Owning a home means balancing what you want with what makes financial sense. Every renovation or upgrade, big or small, is an extension of that. But one thing we’ve learned over years of doing this work: the choices that feel “affordable” at the start aren’t always the choices that save you money in the long run.
At Ms. Green Construction, sustainable, science-backed building isn’t about spending more, it’s about protecting your investment and your health over the long term. Our projects focus on durability, performance, and real results you can feel and see. Not just today, but for years to come.
Recent reporting has shown this play out at scale. A recent investigation found that tens of thousands of homes insulated under government-funded programs need repairs, not because people didn’t care about efficiency, but because the work was rushed, poorly installed, or done with the incorrect materials. The result was moisture trapped behind walls, mold growth, and costly damage that homeowners never expected, but that could’ve been prevented.
With more than 18 years in operation—and over 20 years in construction and engineering before that—I’ve seen just about every mistake a contractor can make. Big or small, cutting corners or ignoring the engineering and building science behind the work always leads to unnecessary and expensive repairs.
One of the most common issues we see today is the aftermath of poorly installed spray foam, which has become one of the fastest-growing problems in home performance.
Two different homes, one familiar issue: improper insulation leading to costly damage. In one attic, mold had started forming on the roof deck due to poorly installed insulation. In another home, a crawlspace was coated in a crumbling DIY spray-foam kit with no vapor barrier, visible rust, water damage, and mold.
Spray foam behaves differently from traditional insulation:
- Open-cell foam expands into wall cavities
- Closed-cell foam contains sealed bubbles and hardens into a dense structure
If it expands unevenly, shrinks over time, or is applied in the wrong place, the damage is long-term and often irreversible without full removal.
The larger issue is industry-wide. In many states, including Michigan, there is virtually no meaningful regulation around insulation licensing. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and only requires 70% to pass.
Because of this, anyone can purchase or finance a spray foam machine and call themselves “licensed,” with little to no oversight. That’s why we frequently encounter:
- Foam installed where it never should have been
- Low-grade foam that shrinks over time
- Hidden mold growth caused by trapped moisture
- Walls showing “sweat marks” or condensation streaks from uneven coverage
- Homes that become unsafe or unhealthy
From removal to rebuild. This attic had improperly installed insulation that was trapping moisture and hurting energy performance. Our team safely removed the old materials, corrected the airflow.
And it’s important to be direct: all spray foam, even those marketed as “green” or compliant with the highest material standards, contains chemicals classified as carcinogens. Proper handling, ventilation, and installation are essential, not optional, to ensure safety and performance.
When spray foam is installed improperly, it can release chemicals, trap moisture, and create long-term issues especially in basements,crawlspaces, attics and other areas with existing humidity challenges.
Some national insulation companies have even faced class-action lawsuits for these exact failures. In fact, legal reviews such as the one published by Carlton Fields highlight how widespread spray foam related liability has become across the industry, ranging from improper installation to chemical exposure and long-term property damage. We see these situations regularly. By the time we’re called, the money has already been spent, the damage is done, and the foam often has to be cut out entirely.
The truth is simple: thoughtful, science-backed building protects homeowners. Saving money today with inferior materials or rushed installation will lead to a much larger bill down the line.
This crawlspace is sealed the right way: continuous air and vapor barrier, moisture control, and insulation working together to protect the home’s structure and efficiency, all by the Ms. Green Construction team.
Quality work and materials prevent rot, mold, leaks, and structural failures that are becoming more common as fast-turnover contractors and unregulated installers flood the market.If you’re unsure about your insulation, past work, or the overall health of your home, we offer free consultations to help you understand what’s really happening behind your walls.
Before and after: this crawlspace was fully cleaned out, the ducts were insulated and sealed, a proper air and vapor barrier was installed across the floor, and the walls and rim joist were sealed for complete moisture and energy protection.