Spray foam insulation creates an air seal and insulation layer in a single application — it expands to fill gaps and adheres to the surrounding surface, eliminating air infiltration that other insulation types can't address. Contractors in our network install both open-cell and closed-cell spray foam for homeowners and commercial properties throughout Murphy and Collin County.

Murphy is a small, affluent Collin County suburb in the northeastern DFW Metroplex, largely built out through concentrated residential development from the 1990s through the 2010s as Collin County's population boomed alongside the corporate growth in nearby Plano and Allen. Because so much of Murphy's housing stock is relatively recent, attic insulation depth across most of the city tracks the energy code in force at each construction wave reasonably well, without the large legacy pockets of underinsulated 1950s-60s housing found in older DFW cities. The town sits on Blackland Prairie clay common across central Collin County, and North Texas's characteristic hot, humid summers followed by sharp winter cold fronts apply the same seasonal stress here as elsewhere in the Metroplex. The main insulation-relevant question for Murphy homeowners tends to be less about legacy underinsulation and more about whether a given subdivision's original builder-grade insulation was installed at the depth the code technically required, since builder-grade installations vary in consistency even within the same construction year.

Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell Foam

Open-cell foam has a lower R-value per inch (around R-3.5) but is less expensive and expands aggressively to fill cavities. It's vapor-permeable, which makes it appropriate for some wall applications in this climate. Closed-cell foam has a higher R-value per inch (around R-6-7), is rigid, and acts as a vapor barrier — it's the right choice for crawl spaces, exterior walls in high-moisture areas, and unvented attic assemblies. We recommend the right type for your specific application.

Some rooms are noticeably harder to heat or cool than others

Uneven temperatures between rooms, especially rooms above or below an attic, are a common sign of insufficient or unevenly distributed insulation.

Noticeably higher heating and cooling bills than similar-sized homes nearby

This is one of the more measurable signs that a home is losing conditioned air faster than it should — worth a comparison before assuming it's just an old HVAC system.

Ice dams forming on the roof edge in winter, or a hot, stuffy attic in summer

Both point to heat escaping into the attic space rather than staying inside the living area — a classic insulation-and-ventilation combination issue.

When Spray Foam Is the Right Choice

Spray foam is particularly valuable when air sealing is the primary goal, when you're insulating unusual shapes or hard-to-access cavities, when you need insulation in a vented or conditioned crawl space, or when you're doing an unvented attic assembly. It's generally more expensive than blown-in or batt insulation per square foot — we'll tell you when the premium is justified.

Have Questions?

We're happy to walk through your situation before you commit. Call us and we'll tell you honestly whether an upgrade makes financial sense for your home.

Call (469) 210-0277

This content is reviewed by the Texas Insulation Pros editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Insulation. Read our editorial standards.