Spray Foam Insulation in Melbourne, FL

Spray Foam Insulation in Melbourne covers one of the oldest cities on the Space Coast. Melbourne was incorporated as a village on December 22, 1888, after being known as Crane Creek, and its first postmaster named it for Melbourne, Australia. It merged with Eau Gallie on July 15, 1969, roughly doubling in size. The 2020 census counted 84,678 residents and 41,397 housing units.

Housing of every age

That history means Melbourne has older homes near downtown and the old Eau Gallie area, mid-century neighborhoods, and recent subdivisions. Older homes often have little attic insulation, open chases and ductwork added long after the house was built. Mid-century block homes usually have attic air handlers and thin, settled insulation. Newer homes are tighter but still have weak spots around hatches, garage ceilings and bonus rooms.

Lagoon and rain

About 80 percent of the city's land drains toward the Indian River Lagoon. Melbourne averages about 51 inches of rain a year, and on August 20, 2008, Tropical Storm Fay dropped 18.21 inches in a single day. Heavy rain finds roof weaknesses. We check for leaks and wet insulation before recommending foam.

Heat

NWS normals for Melbourne list a July average high of 89.7F and an average low of 73.7F; August is nearly identical. January averages 71.8F by day and 51.7F at night. The cooling season is long, and the attic is where most of the cooling is lost.

What we recommend most

For homes with an open attic floor and ducts in good shape, we seal the ceiling and blow in to R-38 or R-49. For homes with the air handler in a hot attic, we price open-cell foam on the roof deck. Garage ceilings below bedrooms usually get closed-cell.

FPL

FPL's ceiling insulation program standards list a $220 rebate when existing insulation is below R-8 and a participating contractor does the work. Check the current program before your job.

Downtown and the old Eau Gallie arts district

Homes near downtown Melbourne and in the old Eau Gallie area are among the oldest on the mainland. Wood-frame houses with raised floors, tall ceilings and attics that were never sealed are common. In those houses the open tops of wall cavities let attic air move straight into the walls. Sealing them from above, with foam or blocking, and then insulating the attic is usually the most effective first step.

Upstairs rooms

Two-story homes in newer Melbourne subdivisions often have an upstairs that runs several degrees warmer than the thermostat. Kneewalls, bonus rooms and long duct runs in the attic are the usual causes.

Tell us about your Melbourne home, and we will send a written plan. Get a free estimate