Spray Foam Insulation in Cortez, FL

Spray Foam Insulation in Cortez means working on some of the oldest homes in Manatee County. Cortez was settled in the 1880s by families from Carteret County, North Carolina, and commercial fishing has been its mainstay ever since. The Cortez Historic District, designated March 16, 1995, covers the old village between Cortez Road, 119th Street West, Sarasota Bay and 124th Street Court West.

Frame homes and raised floors

Many older Cortez homes are wood-frame cottages, some raised off the ground. A raised floor lets hot, humid air move under the house. Closed-cell foam on the underside of the floor seals and insulates it, and it resists moisture better than batts that sag and hold water. In the attic, these homes often have little or no insulation and gaps everywhere.

Water on three sides

Cortez is bordered by Anna Maria Sound, Palma Sola Bay and Sarasota Bay, and 2.88 of its 5.11 square miles are water. An October 1921 hurricane almost completely destroyed the waterfront. Storm exposure is part of life here, so we talk about materials that hold up if water gets in.

Respecting old houses

In historic homes we try to work with the house rather than against it. Old frame walls need to dry out, and we are careful about where we put vapor-tight foam. We explain the tradeoffs before you choose.

Working in a historic district

Insulation is mostly hidden, but exterior changes in a historic district may need review. If a project involves the roof or exterior walls, check with Manatee County before we start. Most attic and underfloor work does not change how the house looks.

Raised floor details

When we foam under a raised floor, we seal the gaps around plumbing and wiring and keep the foam clear of the ground for termite inspection, as Florida's residential code asks. If the space under the house floods, closed-cell foam can usually be left in place once it dries, while batts have to be pulled out.

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