Insulation Before & After in Glendale, CA
Photographs tell the truth faster than any estimate sheet. For 25 years, we’ve watched attics in Glendale go from heat traps to conditioned spaces. The before photos usually show the same story: thin, settled fiberglass, gaps around can lights, and thermal bypasses that let attic air pour into living spaces. The after photos show what a proper air seal and the right R-value actually look like. Here’s a sample of the work we do, from historic bungalows near Brand Park to hillside homes above the 2 freeway.
Recent Transformations
Attic Insulation Removal & Replacement in Adams Hill
After – fresh Owens Corning blown-in fiberglass at R-38]
The existing insulation in this 1940s attic had compressed to about three inches of gray dust. Rodent activity had contaminated much of it. We removed everything, vacuumed the attic floor, air-sealed the top plates and wire penetrations, and blew in fresh Owens Corning fiberglass to R-38. The homeowner’s upstairs bedroom ran four degrees cooler the following week. We handle the full removal and replacement, not just the top-up.
Spray Foam Insulation for a Vaulted Ceiling in Verdugo Woodlands
After – Icynene open-cell spray foam filling the rafter bays]
This mid-century home had a dramatic open-beam ceiling and almost no thermal barrier between the roof deck and the living room. The owners baked in summer and froze in winter. We applied Icynene open-cell spray foam directly to the roof deck, which air-seals the assembly while insulating. The difference was immediate, and their summer AC runtime dropped noticeably. Spray foam is one of the few materials that handles a sloped roof cavity without sagging over time.
Crawl Space Encapsulation and Vapor Barrier in Rossmoyne
After – clean white vapor barrier across floor with taped seams and sealed piers]
Damp crawl space air was making its way into the whole house. You could smell it in the hallway closet. We sealed the vents, laid a 12-mil vapor barrier across the floor, ran it up the foundation walls, and sealed every seam and pier. The humidity in the crawl space dropped from 78% to 52% within ten days. This kind of job also helps keep dust mites and mold from thriving under the house. For older Glendale homes with raised foundations, encapsulation is often the single best air-quality improvement available.
Attic Air Sealing and Blown-In Insulation in Glenwood
After – sealed penetrations with foam and fresh GreenFiber cellulose insulation to R-38]
This homeowner complained that the upstairs hallway always smelled like the attic. We found open bypasses around the furnace flue, a recessed can light that was venting directly into the joist bays, and wall top plates that had never been sealed. We foamed and caulked every penetration, then blew GreenFiber cellulose across the attic floor. The hallway smell was gone within a day. Air sealing matters at least as much as insulation value; you can have R-38 above you and still leak a shocking amount of conditioned air through small gaps.
Radiant Barrier Installation in Northwest Glendale
After – radiant barrier stapled across the rafters, reflecting heat back toward the roof]
This house on the northwest side of Glendale catches full afternoon sun. The attic would hit 140 degrees in August, and the second floor never got below 78. We stapled a radiant barrier to the underside of the rafters, which reflects radiant heat before it ever enters the attic air space. Combined with the existing insulation, it dropped the upstairs temperature enough that the AC stopped running from 3 to 7 p.m. In our Glendale summers, a radiant barrier is one of the most cost-effective upgrades for west-facing rooms.
Attic Cleaning and Rodent Proofing in Citrus Grove
After – clean attic floor, sanitized surfaces, sealed entry points, new insulation installed]
The homeowner heard scratching in the ceiling at night. We found multiple entry points: a chewed vent screen, a gap where the roof met the fascia, and an opening around an old plumbing stack. After removing the contaminated insulation and sanitizing the attic, we sealed every entry point with steel mesh and foam, then installed fresh Johns Manville blown-in fiberglass. The scratching stopped the same week. We always recommend sealing before adding new insulation; otherwise you’re just building a nicer home for rodents.
Want Results Like These?
If your attic, walls, or crawl space are underperforming, the fix is usually more straightforward than you think. We’ll come out, take a look, and tell you honestly what’s worth doing and what isn’t. Call (747) 246-7237 to schedule an estimate. We’re the one down the road, and we’ve been doing this in Glendale since 2000.
Written by Walt Brenner, Owner at Walt’s Insulation, serving Glendale since 2000.