Spray Foam Insulation in Texarkana, TX

Spray foam insulation works well in Texarkana because it handles air and moisture as well as heat. Summers here are hot and humid, and a lot of discomfort comes from damp air moving through gaps in the attic floor and up from the crawl space. Foam is sprayed as a liquid, expands into gaps and cures in place, insulating and sealing in one layer. We spray two types.

Open-cell foam

Open-cell foam cures soft and expands a lot, filling a rafter bay in one pass. HomeGuide rates it at R-3.5 to R-3.7 per inch. It seals air very well and dampens sound, and it costs less per inch than closed-cell. Water vapor passes through it, so it is not the right choice against damp surfaces, but under a sound roof deck it lets a small leak show up rather than hiding. It is the common choice when we seal an attic and bring the ductwork inside.

Closed-cell foam

Closed-cell foam cures dense and rigid, at R-5 to R-7 per inch according to HomeGuide. It slows vapor, sheds water and stiffens the surface. In the Texarkana area that makes it the choice for crawl space walls and the underside of floors, rim joists, metal buildings and tight spaces. It costs more per square foot, but in damp places it holds up where open-cell and fiberglass do not.

Code targets by state

Bowie and Miller counties are both in Climate Zone 3A on OpenEI's list, but the codes differ. Texas uses the 2015 IRC energy chapter: R-38 ceilings, R-20 or R-13 plus R-5 walls, R-19 floors in Zone 3. Arkansas uses the 2009 IECC with state amendments, effective January 1, 2015: R-30 ceilings, R-13 walls, and R-13 or R-5 continuous on crawl space walls in Zone 3. We size foam thickness to the target on your side of the line and write it on the quote.

Where we spray

The most common foam jobs here are crawl space walls and rim joists, the underside of floors over vented crawl spaces, roof decks above attic air handlers, garage ceilings under bedrooms, kneewalls, walls in remodels and additions, and pole barns and shops.

When foam is the wrong choice

Water problems have to be solved first: roof leaks, plumbing leaks and standing water in the crawl space. Foam over a wet problem hides it. On an open attic floor, sealing and blowing in loose fill usually reaches the same R-value for less. Old wiring and suspect materials get checked before anything is covered.

Spray day

We cover floors and belongings, mask what needs masking and set up ventilation. HomeGuide advises leaving the house for 24 hours or more while foam cures. In summer, attic work starts early. Foam does not settle, so the thickness we leave stays.

Tell us what spaces you are thinking about and what bothers you, and we will look and send a written plan. Get a free estimate