Upstairs rooms that won't cool down
Rooms over a garage or on a second floor that won't cool down usually sit under thin attic coverage or leaky gaps, so that's where we look first.
Retrofit insulation in South Whittier CA - rooms that hold their temperature
Hot upstairs rooms and a climbing power bill usually mean an older house with thin, leaky insulation. We seal the gaps, then add more.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What retrofit insulation means for your house
Retrofit insulation in South Whittier means adding insulation to a house that's already built, in the attic and inside finished walls, so your rooms hold their temperature better and less outside noise gets in.
Maybe the room over the garage won't cool down, the upstairs is hot by noon, or the attic holds a few inches of gray, dusty fill that's been there for decades. What moves the price is how much of the attic and how many walls we're covering, how many gaps need sealing, whether old material has to come out, and which side of the wall we work from. The schedule turns on the same things, plus any testing the attic needs and whether your job needs a permit, which we check with the building office that covers your address before work starts. You'll get your own figure at the estimate, once I've been up in the attic.
Priced by someone who's seen it
I learned this trade hauling bags up attic ladders and opened this business in 2013, and I still come out and write the estimate myself, so the person pricing your job has seen it.
I'll tell you what comes first
If your roof leaks or the old insulation needs testing, I'll say so before we quote any new work, because I'd rather wait for the right fix than put in a job that won't hold up.
You know the cost before we start
Your estimate lays out the sealing, the insulation and anything that has to come out first, so you know exactly what you're paying for before our crew starts.
How we add insulation to an older house
I start by looking at what's already there, from how many inches sit in the attic and what shape they're in, down to how your walls are built and wired. Then our crew does the air sealing, closing the gaps around can lights, pipes and the attic hatch so outside air can't slip through, because insulation laid over a draft spends its life fighting that air. For the walls, I talk through with you whether we work from inside or outside, since that decides how much wall gets opened up. In the attic, we keep the eave vents clear so the space can still breathe, and we bring the fill as deep at the edges as in the middle, which is where most attics come up short. Our crew lead runs the install, I check in on the work, and we clean up before we go.
Most retrofits lean hardest on attic insulation, since the attic is the easiest place to add a lot and the hottest part of the house. Spray foam insulation costs more and seals air while it insulates, so I usually recommend sealing the gaps and topping up with blown-in fill, the loose kind we feed through a hose. The exception is when your ductwork runs through the attic, because then foam earns its higher price.
Signs your house could use a retrofit
Old insulation that's dirty or worn
Old fill that's gone gray, flat or stained usually isn't doing much anymore, and along with uncomfortable rooms, it's one of the main reasons people call us.
Outside walls with nothing in them
Plenty of older houses went up with little or no insulation in the spaces between the wall studs, and filling them helps most in rooms with long outside walls.
A power bill that climbs all summer
Around Los Angeles we rarely deal with freezing winters, but the heat and year-round sun keep your AC working hard, and better insulation helps it keep the house cool.
Get a free retrofit estimate for your house
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I come out, look at the attic and walls, and write a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Have your build year handy
Tell us roughly when the house went up, because the age tells me a lot about how the walls are built and wired before I ever climb in.
Say what's up in the attic
If you've seen wet spots, droppings or loose pebbly fill up there, mention it, because that decides whether testing or removal has to come before anything new.
Name the room that bugs you
Tell us which room runs hot or drafty, like an upstairs bedroom that never cools off, so I know where to start looking in the attic and walls.
Retrofit insulation examples to talk through
These example photos show blown-in attic fill, foam in open framing and sealed gaps, materials we can compare at your estimate.
Questions about insulating an older house
Here's what South Whittier homeowners usually ask before adding insulation to an existing house, from which side of the wall to what it costs.
Should my walls be insulated from inside or outside?
Working from inside leaves the drainage plane, the water-shedding layer behind your siding, untouched, while working from outside breaks it, so it has to be patched or replaced. The right side depends on access and the shape that layer is already in. In homes built before 1980, lead safety rules apply when exterior walls are disturbed, and we weigh that with you.
How much does blown-in insulation cost in the Los Angeles area?
Blown-in insulation in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $1,600 to $3,600 per project, going by one home services marketplace, and that's the market's range, not our price. Where your job lands depends on how much we cover, the sealing it needs and whether walls are part of it. Your own number comes from the estimate, after I've seen your attic and walls.
What if my attic has vermiculite insulation?
Have it tested before any attic work starts, because vermiculite can contain asbestos, and get professional advice on how to handle it. It's the loose, pebbly fill, usually grayish-brown, that pours almost like gravel. If I spot it at the estimate, I'll tell you, and we won't schedule the insulation until the testing is done.
Who handles building permits in South Whittier?
LA County Public Works issues building permits here, through its South Whittier District Office. That office's list names repairs and alterations, not insulation, so ask there about your job, and if your address is outside county jurisdiction, another office may handle it. We check which office covers you, and when a permit's needed, we handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
Can new insulation go on top of my old insulation?
Sometimes, but only if the old layer is still in good shape. If it's been soaked or is full of droppings, it comes out first, because new material on top just keeps the problem out of sight. I'll tell you which way your attic goes after I've been up there.
What license should an insulation contractor have in California?
California's Contractors State License Board has a classification set aside for contractors who install insulation, so ask any contractor about their license before they start. We're licensed and fully insured, with satisfaction guaranteed. It's also fair to ask whether they seal air leaks before insulating, since that's the step a sound plan starts with.
Call me about your attic
I still answer the phone, so call (562) 358-3003 and you'll be talking to the person who'll come look at your attic.