At Insulation Services of Michigan Inc (ISM), we’ve worked on homes across Sanilac County long enough to know one thing for sure most insulation issues don’t come from neglect. They come from good intentions paired with the wrong materials in the wrong places. That’s where spray foam comes in.
This guide zeroes in on where spray foam insulation delivers the biggest payoffs inside your Sanilac County home based on what we’ve seen and solved firsthand. Whether you’re battling ice dams, drafty walls, or sky-high energy bills, we’ll walk you through where spray foam makes the most difference, and why it’s a smart investment for local homeowners who want lasting comfort without waste.
Let’s take a closer look, room by room, zone by zone, from the lens of what we know works best because it’s what we install every day.
Spray foam isn’t just insulation it’s an air sealant. In attic spaces, this dual function matters most. Attics are one of the primary culprits for air leakage and energy loss in Michigan homes, and poorly sealed attics can cause your heating and cooling systems to work overtime.
Homes across Lexington, Marlette, and Port Sanilac often have older attic structures that weren’t designed with modern air sealing in mind. We’ve found that even homes built in the early 2000s often lack proper coverage in this area.
Hot air rises, and in colder months, it escapes fast through unsealed attic hatches, soffit penetrations, and poorly insulated roof decks. Spray foam creates a continuous insulation barrier that hugs these contours tightly blocking airflow, controlling moisture, and stabilizing indoor temperatures year-round.
When we retrofit attics with closed-cell or open-cell spray foam, homeowners notice the difference immediately. Less draft. More even temperatures. Lower energy bills. With Michigan winters as unpredictable as ever, it’s one of the fastest ways to reduce your heating load.
Walls might seem like obvious candidates for insulation, but many homeowners don’t realize just how much energy is lost through exterior wall cavities especially in older homes that rely on fiberglass or cellulose.
In places like Sandusky and Croswell, we’ve seen wall systems that leak air like sieves, even though they “look” insulated.
Unlike traditional insulation, spray foam adheres to every surface, expanding into gaps, cracks, and voids. It bonds directly to wall studs and sheathing, forming a tighter thermal envelope. This is crucial for wind-prone areas near Lake Huron where wind-driven drafts can sneak in from all angles.
Wall insulation with spray foam does more than slash energy bills. It significantly dampens outdoor noise a benefit many clients in busier zones like M-46 or near farm equipment routes didn’t expect but now appreciate.
Crawl spaces and basements are often overlooked until moisture, mold, or cold floors become problems. These areas contribute more to home discomfort than most people realize.
We’ve worked on dozens of homes throughout Sanilac County with these issues—especially those with vented crawl spaces, which are notorious for trapping damp air in humid months and pulling cold air in during winter.
Closed-cell spray foam acts as both a moisture barrier and high-performance insulator. It prevents humid outdoor air from condensing on cool interior surfaces, and it locks in warmth under your floors.
For unconditioned crawl spaces, we often recommend applying spray foam directly to the crawl space walls and rim joists, fully sealing the area from exterior air. In basements, spray foam works especially well along rim joists and sill plates where fiberglass insulation often fails.
Once spray foam is applied in these spaces, homeowners notice less floor chill, fewer odors, and a drastic drop in basement humidity. That translates to better air quality, fewer allergy triggers, and longer-lasting building materials.
Some of the most problematic insulation zones in homes aren’t rooms they’re transitions. Rim joists, knee walls, dormers, and over-garage bonus rooms all have irregular shapes that traditional insulation struggles to cover evenly.
We’ve found this especially true in the bungalows and Cape Cods sprinkled throughout towns like Peck and Brown City, where attic knee walls and overhangs are common and hard to insulate with batts or blown-in fill.
Spray foam is ideal for these awkward zones. It conforms to irregular angles and penetrations, filling voids traditional materials leave exposed. This reduces air leaks in places where it’s otherwise impossible to insulate effectively.
Rooms above garages often suffer from major temperature swings. When we insulate these spaces with spray foam, the difference is night and day. Clients tell us their bonus rooms finally feel like part of the house—not separate seasonal spaces.
Detached and attached garages, workshops, and utility rooms can also gain a lot from spray foam—especially if you heat them or use them regularly. Many homeowners want to maintain these areas for hobbies, storage, or tools, but struggle with condensation, dust, or uneven temperatures.
Spray foam insulation here provides thermal consistency and keeps tools, storage items, and mechanical systems protected from humidity and temperature extremes.
We’ve worked with dozens of homeowners who’ve converted their garages into gyms, workspaces, or part-time guest areas. After spray foaming the ceiling and walls, they could use the space all year without running up the electric bill.
Utility rooms with furnaces, water heaters, and other mechanical systems benefit from spray foam too. By maintaining a stable environment, the equipment works more efficiently and lasts longer an investment that pays off quietly in reduced maintenance and replacement costs.
Knowing where to apply spray foam makes all the difference. It’s not about covering everything it’s about choosing the right areas that impact energy use, comfort, and air quality the most. That’s what we focus on every day at ISM.
Whether you’re dealing with cold floors, drafty rooms, or rising energy costs, our team is ready to help. We’ll assess, explain, and insulate the right zones in your Sanilac County home so you can enjoy year-round comfort without the guesswork.
Ready to schedule your assessment or have more questions? Give us a call at (810) 267-4121 or email kam@ismichigan.com. You’ll talk to someone who knows homes like yours—and knows how to make them better.
We start with a full assessment of your home’s structure, age, and insulation history. Our experts at ISM identify where energy is being lost and recommend the right approach based on your specific layout and comfort goals.
Yes. Closed-cell spray foam resists moisture and doesn’t promote mold growth. It’s ideal for sealing damp-prone areas and improving air quality.
It depends on your space. Closed-cell provides a higher R-value and moisture barrier, ideal for basements, crawl spaces, and garages. Open-cell is more flexible and better for interior walls or attic roof decks. We’ll recommend the right one after a site inspection.
Absolutely. You don’t need to do everything at once. We often insulate priority zones first—like attics or crawl spaces then tackle other areas in phases as needed.
Yes. Especially in walls and between floors. Spray foam reduces air movement, which cuts down on airborne noise significantly.
Properly installed spray foam can last the lifetime of your home. It doesn’t sag or settle like fiberglass, and it won’t need replacement under normal conditions.
Yes. In fact, it’s one of the best options for these structures due to their unique construction. We’ve worked on several mobile homes throughout the county with great results.
In most cases, no. But depending on the size of the job and the type of foam used, we may recommend short-term ventilation. We’ll walk you through all safety protocols.
Most clients notice immediate changes in comfort and air quality. You’ll likely see energy savings on your very next utility bill.
Contact us for a free in-home assessment. We’ll inspect your home, explain your options, and provide a detailed plan tailored to your needs and budget.