Air Sealing Services
Insulation slows heat — air sealing stops the leaks that carry it. Every Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, and Parkland home leaks conditioned air through gaps around plumbing, wiring, recessed lights, attic hatches, and top plates. Cardinal finds and seals every leak with blower-door-guided air sealing, then proves the reduction with before-and-after readings. It's the single highest-ROI upgrade you can make before adding insulation.
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Itemized pricing by zone, back to you within the hour. No call required.
ProPink fiberglass, installed to manufacturer spec
Before-and-after infrared proof on every job
Local crews, never subcontracted
Transferable to the next owner
Air Sealing for South Florida Properties
air sealing is the workhorse of Florida attic retrofits. We will tell you plainly when it is the right specification and when a less expensive approach delivers the same outcome.
South Florida sits in South Florida, where the recommended attic target is R-38 to R-49. That number, along with where your ductwork runs and what condition the existing assembly is in, is what determines the right specification for your property.
Air Sealing at a glance
- R-value
- Measured in ACH (air changes per hour) — no R-value
- Installed cost
- $600 – $2,500 installed
- Service life
- Permanent (foam and caulk do not degrade)
- Available in
- South Florida and throughout South Florida
Types and Methods
Blower-door-guided air sealing
We pressurize your home with a blower door, locate every leak with a smoke pencil and FLIR camera, then seal them with foam and caulk. The blower door measures the before-and-after in ACH — so you know exactly how much leakage we eliminated.
Attic-specific air sealing
Targeted sealing of the attic floor — top plates, can lights, plumbing and wiring penetrations, chases, and the attic hatch. This stops conditioned air from escaping into the attic and is the highest-ROI upgrade before adding insulation.
Air sealing should always come before insulation, not after. Insulation filters air — it doesn't block it. Sealing the leaks first, then insulating, delivers the full rated R-value. Doing it in reverse traps air in the insulation and wastes the performance.
Benefits for South Florida Property Owners
- Stops conditioned air from escaping through gaps insulation can't reach.
- Lowers cooling bills up to 20% on its own — before any insulation is added.
- Reduces humidity and dust intrusion for cleaner indoor air.
- Improves HVAC performance — your system runs less and lasts longer.
- Verified with blower-door testing — you see the before-and-after numbers.
Best Applications
- Homes with high FPL bills and uneven temperatures
- Pre-insulation prep — seal before you insulate
- Drafty homes with cold or hot spots
- Homes with dust, humidity, or odor intrusion
- Energy code compliance and rebate programs
How We Install It
- 1Set up the blower door and pressurize the home to measure baseline ACH
- 2Locate every leak with a smoke pencil and FLIR camera
- 3Seal top plates, can lights, chases, and the attic hatch with foam
- 4Seal plumbing and wiring penetrations with caulk or foam
- 5Weatherstrip the attic hatch and exterior doors
- 6Re-run the blower door to measure the improvement in ACH
- 7Document the before-and-after readings and walk you through the results
Cost and R-Value Reference
Florida insulation cost & R-value reference.
Typical installed costs across South Florida by material. Pricing varies with access, square footage, and site conditions — every Cardinal quote itemizes material, R-value, installed inches, and square footage.
| Material | Installed cost | R-value / inch | Service life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blown-in fiberglass | $1.10 – $2.00 / sq ft | R-2.2 – R-2.7 / in | 20–30 years |
| Blown-in cellulose | $1.20 – $2.40 / sq ft | R-3.2 – R-3.8 / in | 20–30 years |
| Fiberglass batts | $0.90 – $2.10 / sq ft | R-3.1 – R-3.4 / in | 25+ years |
| Mineral wool | $1.60 – $3.40 / sq ft | R-3.0 – R-4.3 / in | 50+ years |
| Open-cell spray foam | $1.50 – $3.20 / sq ft | R-3.6 – R-3.8 / in | 80+ years |
| Closed-cell spray foam | $2.40 – $4.90 / sq ft | R-6.0 – R-7.0 / in | 80+ years |
| Rigid foam board | $1.40 – $3.80 / sq ft | R-3.8 – R-6.5 / in | 50+ years |
| Radiant barrier | $0.55 – $1.90 / sq ft | Reflective (no R) | 25+ years |
| Duct sealing + R-8 wrap | $800 – $3,500 / system | R-8 (duct) | 15–25 years |
| Insulation removal | $1.10 – $2.90 / sq ft | — | One-time |
Pricing reflects typical Florida installed costs and varies with access, square footage, and site conditions. Source: U.S. Department of Energy insulation guidance, Florida Building Code R402, and IECC climate zone 1 requirements.
Pricing reflects typical Florida installed costs and varies with access, square footage and site conditions.
Air Sealing FAQs
Air sealing across the corridor runs $600–$2,500 depending on home size and leak severity, verified with a blower-door test before and after. It's often the highest-ROI upgrade you can make. Get an instant itemized quote by ZIP code.
Yes — insulation doesn't stop air leaks. Fiberglass and cellulose filter air; they don't block it. Gaps around wiring, plumbing, and top plates let your conditioned air escape. We seal those leaks first, then insulate — doing it in reverse traps air in the insulation and wastes the R-value.
Insulation resists heat transfer through a material; air sealing stops the actual movement of air in and out of your home. Both are needed. We use blower-door testing to find the leaks, seal them with foam and caulk, then measure the improvement — so you know exactly how much leakage we eliminated.
Serving the Boca–Delray–Boynton corridor.
From the Boca inlet to Boynton's western estates — every hot zone below is a home we sealed this year. This is our local service area.
