Keep Your Ann Arbor Home Warm — Even When It Feels Like a Freezer Outside

Why Ann Arbor Homeowners Need Spray Foam in Zone 6A

In Washtenaw County, winter doesn’t just linger — it overstays its welcome. With 56 inches of snow and temperatures regularly dropping below 20°F for weeks at a time, the average home in Ann Arbor struggles to retain heat. Older homes — like the 1920s–1950s brick colonials near the University of Michigan or the postwar ranches in Saline and Dexter — weren’t built for today’s climate demands. Many of these homes lack a continuous air barrier, which means every draft, every gap, and every poorly sealed rim joist is letting heat escape — and cold air in.

Spray foam insulation is the only solution that truly stops air leakage at the source. Unlike fiberglass or cellulose, foam expands to fill every nook and cranny, sealing your home from the brutal Ann Arbor winter. It’s not just about comfort — it’s about reducing your heating load and cutting energy costs in a region with high DTE Energy bills.

Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell: What Works Best in Your Home

There are two main types of spray foam — and each has its place in the typical Ann Arbor home.

• Open-cell foam is ideal for above-grade spaces like attics. It provides excellent insulation and breathes well, making it a good fit for the attic floor plane of a colonial near Burns Park or a Cape Cod in Ypsilanti. It’s also more cost-effective, typically ranging from $1.00–$3.00 per board foot.

• Closed-cell foam is denser and more rigid. It’s perfect for rim joists, basement walls, and other areas with moisture risk or tight space constraints. It’s also excellent at sealing air gaps and adding structural strength. It costs $1.50–$5.00 per board foot, but in places like the rim joist of an older home, it’s often the only way to stop cold air from sneaking in at floor level.

A Real-World Fix in Ann Arbor

Take a 1948 brick colonial near Burns Park. The homeowners had a perfectly functional forced-air heating system — but the second floor was practically uninhabitable in winter. The problem? No continuous air seal. The rim joist and attic floor were open to the elements. We applied open-cell foam to the attic floor and closed-cell foam to the rim joist — a single-day job. The result? The second floor stayed warm and usable for the first time in years.

Saving You Money — and DTE Energy Rebates

Spray foam isn’t just a comfort upgrade — it’s an investment in your home’s long-term performance. In Ann Arbor, many homeowners qualify for DTE Energy utility rebates for insulation improvements that reduce heating demand. These rebates are designed to help homeowners in colder climates like ours achieve better energy efficiency — and we can help you apply.

Typical Ann Arbor Home Projects Run $2,500–$6,500

The cost of a spray foam insulation project depends on the size of your home, the condition of the existing insulation, and where the gaps are. In Washtenaw County, a typical home upgrade — sealing rim joists and attic floor — ranges from $2,500 to $6,500. This includes prep, foam application, and cleanup.

Last updated: June 2026