"Older homes can be tricky—sometimes no matter what insulation you pick, the structure itself limits effectiveness."
Exactly right. Spray foam's a decent call, but I've seen some older homes where the roof structure itself is the bigger culprit—poor ventilation, awkward angles, you name it. I once worked on a 1920s house where no insulation seemed enough until we added proper venting. Roof leaks are always a headache, but tackling them head-on like you did is definitely the best approach...beats patching things up over and over again.
Good point about ventilation—seen plenty of older roofs that trap moisture no matter how much insulation you throw at them. Sometimes just adding ridge or soffit vents makes a huge difference. Spray foam helps, but airflow is key to getting things right long-term.
Totally agree airflow is crucial, but I'd caution against relying too heavily on spray foam alone. Seen cases where improper application trapped moisture behind it, causing hidden mold issues. Combining vents with breathable insulation materials usually gives the best long-term results.
You're spot-on about spray foam sometimes causing hidden issues. I've seen a few remodels where homeowners went heavy on spray foam, thinking it'd solve all their insulation woes, only to find moisture and mold lurking behind it later. Not fun.
I wonder, though, if anyone's had luck using spray foam selectively rather than as the primary insulation? Like maybe just sealing up tough-to-reach gaps or tricky corners? Could that approach help manage moisture risks while still benefiting from the air-sealing properties?
Personally, I lean toward breathable materials too—especially in older homes. Had one project last year where we did cellulose insulation combined with strategically placed roof vents, and it worked beautifully. The attic stayed dry even through a super rainy winter. Plus, there's something reassuring about materials that let your house 'breathe' naturally... you know?
Curious if anyone has tried hybrid solutions—maybe mixing rigid foam boards in some spots with breathable insulation in others? Feels like there could be some smart middle ground there.
I've seen a few hybrid setups that worked pretty well, actually. Did a remodel about two years ago on an older farmhouse—owners were dead-set on spray foam at first, but I talked them into a more cautious approach. We ended up using spray foam sparingly, just to seal up some tricky spots around dormers and chimney flashing where drafts were really stubborn. Then we went with rigid foam boards in some of the larger cavities and cellulose insulation everywhere else.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first—felt like we were complicating things unnecessarily—but it turned out better than expected. The rigid foam gave us decent R-value without trapping moisture, and the cellulose kept things breathable overall. We also made sure to add proper venting in the attic space, which is crucial if you're mixing materials like this.
One thing I'd caution about though: make sure whoever installs the spray foam knows what they're doing. I've seen some real horror stories where inexperienced crews sprayed way too thick or missed critical spots entirely. Had one client call me in after another contractor botched their attic insulation job—foam was unevenly applied, gaps everywhere, and moisture had already started building up behind it. Ended up costing them double to fix it properly.
So yeah, selective use of spray foam can definitely work if you're careful about it. Just don't treat it as a magic bullet solution for every insulation problem out there... because it's definitely not.
