Spent $2,800 on spray foam insulation and it cut my heating bill in half

I was on the fence about paying extra for spray foam vs fiberglass in my new build near Portland... but after one winter the savings are real. The builder warned me it'd cost more upfront but said I'd make it back in 3 years. My first gas bill dropped from what I expected to be $320 down to $165. Has anyone else seen a big swing from upgrading insulation or did I just get lucky with a mild season?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_schmidt83d ago

Wait, did you factor in the cost of the spray foam itself or just compare gas bills? $2,800 is a lot of money, and with gas prices where they are, it could take way longer than 3 years to break even. Also, spray foam can be a nightmare if it's not done perfectly, like trapping moisture in your walls and causing rot down the road. I've seen a few houses in my area that had to rip out spray foam because it was causing mold issues. Fiberglass is cheaper and easier to fix if something goes wrong. Plus, a mild season can easily throw off your numbers, so I'd wait until you've got a full year of data before calling it a win.

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ericfox3d ago

The $2,800 price tag on the spray foam alone is crazy. I had a buddy who spent almost $4,000 on it for his attic and it still didn't seal properly because the guy spraying it missed a few spots. He ended up paying another $1,500 to have a different contractor come in and fix it with foam boards and caulk. The whole moisture issue is real too. I know someone who had spray foam in their basement and it trapped humidity so bad that the wood studs started rotting within two years. You're right about waiting for a full year of data. One mild winter can make anyone look like a genius, but the real test is when you hit a cold snap and see if your system struggles.