Resort town turned year-round

Spray Foam Insulation in White Bear Lake, MN

Some White Bear Lake homes started as summer cottages. Year-round comfort takes more than they were built with.

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From Summer Cottages to Year-Round Homes

Spray foam insulation in White Bear Lake often involves houses with a summer past. The railroad reached the lake in 1868, and by the 1880s it was a well-known resort, with summer cottages around the shore and on Manitou Island. The city incorporated in 1921. Point2Homes' summary of 2019-2023 census data shows 10.4% of homes built before 1940 and a median construction year of 1969.

Converted cottages

A cottage built for July and later winterized often has odd framing, additions on several levels, crawl spaces, and walls insulated unevenly or not at all. We look at each part separately. Crawl spaces under additions get closed-cell foam on the walls and rim. Sloped ceilings get foam where batts will not fit. Original walls get dense-pack fill.

The 1950s-1970s majority

Most White Bear Lake homes away from the shore are ramblers and split-levels from the postwar decades. For those, rim joist foam and an attic seal and top-up are usually the most cost-effective work.

Weather off the lake

The lake is one of the largest in the metro, and homes near it take the wind. Air sealing matters more on exposed lots.

Three-season porches

Some lake homes have porches that owners want to turn into year-round rooms. That usually means insulating the floor, walls and ceiling of a space built for summer. Closed-cell foam works well where framing is shallow, and we check the foundation or piers underneath.

Attic upgrades

For postwar houses, sealing and blowing the attic to R-49 is usually the most cost-effective work. HomeGuide's national average attic job runs about $1,800.

Lake air and moisture

Homes near the shore can have more humid basements in summer. We check for moisture before foaming any below-grade wall.

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What to Know in White Bear Lake

Resort history. The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad reached White Bear Lake in 1868, and by the 1880s summer cottages lined the lake; the city incorporated in 1921 (Wikipedia).
Housing age. Median construction year 1969; 10.4% of homes built before 1940 (ACS 2019-2023 via Point2Homes).
Housing count. 10,847 housing units in the 2020 census; a small part of the city lies in Washington County (Wikipedia).
Frost depth. Ramsey and Washington counties are in frost Zone II, 3.5-foot minimum footing depth (Minn. R. 1303.1600).

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White Bear Lake Questions

Can you insulate a converted lake cottage?

Yes. We handle each section separately, since crawl spaces, additions and original walls usually need different methods.

Should a crawl space under an addition be foamed?

Often. Closed-cell foam on the crawl space walls and rim, with a ground cover, keeps the floor above warmer.

Is air sealing more important near the lake?

Wind-exposed homes lose more heat through leaks, so sealing pays off more on the shore.

Can you insulate a three-season porch for winter use?

Often, yes. We look at the floor, walls, ceiling and foundation and explain what it would take.

Free Estimates in White Bear Lake, MN

Free on-site estimates around White Bear Lake.

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