Low & High Density Spray Foam Insulation in Hamilton
Hamilton's housing stock spans everything from 1900s-era worker cottages on the Mountain to modern subdivisions in Ancaster and Stoney Creek. Each home has different insulation needs—and the right foam density makes all the difference. We install both open-cell (low density) and closed-cell (high density) spray foam, matching the product to the application so you get maximum performance without overpaying.
Signs Your Hamilton Home Needs Better Insulation
Whether it's a Westdale bungalow or a newer Binbrook build, these are the red flags that your current insulation isn't doing its job.
Rooms That Won't Stay Warm
Certain rooms are always colder than others no matter how high you crank the thermostat. This usually means the walls or attic above those rooms have gaps, thin batts, or no insulation at all.
Sky-High Energy Bills
If your gas or hydro bills keep climbing despite no change in usage, conditioned air is escaping through poorly insulated walls, attics, and crawlspaces. Spray foam seals the building envelope and cuts heating costs significantly.
Moisture & Condensation
Water droplets on basement walls, damp attic sheathing, or musty smells are signs that moisture is moving through your building envelope unchecked. The right foam density creates a vapour barrier exactly where you need it.
Ice Dams in Winter
Icicles hanging from your eaves and ice ridges forming along the roofline mean heat is escaping through the attic, melting snow from underneath. Proper attic insulation with the right density foam stops heat transfer and eliminates ice dams.
Noisy Interior
Road noise, neighbour noise, or sound travelling between floors is a sign that your walls and ceilings lack proper insulation. Low-density open-cell foam is an exceptional sound dampener for interior applications.
Old Fibreglass Batts
Pink or yellow batts that are sagging, compressed, water-stained, or falling out of place. Fibreglass loses R-value when it gets wet or compressed and does nothing to stop air movement. Spray foam replaces it permanently.
Low-Density vs High-Density Spray Foam
Both are spray foam. Both outperform fibreglass. But they serve different purposes—and Hamilton homeowners from Dundas to Stoney Creek need to know which one fits their project.
| Feature | Low-Density (Open-Cell) | High-Density (Closed-Cell) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | ½ lb per cubic foot | 2 lb per cubic foot |
| R-Value per Inch | R-3.7 | R-6.5 |
| Air Sealing | Excellent — expands to fill gaps | Excellent — rigid, complete seal |
| Moisture Resistance | Breathable — allows drying | Waterproof — full vapour barrier at 2" |
| Sound Dampening | Superior — soft, absorbs sound | Good |
| Structural Strength | Flexible — no racking strength | Adds rigidity to walls and rooflines |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $1.50 – $3.50 | $3.00 – $5.00 |
| Best Applications | Attics, interior walls, cathedral ceilings, sound control | Basements, rim joists, garages, crawlspaces, exterior walls |
Not sure which density is right for your project? We'll recommend the best option during your free on-site assessment.
Where Each Foam Density Is Used
We don't use a one-size-fits-all approach. Every surface in your Hamilton home gets the foam type engineered for that specific application.
Attics — Open-Cell
Open-cell foam sprayed to the underside of the roof deck provides excellent thermal performance and sound reduction in attic spaces. Its breathability allows moisture to escape, preventing trapped humidity. Ideal for attic insulation projects.
Basements — Closed-Cell
Below-grade walls face constant moisture pressure from the soil outside. Closed-cell foam bonds directly to the concrete, creates a waterproof vapour barrier, and delivers R-20 in just 3 inches. See our basement insulation page.
Garage Ceilings — Closed-Cell
Garages are exposed to rain, snow melt, and exhaust fumes. Closed-cell on the garage ceiling creates a moisture-proof, fume-blocking barrier between the garage and the living space above. Details on our garage insulation page.
Rim Joists — Closed-Cell
The rim joist is the #1 hidden air leak in most homes. Closed-cell foam fills each joist cavity, seals the sill plate, and acts as both an air barrier and vapour barrier in one shot. Learn more on our rim joist page.
Interior Walls — Open-Cell
When soundproofing between rooms is the goal—home offices, bedrooms, media rooms—open-cell foam fills the wall cavity completely and dramatically reduces sound transmission between spaces.
Crawlspaces — Closed-Cell
Damp, unheated crawlspaces need the moisture resistance and high R-value that only closed-cell provides. It transforms a cold, wet crawlspace into a dry, sealed enclosure that protects your floor system.
How Our Spray Foam Process Works
Same professional process whether we're installing open-cell or closed-cell. Most Hamilton residential projects are completed in a single day.
Free Home Assessment
We inspect every area that needs insulation, test for existing moisture issues, measure square footage, and recommend the right foam density for each surface. You receive a written quote on the spot.
Area Preparation
We mask off adjacent surfaces, lay protective coverings, set up ventilation equipment, and remove any old insulation that needs to come out before spraying.
Spray Application
Our certified technicians apply the specified foam density to the correct thickness—open-cell in attics and interior walls, closed-cell in basements, rim joists, and garages.
Quality Check & Cleanup
Every sprayed surface is measured for proper thickness and coverage. We trim excess material, remove all protective masking, and leave your home clean and ready.
