833-362-6489
833-362-6489

Should You Spray Foam Over Your Existing Insulation? 

If you’re noticing that your home’s basement is cold and drafty, your attic or upper rooms are uncomfortably hot, or your energy bills are high month after month, you most likely have an insulation problem on your hands! Old, deteriorated, or insufficient insulation can compromise the comfort and safety of your property, and cost you an average of 20% more on your monthly heating and cooling bills

Spray foam is a smart insulation option for both new and existing homes, but it’s particularly beneficial in older homes with extreme or uneven temperatures throughout the house. Here in Georgia, we experience the highs and lows of all four seasons, and during sweltering summer days and freezing cold winter nights, creating an air-tight seal in your structure’s cracks and crevices will go a long way in keeping your house at a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank. 

Once homeowners learn about all its energy-saving benefits, combined with the fact that it makes a home more quiet, clean, and safe, switching to spray foam is an easy choice. When they learn about the new 2023 insulation tax credit, making this upgrade is a no-brainer!

A common question we receive from our customers who own older homes is whether spray foam can be installed over their existing insulation. There are several important factors to consider when making this decision, and the answer will vary slightly depending on the area of the house we’re insulating. 

large should you spray foam over your existing insulation 4

Attics, Basements & Crawl Spaces

Attics, basements, and crawl spaces are notorious for being dark, drafty, and dirty. In addition to improved air quality, moisture prevention, and noise reduction, spray foam insulation can improve the overall structural integrity of these areas. 

If your space is already insulated with a traditional fiberglass insulation, it’s best to remove it before installing spray foam to keep long-accumulated moisture, dust, and pest droppings from getting trapped. Moist fiberglass material provides the perfect breeding ground for mold, pollen, and other allergens. It can also develop a musty odor and become very inviting to unwanted, property-damaging rodents and insects. If these parts of your house were previously insulated with cellulose, the spraying process can kick up all the cellulose and make a huge mess! 

So, while you technically could spray over either of these existing insulation materials, it’s certainly not ideal, and goes against industry standards. The best practice is to remove all existing insulation and start fresh. Fortunately, property owners are more than happy to have the old material removed, eliminating health and safety hazards, the potential for uneven temperatures and unwanted odors, and protecting the value of their property. 

large should you spray foam over your existing insulation 2

Existing Interior & Exterior Walls

Existing walls are only responsible for approximately 7% of a building’s thermal loss. It’s much more efficient to focus on larger gaps in the thermal envelope, such as the attic and other sources of excess air exchange, rather than addressing existing interior and exterior walls. 

If you do choose to insulate existing walls, it’s once again best practice to start fresh, pulling out the old insulation and applying fresh spray foam. With this approach, you’ll get the most safety, comfort, and efficiency bang for your buck. 

large should you spray foam over your existing insulation 3

Out With the Old, In With the New

When you trust Epic Spray Foam with your insulation needs, our team will take care of all the handling, removal, and disposal of any pre-existing insulation before the new spray foam is applied. As a leading insulation contractor in Georgia, we’re committed to safety, quality, and service. We stand behind our work and will do everything possible to ensure each of our customers are fully satisfied. 

Give us a call at (833) 362-6489 to schedule a free estimate of your property today!

What You Need to Know About the 2023 Insulation Tax Credit

Here at Epic Spray Foam, we’ve received a lot of questions about the new Insulation Tax Credit since it went into effect on January 1, 2023. When you combine this incentive with all the other energy-saving, cost-cutting benefits of spray foam insulation, the decision is a no-brainer!  Here’s what you need to know about the […]

Read More
What is the Stack Effect?

During the spring and summer months here in the South, our customer calls about uncomfortably hot room temperatures increase right along with the outside temperatures. It never fails around mid-June each year, the rooms above many property owners’ garages become unbearably warm and stagnant. The second floor of their house continues to rise in temperature no […]

Read More
The Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation In Basements

Transform Your Space From Drafty and Uncomfortable to Warm and Inviting We’ve all experienced what it’s like to be in a residential basement that feels drafty, uncomfortable, and downright creepy! When you add in the dangerous mold, allergens, and pests that can come with these types of dark and damp conditions, it’s not a part […]

Read More
Insulation and Pest Control: How Spray Foam Can Help You Keep Unwanted Critters Out Of Your Home

The sounds are coming from inside the house. As a homeowner, this statement can be your worst nightmare! If rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, insects, birds, snakes, or other unwanted critters have ever infested your property, you know it can be a major nuisance. Not only do they cause expensive damage, but they also threaten your […]

Read More
Is Your House Making You Sick? 

How Spray Foam Insulation Can Help You Keep a Clean and Healthy Home Environment The old saying, “there’s no place like home,” still rings true. We all want the place where we live to be a safe haven for ourselves and our families, and that means keeping our space clean and comfortable. Unfortunately, there are […]

Read More
Should You Spray Foam Over Your Existing Insulation? 

If you’re noticing that your home’s basement is cold and drafty, your attic or upper rooms are uncomfortably hot, or your energy bills are high month after month, you most likely have an insulation problem on your hands! Old, deteriorated, or insufficient insulation can compromise the comfort and safety of your property, and cost you […]

Read More
Should You Trust a Pest Management Company With Your Home Insulation?

For many homeowners, pest management is a key factor in selecting the type of insulation they want to use throughout their property. Especially when it comes to harder-to-reach areas in attics and basements, it’s important to choose an insulation product that will support your efforts to keep unwanted critters, as well as the harmful bacteria […]

Read More
Should You Install Radiant Barrier In Your Attic?

As energy-efficiency measures have grown in popularity in recent years, many of our customers ask us about radiant barrier, and whether it is the best choice for their attic. Whether you’re building a brand new construction, or simply replacing the roof or attic of your existing home, radiant barrier can complement your insulation to regulate […]

Read More
Thermal Bridging: An Expert Guide

Thermal bridging is an essential but often overlooked concept in the construction of buildings. It refers to the process by which heat is transferred between the inside and outside of a building, either through direct contact or through air infiltration. Thermal bridging can have a significant impact on a building's energy efficiency, which can translate […]

Read More
Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

Are you looking to make some energy-efficiency upgrades to your property? Maybe you’re tired of paying sky-high energy bills every month, or perhaps you just want to make your space more comfortable while reducing your carbon footprint.   A few small changes can make a big impact on your ongoing energy consumption. For example, simple steps […]

Read More
Spray Foam Metal Building

If you're looking for a durable and energy-efficient solution for your metal building, spray foam insulation may be the answer you've been searching for. Spray foam insulation is popular for metal buildings because it provides superior thermal performance, air sealing, and moisture management. It also helps to reduce noise pollution and prevent the growth of […]

Read More
What Is The Best Insulation?

Insulation is a crucial component when it comes to keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient. But with so many different insulation types available, choosing the best one for your needs can be overwhelming. Each type has pros and cons, from traditional fiberglass to eco-friendly cellulose. So, what is the best insulation for your home? The […]

Read More
1 2 3

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get in touch with us

Call us at any time for a free consultation or fill out the form and we'll contact you soon!

Phone:
833-362-6489
Mail:
[email protected]
Monday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday:
CLOSED
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram