When it comes to home insulation, most people think of traditional fiberglass batts or maybe modern spray foam applied to roof decks. But at Thermal Advantage, a Rosie on the House Certified Partner, Owner Dennis Rodenburg and his team do things differently. They don’t even call their product spray foam because it’s not sprayed. It’s a high-performance foam injected into the hollow cavities of block walls.
“We started Thermal Advantage in 1998, originally focusing on large-scale installations in big box stores like Walmart, as well as grocery stores and schools,” Dennis said. “Over time, our work has shifted, and today we specialize in improving the comfort and efficiency of older block homes across Arizona.”
If you own an older block home in Arizona, you may be living with walls that have little to no insulation at all.. In most cases, block walls alone have an R-value of just 2 or 3. Newer block homes built since the 90’s must meet current building requirements as it relates to R-value
R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow. The higher the number, the better your home is insulated. Think of it as your home’s armor against the intense Arizona heat.
At Thermal Advantage, the team boosts a home’s R-value from 2 or 3 all the way up to R-11 –nearly five times better performance. For comparison, a modern, newly built home might have an R-13 fiberglass batt in the wall cavity. With Thermal Advantage’s retrofit method, they’re getting you very close to new home efficiency.
“We focus on retrofit insulation for block homes, and our foam injection is engineered specifically to flow freely through the wall cavity, providing full coverage without expanding or damaging the structure,” Dennis said.
He explained that while insulation is one of those upgrades you can’t see, you can feel it.
“Especially if you go through this process during an extreme season – like our brutal Arizona summers – you’re going to feel a difference that same day,” Dennis said.
The indoor temperature stabilizes, your HVAC doesn’t work as hard, and the overall comfort level of your home increases dramatically.
Thermal Advantage does a lot of work in garages, especially those with drywalled but uninsulated walls. Homeowners often want to install mini-split A/C units or heaters in their garages, and adding insulation is step one. The team can inject foam into those cavities with minimal disruption and maximum impact.
What’s the foam injection installation process like?
Thermal Advantage has developed a specialized process that allows for insulation to be added with minimal disruption to the home’s exterior. Instead of drilling into the block itself, the team creates small, 7/8-inch holes every two feet, only in the mortar joints. These are typically made at shoulder height around the perimeter of the home.
Block homes are usually constructed in a staggered pattern, which creates a series of internal voids or “cells” within the walls. These hollow spaces are ideal for introducing insulation, as they allow for foam to move and spread throughout the cavity.
In homes where outdated insulation materials like rock wool or vermiculite are present, Thermal Advantage begins by removing them using a vacuum system. This ensures the new foam insulation can flow unobstructed and achieve maximum coverage.
The insulation material used is a specially formulated foam that resembles shaving cream. When injected into the wall cavity under pressure, it travels through the internal cells, reaching gaps and cracks that would otherwise be inaccessible and creating a continuous, high-performance thermal barrier.
Once in place, the foam solidifies and forms a layer that dramatically improves the wall’s resistance to heat transfer. This upgraded insulation transforms an outdated wall system into one that effectively reduces thermal fluctuations year-round.
“Once the foam is injected, we handle 100 percent of the patching,” Dennis said. “We match the mortar color if needed, and if the block is painted, we inform the homeowner that a quick touch-up may be required – that part isn’t included in our bid, but it’s simple to DIY.”
Thanks to this process, homeowners can enjoy all the benefits of modern insulation without compromising the appearance or integrity of their block walls.
“The process is very safe, but every so often, we run into an issue where foam may get into a GFI breaker (those outlets with the test/reset buttons). If that happens, the breaker usually just needs to be dried out and reset,” Dennis said. “In rare cases where it’s damaged, we take responsibility and replace it at our cost.”
Federal tax credit for foam injection insulation
Insulating your home properly is one of the best ways to save money on your monthly energy bills. Many homeowners see a noticeable drop in costs almost immediately. But beyond that, there’s also a financial incentive to act soon. The federal tax credit for this kind of energy upgrade is 30 percent through the end of 2025.
“Let’s say your tax bill is $3,000. If you qualify for a $1,000 tax credit through using Thermal Advantage, you’d only owe $2,000,” Dennis said. “Our product qualifies for that deduction.”
To verify eligibility, homeowners can go to energystar.gov. The results of Thermal Advantage’s insulation process speak for themselves – not just in lower utility bills, but in the noticeable comfort homeowners experience.
The real proof lies in the day-to-day benefits: reduced heating and cooling costs, a quieter indoor environment, less dust, and the added bonus of sealing off entry points for pests. Learn more by visiting thermaladvantage.com and rosieonthehouse.com.
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