raised floors are typical. Exterior changes to historic properties go to the Landmark Commission, so we plan any exterior wall access with that in mind.

Raised homes and rentals

The 2020 census counted 34,259 housing units in Galveston, 31.8% of them vacant at the time, which reflects the many second homes and short-term rentals on the island. Raised houses on the West End usually need help under the floor, where batts sag and blow loose, and in attics where ducts sit in heat. Closed-cell foam under the floor and roof deck foam over attics with ducts are common requests.

Storms

Hurricane Ike made landfall on the island on September 13, 2008, as a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds. Homes that took water then, or since, should have any remaining insulation checked before more is added.

Code and comfort on the island

OpenEI places Galveston County in Climate Zone 2A, and the Insulation Institute's Texas summary lists R-38 for ceilings and R-13 for wood-frame walls there. Many island attics we open fall short after decades of settling, storm repairs and cable runs. Sealing first, then insulating to depth, makes the biggest difference in a hot island summer.

Climate

Wikipedia lists Galveston's average yearly precipitation at about 47 inches, with summer nights averaging around 80F. That steady heat and humidity is why air sealing matters as much as R-value here. Get a free estimate