The Builder Who Finally Built Warm Homes

A builder from Worcester called and said, “Every winter my new homes look good on paper, but the buyers complain the rooms feel drafty.”
He’d been using fiberglass for years — same results every time.

We insulated his next build using closed-cell spray foam from basement to roof.
After the blower door test, the inspector said, “Tightest house I’ve tested this month.”
The builder texted later: “I’m never going back. My HVAC guy said the system barely runs.”

That’s the moment you realize spray foam isn’t a luxury — it’s the difference between a house that just meets code and one that feels right.

Why Spray Foam Is Perfect for New Construction

Building new is your best chance to make a home efficient from the start.
You’ve got open framing, no drywall, and full access to every leak path — exactly what spray foam loves.

Spray foam insulation gives you:

• High R-value per inch (up to R-7)

• Complete air sealing (zero drafts)

• Moisture and vapor control

• Sound reduction

• Code compliance with fewer materials

In Central MA, where the winters hit hard and summers get sticky, spray foam does everything other insulation types try to imitate.

Closed-Cell vs Open-Cell Foam (and When to Use Each)

Closed-cell foam

• R-6 to R-7.5 per inch

• Acts as vapor barrier

• Adds strength to framing

• Great for basements, rim joists, exterior walls, roofs

Open-cell foam

• R-3.7 to R-4.5 per inch

• Expands 100x to fill every crack

• Perfect for interior walls and attics where sound and flexibility matter

We mix both types strategically on new builds — tight where moisture matters, open where sound and air sealing are key.

Story: The Shrewsbury Custom Colonial

This GC was tired of energy tests failing by half a point.
We sprayed closed-cell foam on the basement walls and rim joists, then filled the roof deck and main walls with open-cell foam.

The house tested at ACH 2.4 (below Energy Star standard).
The builder said, “That’s the first time I passed first try — and the clients say it feels solid.”

Foundation & Basement Insulation

Spray foam below grade is a game changer.
Concrete pulls heat like a magnet — especially in New England basements.

We apply 2 inches of closed-cell foam right to the walls and rim joists.
It seals moisture, raises R-value, and keeps the floors above warm.

No more cold floors, no condensation, no musty smell.
Builders love it because it’s one clean step instead of layering foam board, sealant, and fiberglass.

Exterior Walls

Instead of stuffing batts, we spray foam right into wall cavities before drywall.
It expands, fills gaps around outlets and studs, and bonds directly to the sheathing.

The result?
A perfectly sealed wall that stops airflow and meets R-value requirements without the headaches of vapor barriers or caulk guns.

One Worcester inspector told me, “You can always tell when a wall’s been foamed — it just feels tight.”

Attics and Roof Decks

Traditional vented attics lose tons of heat.
We convert them into conditioned attics by spraying foam directly to the roof deck.

Benefits:

• No more ice dams

• HVAC stays within the thermal envelope

• Summer attic temps drop by 40°F

• The whole house breathes better

In one Westborough project, attic temps went from 118°F to 78°F — same day we foamed it.
That’s instant comfort.

Floors Over Garages

Every builder knows the call: “That room over the garage is freezing.”
It happens when cold air seeps through joist gaps.

We spray 2–3 inches of closed-cell foam on the underside of that floor — sealing it completely.
You could shut the garage door and it’d still stay warm upstairs.

A builder in Auburn said, “No callbacks since we started foaming garage ceilings. Period.”

Air Sealing and Code Compliance

Spray foam isn’t just insulation — it’s your air barrier system.
Fiberglass can’t do that.

We hit rim joists, top plates, sill plates, and every electrical or plumbing penetration.
That’s how we consistently pass blower-door tests under 3.0 ACH50, which is what Energy Star and Stretch Code require in Massachusetts.

No need for tapes, gaskets, or vapor retarders — foam does it all.

Story: The Millbury Ranch

Builder said, “We keep failing the test by 0.3 ACH — it’s always the attic.”
We sprayed 5.5 inches of closed-cell foam across the entire roof deck.
Score dropped to 2.2 ACH.

He laughed and said, “Inspector said this is how houses should be built.”

Roof & Cathedral Ceilings

Spray foam handles sloped and vaulted ceilings better than anything else.
It clings to rafters and fills every cavity with no sagging.

We typically spray 5–6 inches of closed-cell foam on roof decks — that’s around R-35–R-40, more than enough for Zone 5 Worcester requirements.

It also prevents ice dams, one of the worst issues for New England roofs.

Garages and Bonus Rooms

Garages are a huge heat loss point — especially when attached to living spaces.
We seal the shared wall and ceiling with closed-cell foam to stop fumes, cold, and noise.

The bonus room above becomes part of the home, not a drafty afterthought.

Soundproofing Interiors

Open-cell spray foam is awesome for sound control between bathrooms, bedrooms, and home offices.
It’s softer and absorbs vibration — homeowners notice right away how quiet it feels.

One client said, “It feels like the walls got thicker — no echo anymore.”

Builder Story: The Grafton Modern Farmhouse

We sprayed full-envelope foam — closed-cell from basement to roof, open-cell in interior walls.
Blower-door score: 2.1 ACH.
Energy bills came in 40% lower than code homes next door.

The builder told me, “It’s the only house in the neighborhood where the buyer said they barely touch the thermostat.”

Mass Save Incentives for Spray Foam

Most new-construction spray foam projects in Central MA qualify for Mass Save Residential New Construction rebates.

Rebates can cover:

• A portion of foam insulation cost

• Free air leakage testing

• Incentives for low HERS scores

We handle the paperwork — builders just collect the credit.

One Worcester GC earned over $3,000 in rebates per home last year using spray foam exclusively.

Moisture and Mold Protection

Closed-cell foam stops moisture cold.
It bonds to concrete and sheathing, keeping the structure dry and mold-free.
That’s huge in our damp Massachusetts basements.

It also stiffens the structure — another reason inspectors love it.

Energy Performance You Can Measure

Here’s what we see on Central MA jobs:

Those numbers mean lower utility bills and a tighter, more comfortable home.

Environmental Benefits

Spray foam reduces heating fuel use by up to 30–50% compared to traditional insulation.
That’s roughly 2–3 tons of CO₂ saved per year for an average MA home.

Modern spray foams use low-GWP blowing agents and are safe for indoor air when cured.
It’s green performance that lasts 30+ years.

For Builders and GCs

We partner with builders across Worcester County to handle all spray foam work — from spec homes to custom builds.
We coordinate directly with framing and HVAC teams to avoid delays.

You focus on the build — we handle the insulation and testing.

Most builders say the same thing after switching:
“It’s cleaner, faster, and my houses just feel better.”

For Homeowners Building Custom Homes

If you’re building your dream home, spray foam is the best decision you can make that you’ll never see.
It keeps your rooms comfortable, dry, and quiet — for decades.

We’ll walk you through open-cell vs closed-cell and show exactly where each one fits your design.