Spray foam vs fiberglass: which is right for your house?
A plain comparison for homes that face triple digit summers, winter cold fronts and steady wind. Each one wins certain jobs, and price is only part of it.
The short answer
If your attic just needs more depth, your ducts are sealed and the house is not especially drafty, blown in fiberglass usually gives you the most comfort per dollar. If you feel drafts every time the wind picks up, dust keeps showing up indoors, the ducts run through the attic, or you are insulating a metal shop, spray foam often earns back its higher price.
| Blown in fiberglass | Spray foam | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Slows heat through the attic floor | Slows heat and stops air leaks |
| Where it goes | On top of the attic floor | Under the roof deck, in walls, on metal panels |
| Wind and dust | Air still moves through gaps unless sealed separately | Blocked at the surfaces it covers |
| Attic ducts | Stay in an attic that is hot in summer and cold in winter | Brought inside the sealed shell |
| Metal buildings | Not a good fit | Closed cell stops heat and condensation |
| Relative price | Lower | Higher |
| Long term | Settles slightly | Holds its shape |
Six reasons Wichita Falls homeowners choose spray foam
And after that, the times they should not.
Wind stays outside
Foam seals the cracks that loose fill and batts leave open, so a strong south or north wind does not push air through the house.
Less dust indoors
A tighter shell keeps out more of the dust that rides in on windy days.
Ducts in a mild space
Foam on the roof deck keeps the attic near room temperature, so ducts lose less in July and in January.
Year round comfort
The same layer helps against triple digit summers and hard winter fronts.
Dry metal roofs
Closed cell foam stops shop and barn roofs from sweating on cold mornings.
Steadier temperatures
Fewer leaks means fewer rooms that run too hot or too cold.
When fiberglass is the smarter buy
- Depth is the only issue. A top up costs far less and fixes the main problem.
- The ducts are sealed and the attic is in good shape, or the air handler sits inside the house.
- The budget is tight. A well installed blown in job is a big step up by itself.
- The roof is due for replacement. Some owners wait and time roof deck foam with the new roof, especially after hail.
What it means for homes around Wichita Falls
Our climate asks a lot of a house. Long stretches of summer heat push hard on the attic, winter fronts can bring sharp cold, and the wind rarely lets up for long. That means insulation here has to do two jobs: slow heat in both directions and stop air from blowing through the shell. Blown in fiberglass handles the first job well. Spray foam handles both.
Older homes in central Wichita Falls and Electra often lose more comfort through air leaks than through thin insulation, and they benefit most from sealing. Newer single story homes in Burkburnett and Iowa Park with reasonable attic depth are often well served by a blown in top up, with a radiant barrier added if the roof sits in full sun. Metal shops on acreage almost always call for closed cell foam.
Learn more
See what affects insulation cost. For more on drafts, read air sealing against wind and dust, and for the seasonal picture, read insulation for hot summers and cold winters.
Get a recommendation for your house
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