Spray Foam Insulation in Knife River, MN

Spray foam insulation in Knife River is mostly for houses and cabins along the North Shore. The community began in 1856 as Buchanan on the west side of the river. A separate settlement called Mellie, platted on the east side in 1899 after the Alger-Smith Lumber Company built its railroad in 1898, took the name Knife River in 1903. The two incorporated as a village in 1909 but have since returned to unincorporated status.

Lake-facing homes

Houses here face Lake Superior wind directly. Older cottages and converted seasonal homes often sit on crawl spaces or short foundations, with floors over open air. Closed-cell foam on crawl space walls and floors, plus a sealed rim, is often the fix.

Code

Lake County is in Climate Zone 7 (R-49 ceilings in the 2012 IECC table) and in Minnesota frost Zone I, with 5-foot footings.

Up the shore

Nearby Two Harbors' records show about 61 inches of snow a year and a record low of -36F.

Floors over open air

Some older shore cabins sit on posts or short piers with the floor exposed underneath. Closed-cell foam sprayed on the underside of the floor seals and insulates in one step, and holds up better to moisture than batts held in place with wire. We look at the framing and clearance under the building before recommending it.

Mixed-use buildings

Knife River has a small harbor and a working waterfront, and some properties combine a home with a shop or garage. We quote each building on its own line.

What we bring

A look at the crawl space, attic and walls, and a written plan for what to do first. Get a free estimate