Wall Insulation in Galveston, TX

Wall insulation in Galveston County ranges from century-old island homes to houses framed last year. Galveston has six historic districts with more than 60 structures on the National Register, and the East End and Silk Stocking districts hold homes built from the Civil War through World War II. Many of those houses were built with little or no wall insulation. Mainland homes from the 1960s to 1990s often have thin batts with gaps. New homes and post-storm rebuilds are a chance to do the walls right.

Closed walls

When the walls stay closed, we dense-pack cellulose or fiberglass through small holes in each stud bay, from inside or from outside behind siding. Packed tightly, it fills the cavity and slows air movement. HomeGuide lists blown-in exterior wall insulation at $1,900 to $7,800 and dense-pack cellulose at $1.60 to $4.20 per square foot. In historic homes we discuss access with you first, since exterior changes to historic properties in Galveston go before the Landmark Commission.

Open walls

When the studs are open during a remodel, rebuild or new construction, spray foam is the strongest option. Open-cell foam fills the bay and seals around wiring at lower cost; closed-cell gives more R per inch and better water resistance, which is useful in walls below base flood elevation. The Texas code summary lists R-13 for wood-frame walls in Zone 2. Fixr lists new-construction foam at $2.75 to $6.50 per square foot.

Moisture in walls

On the coast, walls see wind-driven rain and humid air. We pay attention to how the wall is built, the house wrap and siding, and whether the material we choose will dry if it ever gets wet.

How we check walls

We look at outlets, check the tops of walls from the attic and sometimes drill a test hole to see what is inside before pricing.

Rebuilds after storms

When flood-damaged walls are opened and dried, it is the best time to insulate them properly. Closed-cell foam in the lower part of the wall, where water is most likely to reach, and open-cell foam or batts above it is one common approach. Sealing around outlets, windows and plumbing while the walls are open adds air tightness that is hard to get later.