Rim joists
Batts against a rim joist let damp basement air reach cold wood, and by January it frosts. Two or three inches of closed cell stops that.
Edmonton spray foam
Spray foam insulation in Edmonton
Closed cell foam for rim joists, basements, garages, bonus rooms, shops and new builds across Edmonton. Most jobs are sprayed and cleaned up in one day.
Wall cavities, closed cellAires Spray Foam & Insulation sprays closed cell foam in Edmonton homes, garages, shops and acreage buildings. It insulates, air seals and, at two inches or more, acts as the vapour barrier, which matters in a city that sits below -20 for weeks.
Here we focus on the Edmonton region: where foam pays off in local houses, when to book and how a job runs. For the product itself (chemistry, R-values, open versus closed cell), read the main spray foam insulation page first.
Where it goes
The spaces Edmonton homeowners call us about
These are the usual places foam goes in an Edmonton house. Closed cell is the main product we use, at roughly R-6 to R-7 per inch.
Basement walls
Foam bonds straight to the concrete or the framing and handles moisture far better than batts and poly. Good for basements you plan to finish.
Bonus rooms over garages
The floor over an unheated garage is cold in many Edmonton two-storeys built with batts. Foam in the floor cavity seals the air leaks from the garage too.
Garages and shops
Detached garages and heated shops get foam on the walls and roof deck. Exposed foam in a shop usually needs a thermal barrier coating like DC315.
Cathedral and vaulted ceilings
There's no room for R-50 of blown-in in a vaulted ceiling. Closed cell gets the most R-value into a shallow rafter bay.
New builds
In new subdivisions we spray exterior walls and ceilings after rough-in, before drywall. The usual window is between the framing inspection and the insulation inspection.
For a deeper look at the house side, see residential spray foam. Shops, warehouses and schools are covered on commercial spray foam.
Timing
When to book in Edmonton
Most people decide to insulate in the fall, once the basement floor goes cold, and they want it done before Christmas. If you already know the rim joists or the bonus room need foam, book in spring or early summer and you'll have more choice of dates.
Winter work is fine indoors. The foam needs warm surfaces to stick and cure, so a heated basement is no problem. An unheated garage or shop in January needs heat brought in first, and we'll talk that through at the walkthrough.
New builds run on the builder's schedule. Give us a call when framing is up and we'll pencil in a date around your inspections.
Permits and inspection
The vapour barrier question
Closed cell foam at two inches or more works as a vapour barrier in most wall assemblies. Whether it can go in without a separate layer of poly is up to your inspector. On permitted work in Edmonton, the vapour barrier is the thing we confirm with the inspector before we spray: foam alone, or foam plus poly.
The same goes for exposed foam. In a garage, shop or unfinished basement, foam left uncovered usually needs a thermal barrier. We can apply DC315 intumescent coating for that, so you don't need drywall over the foam in a shop.
How it runs
How an Edmonton spray foam job runs
Most residential jobs are finished in one day.
Call or message
Tell us what the space is and roughly how big. We reply within 24 hours and set up a free walkthrough or phone consultation.
Walkthrough
We measure, check for moisture and old insulation, and ask what the inspector has asked for if there's a permit.
Written quote
Area, thickness, foam type and any thermal barrier, priced by the board foot so you can see where the money goes.
Prep and spray
Our crew arrives on the booked date, masks windows, outlets and finished surfaces, then sprays in passes with quality checks built into the work.
Trim and clean-up
Overspray trimmed, debris bagged and hauled away, floors swept. We walk the job with you before we leave.
Financing
Spray foam and CEIP in Edmonton
Aires is a Qualified Contractor for Edmonton's Clean Energy Improvement Program. Basement or crawlspace walls that get at least R-12 added can count as one qualifying upgrade, repaid through your property tax bill over up to 25 years. Residential projects need three qualifying upgrades unless the home reaches net zero, so foam in the basement is often paired with an attic top-up and something mechanical. The CEIP page covers the steps.
Acreages and farm buildings
Outside the city we spray barns, Quonsets and machine shops. Closed cell cuts condensation on the steel and keeps mice out of the walls.
When spray foam isn't the answer
A wide-open attic floor in a 1970s Edmonton house is usually cheaper to bring to R-50 with blown-in fibreglass or cellulose. Foam earns its price on rim joists, basement walls, vaulted ceilings and metal buildings. We'll say which at the walkthrough. If the job is closed cell all the way, read more on closed cell spray foam. More on the city itself is on our Edmonton page, and if you have a property in the south we also cover spray foam in Calgary.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
How much does spray foam cost in Edmonton?
Spray foam is priced by the board foot: one square foot, one inch thick. Your cost depends on the area, the thickness and open or closed cell. We measure on site in Edmonton and quote in writing for free.
Can you spray foam in the winter?
Yes, inside a heated or heatable space. The surfaces need to be warm enough for the foam to stick and cure. In an unheated garage or shop we'll talk about temporary heat before we book.
Do I still need poly over closed cell foam in Edmonton?
At two inches or more, closed cell acts as a vapour barrier in most wall assemblies. Your building inspector makes the final call, so we confirm what they want for your permit before we spray.
How long before I can be back in the space?
Most of our spray foam jobs are done in one day. We'll tell you when the space is ready to re-enter, and we keep everyone out while we spray.
Does spray foam qualify for CEIP in Edmonton?
It can. Basement and crawlspace walls need at least R-12 added to qualify, and residential projects need three qualifying upgrades unless the home reaches net zero. Aires is a CEIP Qualified Contractor in Edmonton.
Should I use spray foam or batts in my basement?
Foam costs more per square foot but seals the rim joist and wall in one pass and handles moisture far better. Batts with poly can work on a dry basement wall. The rim joist is where foam pays off most.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you're insulating and where. We'll book a walkthrough, measure it, and send you a written quote. Serving Edmonton.
Call or text(780) 916-7131Request a quote