Spray Foam Insulation in York, PA

Spray Foam Insulation in York works mostly in old, attached houses. Point2Homes' census summary shows 49.3% of the city's homes were built in 1939 or earlier, only 22.1% are detached, and 56.3% of occupied homes are rented. Wikipedia counts 19,017 housing units in 2020.

Founded 1741

York was founded in 1741, incorporated as a borough in 1787 and as a city in 1887, and hosted the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778. After the Civil War it became an industrial city making steam engines, railroad equipment and paper, and Pfaltzgraff made pottery here from 1895 to 2005.

Rowhome realities

Many York rowhomes have a shallow roof cavity instead of an attic, bare front and back rim joists, solid brick walls and a back addition over a crawl space or porch. Our usual plan is to seal and insulate the roof cavity, foam the exposed rims and deal with the coldest back room. In twins and end units, the exposed side wall is often frame and can be dense-packed.

Climate

York's 1991-2020 normals show January lows of 21.3F, July highs of 87.7F and 24.6 inches of snow a year. Records range from 107F in 1901 to -21F in 1925 and 1994. Hurricane Agnes dropped the statewide 24-hour rainfall record of 13.5 inches here in June 1972.

Rental properties

With more than half of homes rented, landlords often insulate between tenants. Sealing the roof cavity and rim joists cuts heating complaints and bills.

What a visit looks like

In a rowhome we start at the top: we look at the ceiling hatch or roof access, check for leaks and measure the roof cavity. In the basement we look at the front and back rims, the stone or brick foundation and any water marks. In the back addition we look at the floor and the crawl space or porch underneath. Then we write each area as its own line with material, thickness and price. Many owners start with the roof cavity and rims, which give the biggest gain for the money, and add the back room later.

Summer heat on the top floor

York's July afternoons average close to 88F, and a dark flat roof over a shallow cavity turns a rowhome's top floor into an oven. The same roof insulation that holds heat in January keeps that heat out in July, and sealing the gap where the party wall meets the roof stops hot air from moving between units.

Call (717) 864-6430 or get a free estimate and we will come out, look at the roof space and basement, and write up a price.