Old houses near campus, newer homes at the edges

Spray Foam Insulation in Iowa City, IA

Sealing and insulating a city where more than half of homes are rented.

Free on-site estimates
Written quotes that list R-value and depth for each area
Air leaks sealed before new insulation covers them

One City, Many Kinds of Houses

Spray foam insulation in Iowa City has to fit a very mixed housing stock. The median home here was built in 1985, but the city still has plenty of houses from before 1940 near downtown and the university, ranch homes and split-levels from the postwar decades, and a wave of new construction from the 2010s. Each needs something different.

Pre-war houses

About 11.8% of Iowa City homes date to 1939 or earlier. Those houses often have balloon framing, plaster walls with little or no insulation, and attics with gaps at every interior wall. We usually start with the attic floor and the rim joist, where the leaks are biggest, and then talk about dense-packing the walls with cellulose. Foam has a place too, especially on rim joists and in finished third floors and kneewalls.

Rentals

Per 2019 to 2023 census estimates, 52.8% of occupied homes in Iowa City are rented. Landlords tell us they want fewer complaints about cold rooms and lower bills for tenants who pay their own heat. We focus those quotes on the work that does the most for the money: attic sealing and depth, rim joists, and the floor over any unheated porch or garage.

Newer homes

About 16.4% of homes were built from 2010 to 2019. They usually have good attic depth, but the rim joist, the attic hatch and the floors over garages still leak. Finishing a basement is the other common job, and foam on the walls before framing is the cleanest way to do it.

Cold and snow

Iowa City averages about 22.8°F in January and gets roughly 27.5 inches of snow a year. Ice dams along the eaves are one of the clearest signs that heat is getting into the attic. Get a free estimate

What to Know in Iowa City

Mixed housing ages. The median Iowa City home was built in 1985. About 11.8% date to 1939 or earlier and 16.4% were built from 2010 to 2019 (2019 to 2023 ACS estimates).
Mostly renters. 52.8% of occupied homes in Iowa City are renter-occupied and 47.2% are owner-occupied, per the same census estimates.
Winter conditions. Iowa City averages about 22.8°F in January and receives about 27.5 inches of snow a year in Wikipedia's climate data.
2008 flood record. The Iowa River reached a record 30.46 feet in Iowa City on June 13, 2008, two days after water went over the Coralville Reservoir's emergency spillway.
Code and climate zone. Johnson County is in Climate Zone 5A, and Iowa's adopted 2012 IECC lists R-49 ceilings and a 4 ACH50 blower-door limit for new homes there.

Attic Insulation & Air Sealing in Iowa City, IA

Our Services in Iowa City, IA

Iowa City Questions

Is it worth insulating a rental in Iowa City?

For many landlords, yes. Sealing the attic floor and rim joist cuts drafts and heating complaints, and it is usually one of the cheaper fixes. We can price the work in stages so you can do the most effective part first.

Can you insulate the walls of an old Iowa City house without opening them up?

Usually. Dense-pack cellulose goes in through small holes that get plugged and patched. We check for old wiring and fire blocking before we drill.

Do I need a permit to add insulation in Iowa City?

It depends on the scope. Adding insulation alone is often treated differently from a remodel. Check with the City of Iowa City's building office, and we will describe the work so you can ask the right question.

Free Estimates in Iowa City, IA

Iowa City homeowners and landlords: request a free estimate.

Call (319) 249-0365 Free Estimate