Spray Foam Insulation in Port St. Joe, FL

Spray Foam Insulation in Port St. Joe often starts with storm history. Wikipedia says the community was extensively damaged by Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, and NWS Tallahassee reports 9 to 14 feet of peak storm surge inundation along the coast from Mexico Beach to Indian Pass. Many homes here have since been repaired, rebuilt or raised, and the insulation in them is a mix of brand new, patched and never replaced.

The town and its homes

Port St. Joe is the county seat of Gulf County and calls itself the Birthplace of the Florida Constitution. It had 3,357 residents in the 2020 census, and 1,810 housing units, 24.4% of them vacant, with a rental vacancy rate of 16.3%. Older homes in town sit alongside newer houses and rentals built for visitors to St. Joseph Bay and the nearby beaches.

Checking storm-era repairs

When we inspect a home that was repaired after the storm, we look at the attic for insulation that got wet and was left in place, stains on the roof deck, and ducts that were reconnected loosely. Wet insulation that dried in place is usually matted and thin. If the attic needs a fresh start, we remove the old material, seal the ceiling and then blow new insulation or spray the roof deck.

Raised homes and floors

Raised homes near the bay have floors open to damp air. Closed-cell foam under the subfloor seals and insulates without sagging or rusting. Older homes on piers get the same treatment, with foam kept six inches clear of exposed soil per Florida's termite rules.

Code and climate

Port St. Joe has a humid subtropical (Cfa) climate, and Gulf County is in ASHRAE Climate Zone 2A. Florida's 2023 energy code lists R-38 for ceilings in Zone 2.

Rentals and second homes on the bay

With nearly a quarter of the town's housing units vacant on census day, many homes are part-time residences or rentals. For those, air sealing is the main goal, since it keeps humid air out of a closed-up house. We schedule foam work in gaps between bookings and send photos before and after for owners who are out of town.

For year-round residents, the focus is usually on comfort and power bills: attic depth, duct boots and the rooms that never cool down. We look at the whole house and recommend the order of work that gets the most out of your budget.

Older homes in town

Older houses in Port St. Joe often have small attics, original wiring and floors on piers. We check the wiring and any old leaks before covering anything, seal the ceiling, set baffles at the eaves and blow insulation to depth, leaving depth markers so you can see what went in. For floors on piers, closed-cell foam underneath seals and insulates, kept six inches clear of the soil as Florida's termite rules require.

Call (850) 788-8628 or use the form to set up a visit in Port St. Joe.