Sartell, on both banks of the Mississippi

Spray Foam Insulation in Sartell, MN

A fast-growing city full of younger homes that still leak at the rim joist, bonus room and attic hatch.

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

Young Houses Have Leaks Too

Most spray foam insulation calls we take in Sartell involve newer houses. The population went from 9,641 in 2000 to 19,351 in 2020, which means much of the housing stock was built in recent decades. Newer does not automatically mean tight, though. Builder-grade attics, bonus rooms over garages and unfinished basements are where we usually find the gaps.

The bonus room problem

A room over an attached garage has cold air on three or four sides: the garage below, kneewall attics beside it and the roof above. When the garage ceiling was insulated with batts that have since sagged, the floor of that room stays chilly all winter. Closed-cell foam sprayed against the subfloor from the garage side, or into the kneewall spaces, closes those paths and adds R-value where batts lose it. The DOE's guidance for an uninsulated floor in Minnesota's cold zones runs from R30 to R38, which gives a sense of how much a garage ceiling should be carrying.

Basements waiting to be finished

With 7,602 housing units counted in 2020 and only 2.8% of them vacant, most Sartell homes are lived in year-round, and many owners eventually finish the lower level. Before framing goes up is the moment to insulate the rim joist and foundation walls with closed-cell foam. Once drywall covers them, that chance is gone. Stearns and Benton counties both fall in Minnesota's 3-1/2 foot frost footing zone, so the upper part of the foundation wall sits in frozen soil for much of the winter, and that is the section we want covered.

Attic depth in a newer house

A house built in the 1990s or 2000s often has 8 to 12 inches of blown fiberglass, but it may have settled, and the top plates and bath fan housings underneath were rarely sealed well. We look at the depth with a ruler, look at the underside with a light and recommend sealing first, then topping up. Blown-in material is often the right top layer once leaks are closed.

Straddling two counties

Sartell sits in both Stearns and Benton counties. That only matters for paperwork if you are adding on and pulling a permit, but it is worth knowing which office your project falls under before you start.

Ready to see what your attic and basement are doing? Get a free estimate or call (320) 433-6603.

Sartell Growth and Housing

Rapid growth. Sartell grew from 9,641 residents in 2000 to 15,876 in 2010 and 19,351 in 2020, a 64.7% jump in the first decade and 21.9% in the second.
Occupied homes. The 2020 census counted 7,602 housing units in Sartell with just 2.8% vacant and a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.0%.
Two counties. Sartell straddles Stearns and Benton counties, both listed in Zone II of Minnesota rule 1303.1600, where the minimum frost footing depth is 3-1/2 feet.
River town. The Mississippi River runs through the city, which covers 10.42 square miles, about 0.26 of them water.

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Our Services in Sartell, MN

Sartell Questions

My Sartell house is only 20 years old. Does it really need air sealing?

Often, yes. Newer homes usually have decent insulation depth but gaps underneath it at top plates, bath fans, recessed lights and the attic hatch. Sealing those first makes the existing insulation work as rated.

What makes the room above my garage feel so cold?

That room is surrounded by unheated space. We typically spray closed-cell foam on the garage ceiling side of the floor and in the kneewall attics so cold air cannot slip under and around the room.

Should I insulate before I finish my basement?

That is the ideal time. Closed-cell foam on the rim joist and upper foundation wall goes in quickly before framing, and it is very hard to add after the walls are closed.

Can you top up my existing attic insulation instead of removing it?

Yes, provided what is up there now is dry and not dirty. After sealing the leaks, we blow fresh insulation on top until it reaches the target depth.

Free Estimates in Sartell, MN

Sartell homeowners on the Stearns or Benton side can book a no-cost visit.

Call (320) 433-6603 Free Estimate