East bank, near the river
Spray Foam Insulation in Harahan, LA
Railroad-era roots and a post-war building boom.
- Free on-site estimates
- Itemized written quotes with material, depth and R-value
- Under-floor, attic and moisture problems checked first
Railroad Town Turned Suburb
Spray Foam Insulation in Harahan covers homes from two eras. The town began in 1894 when the Illinois Central built a repair yard and roundhouse here, and it incorporated in 1920. It had 1,082 residents in 1940 and more than 9,000 by 1960, so most of its housing is post-war, with a handful of older homes near the old rail land.
Higher ground
Harahan sits at about 10 feet, higher than much of Jefferson Parish, near the Mississippi. That helps with drainage, but the air is just as humid. Raised homes still need their floors insulated, and slab homes still have hot attics.
From plantation to lots
Wikipedia notes that the land was once the Soniat Plantation, and the Harahan Land Company bought and subdivided a tract in 1914. Some homes on those early lots are old enough to have empty walls and balloon framing. Sealing the tops of those walls from the attic is an important step.
Balloon-framed walls and open tops
In older Harahan homes we often look down from the attic into wall cavities with no top plate at all. Warm, humid air rises through those channels into the attic in summer, and in winter cold air drops down them into the rooms. Blowing more fill over the attic floor will not stop it. We plug each open top with rigid board or foam, then insulate. If the walls are empty, dense-pack cellulose through small holes fills them and slows air further. The two jobs often make sense together because the attic access is already set up.
Post-war ranches
The bigger share of Harahan homes are 1950s ranches. Most need the attic floor sealed and brought to depth. The DOE suggests adding R-38 to R-49 over 3 to 4 inches of existing insulation in zone 2. Get a free estimate
Harahan Facts
- Railroad origins. Development began in 1894 with an Illinois Central repair yard and roundhouse; Harahan incorporated in 1920 (Wikipedia).
- Post-war boom. Harahan had 1,082 residents in 1940 and more than 9,000 by 1960 (Wikipedia).
- 1914 subdivision. The Harahan Land Company bought the Southern University tract in 1914 and subdivided it into lots (Wikipedia).
- Higher ground. Harahan's elevation is about 10 feet (Wikipedia).
Harahan Questions
Do older Harahan homes have balloon framing?
Some do. We check from the attic and seal open wall tops before adding insulation.
How much insulation should I add?
DOE suggests adding R-38 to R-49 over 3 to 4 inches of existing insulation in zone 2.
Do you also work in River Ridge and Elmwood?
Yes.
Is foam needed in a 1950s ranch?
Not always. Sealing and blown-in often does the job.
Why seal wall tops before adding attic insulation?
Open wall tops let air flow between the walls and the attic. Loose fill on top will not stop that flow; a seal will.
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