Albany, "Where Friendly Paths Cross"

Spray Foam Insulation in Albany, MN

A small Stearns County city surrounded by farm country, where the house and the outbuildings often share one yard.

Free on-site estimates
Written quote showing the material, thickness and target R-value area by area
Foundation walls checked for moisture before any foam goes on

Homes and Sheds on the Prairie Edge

We usually kick off spray foam insulation projects in Albany by walking the yard. The city sits along I-94 in western Stearns County, surrounded by farm ground, and many properties here, both in town and just outside it, include a garage, shed or shop alongside the house. The insulation needs of those buildings are very different, and we plan each one on its own terms.

Open country, steady wind

At an elevation of 1,181 feet with open fields around it, Albany catches a lot of wind in winter. Wind drives cold air into a house through every gap in the rim joist, around sill plates and under siding. Closed-cell spray foam at the rim and sill is one of the most effective upgrades for a home in an exposed spot, because it stops air movement and adds insulation in one pass.

Machine sheds and heated shops

A steel building that gets heated for winter repairs drips condensation when warm air hits cold metal. Closed-cell foam applied directly to the steel stops that. On roofs, the 50 pound per square foot ground snow load that applies to Stearns County under state rule means framing is built heavy, and the purlins give foam a solid surface to bond to.

In town

Albany was incorporated in 1890, and the older homes near the center of town reflect that era. Typical needs include attic air sealing, dense-pack in walls with little or no insulation and rim joist foam in the basement. The 2020 census counted 1,157 housing units in Albany, with a homeowner vacancy rate of just 0.9%, so most of these houses are lived in full-time.

Frost below the slab

Stearns County is in Minnesota's Zone II for frost, with footings at least 3-1/2 feet deep. A heated shop slab or a basement wall stays in contact with frozen ground for months, which is why we often recommend insulating the perimeter of a slab or the top of a foundation wall.

Tell us about the house and every building you want looked at. Get a free estimate or call (320) 433-6603.

About Albany

Housing. Census 2020 recorded 1,157 housing units in Albany. Overall vacancy was 5.0%, homeowner vacancy 0.9% and rental vacancy 9.8%.
Elevation and route. Albany sits at 1,181 feet along Interstate 94/U.S. Highway 52 and Minnesota Highway 238, in the St. Cloud metropolitan area.
Snow load. Stearns County is not on the 60 psf list in Minnesota rule 1303.1700, so buildings in Albany are designed for a 50 pound per square foot ground snow load.
Frost depth. Minnesota rule 1303.1600 puts Stearns County in Zone II, with a 3-1/2 foot minimum footing depth for frost.

Our Services in Albany, MN

Albany Questions

Can you insulate a machine shed I only heat for winter repairs?

Yes. Closed-cell foam on the steel stops condensation and holds heat better while the shed is in use. The depth depends on how often you heat it.

My farmhouse is drafty when the wind blows from the west. What helps?

Sealing the rim joist and sill plates with closed-cell foam usually makes the biggest difference. We also check around windows, doors and the attic.

Do you insulate shop slabs?

Slab insulation is usually done before the concrete is poured. For existing slabs, we focus on the walls, roof and the top of the foundation.

Do you come out to farms outside Albany city limits?

Yes, we work on homes and buildings in the surrounding countryside too.

Free Estimates in Albany, MN

Farmhouse, shop or house in town: Albany quotes come at no cost.

Call (320) 433-6603 Free Estimate