Spray Foam Insulation in Carlton, MN

Spray foam insulation in Carlton serves a small county seat with railroad beginnings. In 1870 the Northern Pacific finished track linking Duluth to St. Paul, and workers' shacks at the spot became known as Northern Pacific Junction. The settlement was incorporated as Carlton in 1881. Today the city has 948 people (2020) and sits at the northwestern edge of Jay Cooke State Park. The 2010 census counted 355 housing units.

Older homes in town

Many houses in Carlton are older wood-frame homes with basements and simple attics. They tend to need the same things: air sealing at the attic floor, insulation to depth, and closed-cell foam at the rim joist.

Wooded lots

Homes near the park and the river sit among trees and along slopes. Shaded roofs hold snow longer, which raises the stakes on ice dams if the attic leaks heat.

Code and climate

Carlton County is in Climate Zone 7 and frost Zone I. Nearby Cloquet has a -20F design temperature under Minnesota's energy rule.

What the estimate covers

In a Carlton house we start in the basement, because the rim joist and sill are where outside air most often gets in, then go up to the attic to measure the existing insulation and find the bypasses around chimneys, plumbing vents and light fixtures. The quote lists each area with its own material, depth and price, so you can do the rim this fall and the attic next year if that suits your budget better.

Ventilation and moisture

Tightening an older house changes how it breathes. Bath fans should vent outdoors, not into the attic, and a basement that smells musty should be dealt with before it is sealed up. We point out anything like that during the visit.

Garages and outbuildings

Detached garages and small shops are common. Foam helps them hold heat and stops condensation on steel. Get a free estimate