Kensington Spray Foam, Targeted for Historic Homes

Spray foam plays a focused, important role in Kensington — but it is not the answer for every assembly in a Victorian home. We use closed-cell spray foam where it does the most good (basement walls, crawl space walls, rim joists, and the underside of the roof deck where attic floor insulation is impractical) and we pair it with dense-pack cellulose, mineral wool, and air sealing for the rest of the building envelope. The result is a tight, comfortable, energy-efficient historic home — without compromising plaster walls, original windows, or architectural character.

Closed-Cell at Basement and Crawl Space

For Kensington Victorians and the surrounding mid-century stock, closed-cell spray foam at basement walls (3 to 4 inches for R-21 to R-28), the rim joist, and crawl space walls eliminates the air leakage and moisture intrusion that drive most comfort and energy problems in older homes. Closed-cell is the right material for these locations specifically because it is moisture-resistant, structurally adhered, and creates a continuous air and vapor barrier where the building meets the ground. Most basement and crawl space spray foam projects close in 1 to 2 days.

Conditioned Attics for Limited-Depth Historic Homes

Many Kensington Victorians and Craftsman bungalows have low-clearance attic floors that make traditional R-49 blown insulation impractical — there simply isn't depth for the material. The solution is a conditioned attic: closed-cell spray foam at the underside of the roof deck (3 to 5 inches for R-21 to R-35), which moves the thermal envelope to the roofline and brings HVAC equipment, ductwork, and storage into conditioned space. The result is dramatically lower energy use, no more ice dams, and a usable attic for storage or future finished space.

New Construction and Substantial Rebuilds

For the occasional new construction or substantial rebuild project in Kensington (typically outside the Historic District), our standard recommendation is a comprehensive closed-cell system: foam at all exterior walls, basement walls, and the underside of the roof deck. This delivers Energy Star or beyond-code performance, qualifies for the highest tier of federal IRS Section 45L Energy Efficient Home Credit and Pepco EmPOWER rebates, and gives the homeowner a tight, comfortable home from day one.