Blown-In Insulation vs Spray Foam
Two of the most common attic insulations in South Florida — very different jobs. An honest, side-by-side comparison on cost, R-value, air sealing, moisture, lifespan, and best use. No upsell. We install both.
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The full comparison.
Ten factors that actually matter to a South Florida homeowner — cost, R-value, air sealing, moisture, lifespan, and more. No marketing fluff.
| Factor | Blown-In | Spray Foam |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $1,500–$4,500 | $3,500–$9,500 |
| Cost per R-value | Lowest of any insulation | Higher — premium performance |
| R-value per inch | R-2.2–2.7 (fiberglass) · R-3.0–3.8 (cellulose) | R-3.8 (open-cell) · R-6.5 (closed-cell) |
| Air sealing | No — filters air, doesn't seal leaks | Yes — airtight seal |
| Moisture resistance | Fiberglass moisture-resistant; cellulose holds moisture | Closed-cell = Class II vapor barrier; open-cell breathable |
| Install time | ~1 day | 1–2 days |
| Lifespan | 80+ yrs (fiberglass); cellulose settles | Life of home — no settling |
| Best for | Attic floor top-ups, budget code compliance | Roof decks, crawl spaces, coastal walls, max performance |
| Removal | Easy — vacuumed out | Difficult — costly to remove |
| Sound dampening | Decent | Open-cell excellent |
When to choose each.
Choose Blown-In
Blown-in is the right call when you need code-compliant R-value at the lowest installed cost, fast.
- Attic floor top-up to Florida code R-30 or R-38
- Tight budget — lowest cost per R-value of any insulation
- Large attic volumes where foam would be cost-prohibitive
- Fast, single-day install with minimal disruption
- Clean, dry existing insulation that just needs more depth
Choose Spray Foam
Spray foam is the right call when performance, air sealing, and moisture protection matter more than upfront cost.
- Roof deck conditioning — turn the attic into conditioned space
- Crawl space encapsulation with a moisture barrier
- Coastal walls facing salt-air humidity (closed-cell)
- Maximum air sealing and the highest R-value per inch
- New construction or full retrofit where budget allows
The best answer is often both.
Many Cardinal jobs pair closed-cell spray foam on the roof deck with blown-in on the attic floor — a layered defense that air-seals the envelope and maxes out R-value. We also pair blown-in with a radiant barrier for the full Cardinal Shield, cutting cooling costs up to 37%. A free FLIR inspection tells you exactly what your home needs.
Every city. Every ZIP. Sealed.
A dedicated blown-in insulation page for every city in the Cardinal corridor — neighborhoods, ZIPs, pricing, R-value guides, and FLIR-proof before/afters for each.
Blown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Boca Raton — ZIPs 33432–33496. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Boca Raton pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across West Boca Raton — ZIPs 33433–33496. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View West Boca Raton pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Delray Beach — ZIPs 33444–33484. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Delray Beach pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Boynton Beach — ZIPs 33435–33472. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Boynton Beach pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Parkland — ZIPs 33067–33076. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Parkland pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Deerfield Beach — ZIPs 33441–33442. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Deerfield Beach pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across West Palm Beach — ZIPs 33401–33407. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View West Palm Beach pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Pompano Beach — ZIPs 33062–33071. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Pompano Beach pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Fort Lauderdale — ZIPs 33301–33316. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Fort Lauderdale pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Coral Springs — ZIPs 33065–33077. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Coral Springs pageBlown-in attic insulation to Florida code R-38 across Hollywood — ZIPs 33019–33025. Neighborhoods, pricing, and FLIR proof.
View Hollywood pageThe questions Boca, Delray & Boynton actually ask.
Neither is universally better. Blown-in wins on cost and speed for attic floor top-ups; spray foam wins on air sealing, R-value per inch, and moisture protection for roof decks and crawl spaces. We spec both on most jobs — and we'll tell you honestly where each makes sense on your home.
Blown-in is significantly cheaper — $1,500–$4,500 vs $3,500–$9,500 for a typical attic. Blown-in is the lowest installed cost per R-value of any insulation. Spray foam costs more but delivers an airtight seal and higher R-value per inch.
Yes. Closed-cell spray foam is R-6.5 per inch vs blown-in fiberglass at R-2.2–2.7 per inch. Spray foam reaches target R-value in less depth, but blown-in reaches Florida code R-38 at the attic floor with enough depth — at a fraction of the cost.
No. Blown-in filters air; it doesn't seal leaks. Spray foam (both open and closed-cell) creates an airtight seal. That's why we air-seal before blowing in — sealing penetrations first so the blown-in actually performs at its rated R-value.
Both last the life of the home when installed right. Blown-in fiberglass lasts 80+ years with minimal settling; spray foam never settles. Cellulose blown-in can settle up to 20% over time and may need a top-up down the road.
Yes — many Cardinal jobs pair closed-cell spray foam on the roof deck with blown-in on the attic floor for a layered defense. We also pair blown-in with a radiant barrier for the full Cardinal Shield, which cuts cooling costs up to 37%.
Serving the Boca–Delray–Boynton corridor.
From the Boca inlet to Boynton's western estates — every hot zone below is a home we sealed this year. This is our local service area.