Why Hamilton Homeowners Choose GTA Foaming
We drive out to Hamilton regularly because the demand is there—and we deliver the same quality we're known for across the GTA.
Serving Hamilton from Woodbridge
Our base is in Woodbridge, about 60 minutes from downtown Hamilton via the 403. We service Hamilton weekly, covering everything from Dundas heritage homes to Binbrook new builds. No travel surcharges.
Fully Licensed & Insured
Complete liability coverage and WSIB certification on every job. All installations comply with Ontario Building Code requirements for Hamilton's Climate Zone 6 standards.
Transparent Pricing
Every quote is written, itemized, and broken down by foam type, area, and thickness. Open-cell and closed-cell are priced separately per square foot so you see exactly where every dollar goes.
Both Foam Types In-House
We carry both open-cell and closed-cell equipment on every truck. No need to book two companies or two visits—we apply the right product to the right surface in a single trip.
Fast Turnaround
Request a quote and we'll schedule a site visit within days, often same-week. Most Hamilton spray foam projects—even whole-home jobs using both densities—wrap up in a single day.
Honest Recommendations
We won't upsell you to closed-cell when open-cell is the right product. Your attic doesn't need a $5/sqft vapour barrier—it needs breathable foam. We match the density to the application, not the margin.
Hamilton Neighbourhoods We Serve
Low and high density spray foam insulation across Hamilton and surrounding communities.
Your Neighbourhood Not Listed?
We serve all of Hamilton and the wider Golden Horseshoe. Call for a same-day quote.
Call (647) 613-3626What Hamilton Homeowners Say
Real results from spray foam projects across Hamilton using both foam densities.
"We needed the full package on our 1940s Westdale bungalow—open-cell in the attic, closed-cell on the basement walls and rim joists. Roberto explained exactly why each area got a different product. One crew, one day, everything done. Our January gas bill dropped by over $80 compared to last year."
"Our Ancaster home had terrible noise transfer between the kids' rooms and the main floor. GTA Foaming sprayed open-cell foam in the ceiling between floors. The difference is night and day—we can't hear them jumping around anymore. They also sealed the crawlspace with closed-cell while they were here."
"We were getting ice dams every winter on our Stoney Creek home. Another contractor wanted to add more fibreglass to the attic but Roberto said the real problem was air leakage, not R-value. They sprayed open-cell under the roof deck and this winter—zero ice, zero icicles. Wish we'd done it sooner."
Low & High Density Insulation FAQ — Hamilton
Answers to the questions Hamilton homeowners ask most about open-cell and closed-cell spray foam.
Low-density foam (also called open-cell or ½ lb foam) expands to roughly 100 times its liquid volume, creating a soft, spongy insulation that excels at air sealing and sound absorption. High-density foam (closed-cell or 2 lb foam) expands less but is rigid, waterproof, and delivers nearly double the R-value per inch. Each is designed for specific applications.
Open-cell is the standard recommendation for attic applications in Hamilton. It provides excellent thermal performance at a lower cost per square foot, expands to fill every gap in the rafter bays, and allows moisture to pass through rather than trapping it against the roof sheathing. Closed-cell is only used in attics when space is extremely limited and maximum R-value per inch is required.
Basement walls are below grade and face constant moisture from the surrounding soil. Closed-cell spray foam is waterproof, acts as a built-in vapour barrier at 2 inches of thickness, and bonds directly to concrete. It solves the insulation, air sealing, and moisture control challenges of a basement in one product—something fibreglass and open-cell simply cannot do.
Open-cell spray foam runs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot depending on thickness and access. Closed-cell is $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot. A typical Hamilton whole-home project using both densities—open-cell in the attic, closed-cell in the basement and rim joists—usually falls in the $5,000 to $12,000 range. We provide detailed, no-obligation quotes.
Yes—open-cell is one of the best soundproofing insulations available. Its soft, flexible structure absorbs sound waves far more effectively than fibreglass batts or rigid foam boards. It's commonly installed in walls between bedrooms, around home theatres, and between floors in multi-storey Hamilton homes.
During application there is a chemical odour, which is why we ventilate the area and recommend occupants stay out of the spray zone for 24 hours. Once cured, spray foam is inert and odourless. Both open-cell and closed-cell products we use meet Canadian air quality standards and contain no harmful off-gassing after the 24-hour cure period.
Most Hamilton homes can be fully sprayed in one day. A combined attic-plus-basement project with both foam densities typically takes 6–8 hours. Smaller jobs like rim joists only or a single-room sound barrier take 2–4 hours. We'll give you a time estimate with your quote so you can plan accordingly.
Spray foam costs more upfront but delivers dramatically better performance. Unlike loose-fill fibreglass or cellulose, spray foam is also an air barrier—it seals every crack, gap, and penetration simultaneously. In Hamilton's climate, the energy savings typically recoup the extra cost within 3–5 years, and the foam lasts the lifetime of the home without settling or losing effectiveness.
Get Your Free Spray Foam Insulation Quote
Serving Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Westdale, Hamilton Mountain, and all of Hamilton. We'll recommend the right foam density for every surface.