Chicago Bungalows

How to Transform Your Bungalow from Cold to Comfortable

The Chicago bungalow is back! These popular brick housing units were originally built throughout the 1920s. They were made to last! With many of these units hitting the century mark, new families are taking over and transforming these neighborhoods into more modern, upscale looking residential areas.

Unless the previous owners have done some remodeling in the past decade, chances are that the attic and basement of your bungalow are not being utilized as they could be. Owning a Chicago bungalow does not mean that you and your family must settle for freezing cold or hot and humid rooms. You can utilize all the available space that both the attic and basement have to offer while remaining cool in the summer and toasty warm in the winter. All your home will need is a knowledgeable team to add spray foam insulation.


True Story
Mr. and Mrs. Jones married not too long ago. While they were paying off their student loans, they decided to buy an older bungalow so they could stop throwing away their money on rent. A few months after purchasing the bungalow, The Jones’s discovered they were going to have a baby. This really stretched their budget, and they wondered where they were going to put their new bundle of joy. As with many of these housing units, the attic and basement were unfinished, which left their growing family only 1,000 square feet of living space.

When the grandparents wanted to come to visit for the holidays, the Jones family felt completely stressed out. Where were they going to put everyone? Not only that but during the coldest nights, their bedroom was nippy, while the downstairs seemed too warm.

The Jones family found their solution after talking with the experts at Chicago Green Insulation. After an inspection, we explained how adding foam insulation to the roof deck and basement walls would end their nippy bedroom, transform their 1,000 square foot living space into 3,000 square feet of comfortable living space, and help to relieve some of the stress they were feeling.

We transformed 1,000 sq ft of uncomfortable living space to 3,000 sq ft of COMFORTABLE living space in one Chicago Bungalow with spray foam!

Have You Considered Those Cheap, DIY Spray Foam Kits?
You really should think twice before taking that route. We understand how appealing those DIY kits can be, however, when dealing with retrofit applications, such as converting your vented attic into an unvented attic, any vapor retarder or other types of insulation must be removed from the ceiling floor to minimize the radical temperature changed and condensation that occurs during our beautiful, yet unpredictable Chicago weather.

Do you know if the DIY product you plan on using is a low-density, vapor-permeable spray foam? Is the furnace in your bungalow a high-efficiency unit? Does it use a two-pipe system?

Many people think that the DIY kits will save them money and they are very disappointed when they discover that they didn’t get the reduced energy consumption and room comfort they were looking for.

The Jones family also considered using one of these DIY kits, but they called us to compare prices. Good thing, too!

Back to the Jones Family
When Chicago Green Insulation explained to them that spray foam systems are the ideal insulation material for those who want unvented attics and that during times of high snowfalls, the accumulation of snow often blocks the roof vents and ridges, limiting the amount of venting on their home. Converting vented attics to unvented attics via spray foam means that these century-old brick buildings can be just as durable, well-insulated, and function as well as newer homes for less money. The couple gave one another that look of “I didn’t know that.”

We explained how they could avoid roof leaks due to ice damming and condensation by minimizing the possibility for moist air to enter the attic space entirely. After an inspection, we had to tell them that there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that the furnace they had was unsuitable, however, for foam insulation. The good news was that, if they decided to go with the spray foam insulation design that we were suggesting, they did not need to replace their 100,000 BTU furnace with a similar model, but that all 3,000 square feet would be perfectly toasty using a 60,000 BTU furnace. The look of shock on their face told the whole story.

Of course, the Jones family lived happily ever after, well, after adding spray foam to their bungalow, and, of course, they saved a bundle on energy bills as well.

Want to Live Like the Jones Family?
It’s most likely easier and less expensive than you might think to add spray foam insulation to your bungalow or other types of residential housing. This is especially true for those with difficult designs, such as scissor trusses, or if the HVAC system is in the attic. Other types of materials used in these areas can settle or move, allowing for air leaks.

Whether your bungalow is located in Lincoln Park or Lake Forest, your historic building can be just as energy efficient as a neighboring home with newer construction. At Chicago Green Insulation, we will do a full inspection and explain all the details to you, so you will understand not only what you are paying for, but how spray foam insulation can turn your chilly abode into a comfortable home.

What have you got to lose? On the other hand, you have so much to gain, including added space, reduced heating bills, and a more satisfying and snug home.

Call us today at (847) 987-3626. If you prefer, you can request your estimate online by clicking here.

We aren’t just selling you a product we are selling our expertise and years of experience in construction and design. As I always say  “Comfort is only a Foam Call away!”


About the Author, Tom Decker

With ten years of experience selling spray foam insulation in Chicago, Tom Decker is THE person to call and the Chicago Green Insulation is the organization to hire when you are looking for top notch quality and performance as well as someone who can deal with the needs of code officials, home owners and general contractors. Call the others in Chicago, if you are interested in the cheapest price, call Chicago Green Insulation if you are interested in using your dollars to make Chicago a better city for all of us!

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