Closed-cell foam insulation in Hampton VA - a seal that keeps drafts and damp out
Cold floors or a draft along the foundation? We spray dense foam that stops the air and holds back moisture.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Is closed-cell spray foam worth it for my house?
Closed-cell foam insulation is a dense spray foam that seals air and blocks moisture while it insulates. In Hampton, we put it where that matters most, usually on rim joists, the wooden band that sits on top of the foundation, and on certain walls.
A lot of people who call us were already told to foam the whole house, and I'd rather start by finding where your drafts and damp spots actually come from. The price moves with how many square feet we cover, how thick each spot needs to be, how easy it is to reach, and whether anything has to be fixed or pulled out first. The schedule turns on that prep, on any permit the city calls for, and on how long your family has to be out of the house while the foam cures. If soaked or dirty old material has to go, our insulation removal work takes care of it before we spray, and you get your own figure in the written estimate after I've been out.
How we install closed-cell foam insulation, and where we don't
We start by finding the leaks and open gaps, because foam sprayed over a wet spot or a hole just hides the problem. Then we fix what has to be fixed, cover floors, windows and anything you don't want foam on, spray the rim joists and walls to the thickness we agreed on, trim it back where it has to sit flush, and clean up. I'll also tell you where closed-cell isn't worth the money. It costs more than other options because it seals air while it insulates, and in most attics, sealing the gaps around lights, pipes and the hatch and topping up the blown-in insulation, which is loose fill blown through a hose, does the job for less unless your ductwork runs up there.
Closed-cell isn't the only foam we spray. Open-cell foam insulation is softer and lighter, and it often makes more sense under a roof deck or inside walls where moisture isn't the worry. We also handle commercial insulation for shops, offices and other buildings, where we choose between closed-cell and open-cell the same way.
Rim joists over a crawl space or basement
This is where closed-cell pays for itself most often, because the stiff foam fills the gaps between the framing and the foundation and doesn't mind the damp that collects down there. It suits houses with cold floors or musty air coming up from below.
Open walls during a remodel or new build
When the walls are open, closed-cell packs a lot of insulation into a thin layer and holds back moisture, which matters on outside walls. It suits owners with shallow wall cavities who only want to open those walls once.
Closed-cell foam insulation in Hampton: permits, floodplain and storm repairs
Under Virginia's building rules, the local building official issues permits before work like construction, changes to walls or structure, wiring and plumbing. Insulation isn't named on that list, so the list doesn't settle whether your foam job needs a permit. I check with the city about your address before we start, and if a permit is required, we apply for it as the contractor and set up the inspections. Two other city steps can come up around a job here. If your house sits in the 100-year floodplain, Hampton reviews and permits proposed development there under its own floodplain rules. If a storm damages your house, the city asks you to call 3-1-1 or 727-8311 so an inspector can come out, since repairs likely need permits. The city's online permit center takes applications, inspection requests and fees at any hour.
Around here we see a lot of houses on crawl spaces, with open rim joists and damp air coming up from below, and that's the spot where closed-cell does its best work. We run into the same thing on jobs in Newport News and Poquoson. We work in other nearby cities too, so call and ask if yours isn't listed.
Why Hampton homeowners call A&J Hampton Insulation and Spray Foam for closed-cell foam
I write your estimate myself
I'm the one who comes out, looks at your rim joists and walls with you and writes the estimate, and I check in while our lead installer runs the crew. The person who told you what you'd get is the same person making sure you got it.
In business since 2017
I started out selling insulation for another company and learned the trade working beside the installers before we opened our own shop, based here in Hampton. I've kept the habit of explaining your options first and letting you decide without a hard sell.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, so you aren't taking a chance on an uninsured crew working in your house. You can look up any contractor with the state before you sign, and the questions below show you how.
If you want someone to look at your rim joists or walls and tell you plainly whether foam is worth it there, send us a request or call (757) 367-8752.
Request a quoteGet a free on-site estimate for closed-cell foam
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free with no obligation. Once you send this, we set a time for me to come out and look at the spots with you. I go over what I find in person, then write it up so you can decide on your own time.
What happens after you call about closed-cell foam in Hampton?
Call or send a request
Tell us what's going on, like cold floors, a drafty room or a damp crawl space. We'll find a time for me to come out that works for you.
Walk the house with me
I look at the attic, walls or crawl space with you and go over what I find right there, including any spots where foam isn't worth it. Then I write it up so you can see the work, the order it goes in and the price.
Fix first, then spray
We take care of anything that has to be fixed first and handle the permit if the city calls for one, then our lead installer's crew sprays the foam. Plan on your family and pets being out of the house while it cures, as the questions below explain.
Walk through the finished job
Once the crew is done and the house has aired out, they walk you through what was sprayed and where. I'll have checked in along the way, so any questions come back to me.
Frequently asked questions
How much does closed-cell spray foam insulation cost?
Installed closed-cell spray foam usually runs about $3 to $5 per square foot across the US, and that's the market's range, not a quote from us. It runs roughly double the price of open-cell, so the type of foam moves your total more than almost anything else, along with how thick each spot needs to be and how hard it is to reach. Your own number comes in the written estimate after I've seen the job.
What R-value does closed-cell foam give per inch?
Typical closed-cell foam is rated about R-6 per inch, and R-value is how well insulation slows heat. Every inch adds to that, so the thickness the crew sprays decides how much you actually get, and it's fair to ask what thickness each area will get.
Is closed-cell foam a good choice for walls in a hot, humid climate?
Usually yes, because the general guidance for walls in hot, humid climates is to seal air and control moisture at the outside of the wall, and closed-cell foam does both. That works with the foam at full thickness or as one layer of a hybrid wall with other insulation, so I'll lay out both for your walls and let you pick.
How thick should spray foam be on rim joists?
Closed-cell foam needs to be at least 1.5 inches thick when finished to count as an air barrier on a rim joist, while open-cell needs at least 5.5 inches. Spray foam can seal and insulate a rim joist in one step, so ask any contractor how thick theirs will be, and I'll tell you ours when I go over the estimate.
How long do we have to stay out of the house after spray foam is installed?
The guidance is for everyone, kids and pets included, to be out during the spraying and for at least 24 hours after, so line up another place to stay for at least that long. You go back in once the foam has cured and the house has been aired out and cleaned. Some foam makers recommend 24 hours, but the time can vary, so we'll go over safety steps and what applies to your job before we schedule.
How do I know a contractor's license fits my job in Virginia?
Look the contractor up with the Virginia Board for Contractors, which licenses businesses that build, repair or improve property owned by others. Each license has a class that sets how big a contract it allows and a specialty that sets the type of work. A Class C license, for example, covers a single contract over $1,000 but under $30,000, so check that the class fits your job's price.
Other insulation work you might need
Open-cell foam insulation
A lighter, lower-cost foam for rooflines and inside walls where you want the air sealed but moisture isn't the main concern.
Commercial insulation
For a shop, office or other building you own, we look at the space the same way and use foam only where it makes sense.
Hampton, VA
Get your closed-cell foam estimate scheduled
Jot down the areas that bother you and a rough square footage before you call or fill out the form, so I come out ready to look at the right spots.