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  • Owner-operated in Jefferson, IA
  • Serving central Iowa within ~60 miles
Call (515) 738-3836

HOME / WHY SPRAY FOAM

FOAM SEALS. BATT DOESN’T.

We run our rig roughly 60 miles in every direction from our shop at 600 E Lincoln Way — covering Greene County and reaching into the central Iowa and Des Moines corridor. Not sure if you’re in range? Call it in and we’ll tell you straight.

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Why spray foam
What one seal

actually buys you.

Foam isn’t insulation that sits there — it’s a seal that works the building from five angles at once.

Lower
bills

Less conditioned air escaping means the furnace and A/C cycle less and cost less.

Air-tight
seal

Foam expands into every gap, crack and penetration — the drafts you feel at the outlets simply stop.

Moisture
control

Closed-cell foam doubles as a vapor barrier, stopping the condensation that rots wood and rusts steel.

Higher
R-value

Up to R-7 per inch means a tougher thermal seal in a thinner layer than batt or blown insulation can hit.

Added
strength

Rigid closed-cell bonds to the structure, stiffening walls and metal panels against racking and flex.

R-value comparison

The numbers — and the

part they don't show.

R-value measures resistance to heat flow — but it doesn’t measure air leakage. Batt fills cavities; foam seals them. That gap is where Iowa heating bills go.

Traditional

Batt & Blown

R-3 Per inch
Fiberglass batt
  • Fills open cavities quickly on new framing
  • Lower upfront material cost per square foot
  • Does NOT air-seal — conditioned air bypasses the batt
  • No moisture or vapor protection on its own
  • Can shift, settle and leave gaps at corners & penetrations

Best for — open new-construction framing where separate air sealing is handled and moisture isn't a concern.

Spray Foam

Spray Foam

R-7 Per inch
Closed-cell · Open-cell R-3.7
  • Seals AND insulates in a single application
  • Expands to fill every gap, crack and penetration
  • Closed-cell acts as its own air and vapor barrier
  • Adds real structural rigidity to walls and metal buildings
  • Won't shift, sag or leave cold spots over time

Best for — attics, crawl spaces, rim joists, pole barns and anywhere both insulation and air-sealing matter.

How spray foam works

Chemistry that seals
in seconds.

Two-component chemistry, one permanent seal — here’s what’s actually happening when the rig comes out.

Two components,
one gun

An A-side (isocyanate) and a B-side (polyol resin) are stored separately and mixed only at the spray tip — the reaction starts on
contact.

Rapid expansion fills every gap

The reacting mixture expands 30–120× its original volume, pushing into every crack, seam and penetration that batt simply can't reach.

Bonds directly to the surface

Foam adheres to wood, metal and concrete as it cures, forming a monolithic layer that won't shift, slip or leave cold spots at
edges.

One permanent, airtight seal

Once cured, closed-cell foam is rigid and moisture-resistant; open-cell is semi-rigid and vapor-permeable. Both outlast the building's insulation cycle.

Questions

Spray foam, answered.

Why does spray foam outperform batt insulation?
Batt and blown insulation fill cavities but do not seal air movement. Conditioned air can bypass around, behind or through loose batts — especially at penetrations, corners and rim joists. Spray foam expands on contact and bonds to every surface it touches, creating a continuous air barrier and insulating layer in one application. The result is a tighter building envelope that holds temperature and cuts the load on your heating and cooling system.
Will spray foam actually lower my heating and cooling bills?
Spray foam reduces the air leakage that accounts for a significant share of a home's heating and cooling load. How much you save depends on the building's current condition, the climate zone and what surfaces are sprayed — which is why Dan walks the building before quoting rather than throwing out a number. What we can say honestly: a well-sealed building envelope means the HVAC system runs fewer cycles, and that shows up on the utility statement over time.
Does spray foam also act as a vapor barrier?
Closed-cell spray foam is classified as a Class II vapor retarder — it slows moisture migration through walls and ceilings as well as blocking air movement. This matters in Iowa's climate, where temperature swings drive condensation inside walls and crawl spaces. Open-cell foam is vapor-permeable and does not provide the same moisture protection. For applications where moisture is a concern — crawl spaces, rim joists, pole barn roofs — closed-cell is typically the right call.
What is R-value and why does it matter?
R-value is a material's resistance to heat flow — the higher the number, the better it slows conducted heat transfer. Closed-cell spray foam delivers approximately R-7 per inch; open-cell approximately R-3.7 per inch; standard fiberglass batt approximately R-3 per inch. But R-value only measures conductive resistance, not air leakage. A building with high-R batts and poor air sealing still loses a large amount of heat through convection. Foam addresses both in a single pass.
Does spray foam work on existing buildings, or only new construction?
Spray foam works well on existing buildings. Attics, crawl spaces and rim joists can be sprayed without major demolition. Depending on the application, existing batt may need to be removed if it is moisture-compromised or if it would prevent proper foam adhesion — Dan will assess that during the site visit and give you a straight answer before any work starts.
Free quote · No pressure

Quit paying to heat
the great outdoors.

(515) 738-3836
Mon–Fri 8a – 5p  ·  Sat–Sun closed
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Sealing homes, saving energy — one application at a time. Owner-operated spray foam insulation across central Iowa.

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