Insulation in Brooklyn, NY
Brownstones, row houses and multi-family walk-ups — buildings where the roof, the cellar and the party walls define the whole thermal envelope.
Insulating homes and buildings in Brooklyn
Brooklyn's attached housing concentrates the thermal problem into three surfaces: the roof, the cellar, and the front and rear facades. Everything else is shared with the neighbors. That is actually good news, because it means a relatively small amount of well-targeted work delivers a disproportionate improvement.
The roof comes first. Most brownstones and row houses have a flat roof with minimal insulation above the top-floor ceiling, which makes those rooms brutal in summer. Applying spray foam to the underside of the roof deck insulates and air seals in one operation, with no disturbance to the roof membrane or any exterior appearance — an important consideration in landmarked districts.
The cellar is second. Rim joists in these buildings are almost universally uninsulated, and they run the full perimeter. Two inches of closed cell foam there is a fast job with an immediate effect on how cold the parlor floor feels in winter. For gut renovations we also recommend open cell foam in the floor and partition cavities while they are open, because the sound reduction between units is substantial and the incremental cost at that stage is low.
Services available in Brooklyn
Neighbourhoods we cover in Brooklyn
- Park Slope
- Bay Ridge
- Bushwick
- Williamsburg
- Bed-Stuy
- Sunset Park
- Flatbush
- Greenpoint
Other areas we serve nearby
Need insulation in Brooklyn?
Tell us about the space and we'll come look at it. Free written estimate, honest spec, no pressure.