I come out and look at your attic myself
I go up with a flashlight and take photos, so you can see what I'm seeing instead of taking my word for it. I started this business in 2017 after learning insulation on another crew around Merced.
Attic insulation in Merced CA - upstairs rooms that stay comfortable all year
Hot upstairs or a power bill that keeps climbing? We check what's in your attic first, then seal and insulate in the right order.
Why is it so hot upstairs, and will attic insulation fix it?
Attic insulation in Merced means adding insulation over your ceilings after the air leaks are sealed, so the rooms below hold their temperature better in summer and winter. In an attic that's easy to get into and move around in, sealing and insulating can usually be done in a day or two.
Most calls start with a room that never feels right, usually upstairs or over the garage, or a power bill that climbs every summer. Sometimes the attic really is thin. Just as often the insulation is fine and air is slipping past it around lights, pipes and the hatch, which is why I look before I quote anything.
The price moves with the size of the attic, how much is already up there, how many gaps need sealing, and whether anything has to be fixed or pulled out before new material goes in. The schedule turns mostly on access, because a tight attic or one with repairs to wait on takes longer. Your written estimate lays out what I found and what I'd do about it, so you're not guessing.
What happens after you call us about your attic
You'll deal with me at the start and the finish, and with our own crew in between.
A written estimate that says what's up there
Before you get a number, I write down how deep the old insulation sits, where the gaps are and anything that has to be fixed first. If adding more isn't worth your money, the estimate will say that.
Our own crew does it, and I check it
Our crew does the work in the order it needs to go, and I look it over before we call it finished. We're licensed and insured.
How we handle attic insulation
The first thing I check is how deep the old insulation sits over the joists, because an attic that already has plenty may not be worth adding to. If it's thin, I look at what's in it, since new material laid over insulation that got soaked or is full of droppings just keeps the problem up there, and if anything looks like vermiculite, we stop and tell you before anything gets moved. Then we seal the gaps around can lights, pipes and the hatch so the new layer isn't fighting a draft, and we top up with loose fill, keeping the eave vents clear and the edges as deep as the middle. Foam costs more and seals air while it insulates, but sealing the gaps and topping up loose fill usually wins unless your ductwork runs through the attic.
Loose fill is the same material we use for blown-in insulation elsewhere in the house, and when the attic is one part of a bigger plan for walls, floors and crawl space, it falls under our home insulation work. I'll tell you on the estimate whether the attic alone is likely to fix the room you called about.
- Depth check over the joists before anything is quoted
- Air sealing around can lights, pipes and the attic hatch
- Loose fill or batts added over old insulation that's dry and sound
- Eave vents kept clear so the attic keeps breathing
- Floors covered on the way in and the house left clean on the way out
What the work day looks like
Here's how it goes once you've said yes.
Cover the path to the hatch
We lay down covers from the door to the attic hatch, because loose fill and attic dust travel. Anything stored near the hatch gets moved out of the way first, with your OK.
Seal the leaks before anything gets covered
Our crew closes the gaps I marked on the estimate before any new insulation goes down. Once a gap is buried it's hard to find again, so this step doesn't get skipped.
Lay an even layer out to the eaves
We work from the edges inward so the low spots near the eaves get the same depth as the middle. The vents at the edges stay open so air keeps moving through the attic.
Check it, then clean up
I go up and look it over before we call it finished, and I'll show you photos if you'd rather not climb the ladder. Then we pull the covers, vacuum and leave the house the way we found it.
Find out what your attic actually needs
Call (209) 308-1021 or send the form, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look over the attic and leave you a free written estimate with no obligation. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
(209) 308-1021Attic insulation questions from Merced homeowners
How do I know if my attic needs more insulation?
If you can easily see the tops of your floor joists because the insulation is level with them or lower, you should add more. If it sits well above the joists, you probably have enough, and adding more may not be worth the cost. A national guide puts most attics at about 10 to 14 inches, depending on the type of insulation.
What has to be fixed before insulating an attic?
A leaking roof, live knob and tube wiring, which is the early kind strung on ceramic posts, and bathroom fans that vent into the attic all need repairs before new insulation goes in, according to a Department of Energy guide. Old vermiculite is a separate case, since the EPA recommends leaving it undisturbed because moving it can put asbestos fibers in the air. If you decide to have it removed, the EPA says a trained, accredited asbestos abatement contractor should do it, separate from whoever assessed it, so that wouldn't be us.
Can I put new insulation on top of the old insulation in my attic?
Yes, new insulation can be a different type from what's already there, such as loose fill over fiberglass batts or batts over loose fill. When batts go over loose fill, they should be unfaced, meaning no paper or foil backing. Loose fill goes in with a blowing machine, which is why the guide suggests a professional for that part.
What license does an insulation contractor need in California?
California's Contractors State License Board has an insulation and acoustical contractor classification, which covers installing any insulating material for temperature or sound control. Attic insulation falls inside that, so it's the classification this work comes under.
Permits and inspections around Merced
The first thing we sort out on paperwork is whether your address falls under the city or the county. If the job needs a permit, we take care of it and set up the inspection. Outside city limits, in unincorporated Merced County, the county's Building and Safety Division issues building permits and inspects all construction, so plan on the county checking the work. California's Energy Code also sets efficiency requirements for changes to existing homes, not just new ones.
We're based in Merced and work in many cities around it, north toward Modesto and south toward Madera, including Atwater, Turlock and Livingston. Across all of them we get the same kinds of calls about older houses with thin, settled insulation and rooms over the garage that never cool down.
Take a look, then give us a call
Before you call (209) 308-1021 or send the form, peek through the hatch to see whether the joists show, whether there are recessed lights and whether the old fill looks like vermiculite, so I know what to check first.
If a room in your house never feels right, tell us about it and I'll come take a look.
Tell us about your project