Your home is the biggest investment you will make, and the quality of its insulation affects your daily comfort, your monthly energy bills, your indoor air quality, and the long-term durability of the structure. In California, where energy costs are among the highest in the country, inadequate insulation is an expensive problem — and one that gets more expensive every year.
CAL FOAM Inc. insulates homes with spray foam: attics, walls, cathedral ceilings, garages, crawl spaces and mobile home underbellies. We work on existing homes, additions and new builds across Tulare County and the Central Valley.
You deal with Derek directly, from the first call to the final walk-through. California contractor license #1123937.
California's diverse climate creates insulation challenges that are not common in other states:
Spray foam insulation addresses all of these challenges simultaneously — providing thermal resistance, air sealing, vapor management, and in some cases structural reinforcement in a single installation.
In an existing home, spray foam usually goes into these places:
Recent home jobs from our Google reviews:
Old insulation under a home or mobile home sags, gets wet and becomes a nest for rodents. The floors above it feel cold in winter, and the smell can come up into the house.
We remove the old insulation and vapor barrier and haul it away. Then we spray closed cell foam on the underside of the floor and the supports. Closed cell foam does not soak up water, and it sets hard, so rodents have nothing soft to nest in.
The best time for spray foam is while the walls and roof are open. We spray after the framing, plumbing and electrical are in, and before the drywall goes up, working around your builder's schedule.
New homes and additions must meet California's Title 24 energy code. The insulation target depends on your climate zone and the project, so we confirm it before we set the foam depth. We give you the foam's data sheet and the depth we installed, for your inspector or energy consultant.
|
Spray foam |
Fiberglass batts |
Blown-in |
|
|
Seals air leaks |
Yes |
No |
Slows air a little |
|
Fills gaps around wires and pipes |
Yes |
No, leaves gaps |
Partly |
|
Sags or settles over time |
No |
Can sag |
Can settle |
|
Cost up front |
Highest |
Lowest |
Low |
Batts and blown-in cost less up front. Spray foam costs more because it also seals the air leaks, and that is where much of the comfort gain comes from.
"We've noticed a big difference in comfort and lower energy bills already." Rocio M.
"Spray was neatly installed and looked very professional." Richard H.
"They go above and beyond the job they do." Chevy
If you are building a new home or doing a qualifying renovation, California's Title 24 energy code specifies minimum insulation requirements based on your climate zone. CAL FOAM Inc. is current on Title 24 requirements and installs insulation systems that meet or exceed the code. We provide documentation for permit applications including material data sheets and R-value calculations as needed.
Ready to take the next step? Call CAL FOAM Inc. at (805) 225-3626 or visit calfoaminc.com to schedule your free on-site assessment. We serve Strathmore, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, Stockton, Anaheim, Riverside, Modesto, Turlock, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Lancaster, Victorville, Napa, Santa Rosa, Redding, and communities across California. License #1123937.
Common signs include: energy bills that seem high for your home's size, rooms that are difficult to keep comfortable regardless of thermostat setting, drafts near windows and exterior walls, uneven temperatures between rooms, and HVAC systems that run constantly. A CAL FOAM Inc. assessment will identify where your home is losing energy and recommend the highest-impact improvements.
Title 24 is California's energy efficiency standard for buildings. It applies to new construction and major renovations. If you are building a new home or doing qualifying work on an existing one, the insulation must meet Title 24 minimum R-value requirements for your climate zone. We design and install systems that comply with current Title 24 standards and provide the documentation needed for permit approval.
Yes. Wildfire smoke enters homes primarily through air infiltration — the gaps and cracks that spray foam seals. Research consistently shows that tighter-envelope homes have significantly lower indoor smoke concentrations during wildfire events. This is an important and often overlooked benefit of spray foam insulation for California homeowners.
For attic floor applications where air sealing is manageable and you want to add R-value efficiently, blown-in insulation can be a reasonable and cost-effective approach. For conditioned attic assemblies where you want to bring the attic inside the thermal envelope, spray foam on the roof deck is the appropriate choice. We assess your specific attic configuration and recommend the right solution.
Costs depend on the area being insulated, the type of foam, and the required thickness. Spray foam costs more upfront than fiberglass batts, but the energy savings, superior performance, and indefinite service life make it a better long-term value in most California homes. We provide detailed written estimates after an on-site assessment.
Yes, measurably. California home buyers are increasingly sophisticated about energy efficiency, and a home with a demonstrably tighter envelope and lower energy bills is more attractive and commands higher prices. Additionally, homes with proper insulation qualify more easily for energy efficiency certifications that can further enhance value.
Common signs are rooms that stay hot in summer or cold in winter, cold floors over a crawl space, drafts near outside walls, and high cooling bills for the size of the home. We can check the attic, walls and crawl space and tell you where the biggest gain is.
In most Central Valley homes, start with the attic, because summer heat comes in through the roof. Do the crawl space next if floors feel cold or rodents get in. Walls are easiest to do during a remodel or addition, while they are open.
Yes. We remove old or rodent-damaged insulation from the underbelly, then spray closed cell foam on the subfloor and supports.
Yes. Everyone stays out during spraying and for the re-entry time the foam maker sets. We tell you how long before we start, and when it is safe to go back in.
Yes. We spray after the framing, plumbing and electrical are in and before the drywall goes up, and we give you the foam's data sheet and depth for your inspector.
The price depends on the area, the type of foam, the depth and how easy the space is to reach. We give free written quotes after we see your home.
Call (805) 225-3626 or email derek@calfoam.net to set up a free on-site visit. CAL FOAM Inc. is based at 19308 Orange Belt Dr, Strathmore, CA 93267, and serves Tulare County and the Central Valley. California contractor license #1123937.
Related services: Attic Insulation, Open Cell Spray Foam, Closed Cell Spray Foam, Intumescent Fire Coating