Lumber-era homes near Saginaw Bay
Spray Foam Insulation in Bay City, MI
Big old houses with drafty walls and wind off the bay.
- Free on-site estimates
- Written quote listing foam type, depth and R-value by area
- Rim joists, attic bypasses and moisture checked before we cover anything
Bay City's Big Old Houses
Spray Foam Insulation in Bay City deals with some of the oldest housing in the region. Bay City was first established in 1837, incorporated as a city in 1865 and grew rich on lumber, milling and shipbuilding along the Saginaw River. Its population was 52,523 in 1950 and 32,661 in 2020, and the 2020 census counted 15,798 housing units with 9.7% vacant.
Lumber-era construction
Large two- and three-story frame homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s often have balloon framing, plaster walls with empty cavities, and attics with little insulation. They leak heat at the rim, through the walls and into the attic. Dense-pack cellulose, rim joist foam and a sealed, deep attic make a big difference.
Wind off the bay
Bay City sits just upriver from Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Wind drives cold air through every gap in an older house, which makes air sealing as important as R-value.
Utilities
Bay City has its own municipal electric utility, Bay City Electric Light and Power. If Consumers Energy is your gas utility, its rebate chart lists insulation rebates for gas customers; check the current amounts before you schedule.
Story-and-a-halfs and kneewalls
Many smaller homes have upstairs rooms under the roof. The kneewall attics behind them are usually the coldest part of the house; foam on the kneewalls and floors fixes most of it.
Cold, snowy winters
The Tri-Cities average about 49 inches of snow a year at MBS International Airport. In older Bay City homes with many attic bypasses, that snow often turns into ice dams and water stains on upstairs ceilings. Sealing the bypasses comes before any added insulation.
Bay City Facts
- Lumber and shipbuilding. Established in 1837 and incorporated in 1865, Bay City grew on lumbering, milling and shipbuilding along the Saginaw River (Wikipedia).
- Housing. The 2020 census counted 15,798 housing units, 9.7% vacant, with a 1.9% homeowner vacancy rate.
- Population change. The city had 52,523 residents in 1950 and 32,661 in 2020.
- Municipal power. Bay City is served by its own municipal electric utility, Bay City Electric Light and Power.
Bay City Questions
Can you insulate plaster walls without tearing them out?
Yes. Dense-pack cellulose goes in through small holes, from inside or outside, and the holes are patched.
Will insulation help with wind off the bay?
Air sealing does most of that work. We seal the rim, attic bypasses and wall gaps first.
Do you work on the west side of the river?
Yes, on both sides of the Saginaw River in Bay City and the townships around it.
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