Spray foam insulation
Spray foam goes where loose fill can't stay put, such as sloped ceilings, the room over the garage and rim joists, sealing air and insulating in the same pass.
Insulation contractor in Pasadena, CA - comfortable rooms in older homes
E&J South Pasadena Spray Foam Insulation is an insulation contractor working in Pasadena homes on hot attics, the room over the garage, cold floors over crawl spaces and the drafts behind a high power bill.
How we approach insulation in Pasadena houses
Many of the Pasadena calls I get come from older houses, and the city has designated a long list of historic sites and whole historic neighborhoods, so we usually find original plaster, tight attics and thin, settled insulation. Most people call because it's hot upstairs in summer, the rooms feel drafty in winter or the power bill keeps climbing. As an insulation contractor based in South Pasadena, we do the same work in Alhambra, San Marino and other cities around it, but each city has its own building office and rules, so we check Pasadena's for your house.
What moves the price is mostly what I find once I'm up there: how many inches you already have, whether old material is wet or full of droppings and has to come out, how many gaps need sealing, and whether the ductwork runs through the attic, which changes which material makes sense. The schedule turns on whether anything has to be removed or repaired before we insulate, and on whether your job needs a permit. After I've looked, the written estimate lays out the work so you know what you're paying for before anyone climbs into your attic.
I look before we talk materials
I come out myself to see the attic or crawl space before suggesting anything, because the right material depends on moisture, access and where the ducts run, not on what's easiest to sell.
City business license for permits
Pasadena requires every business working inside city limits to hold a city business license, and a contractor pulling a permit there has to show a current one when they arrive.
I walk the finished job with you
Our install crew does the work, and before we call it done I go through the finished attic or crawl space with you, so you see what you paid for.
Insulation work we do in Pasadena homes
Attic insulation
Most hot-upstairs calls start here. We measure how many inches are already up there, then bring the whole attic up evenly, filling the thin edges instead of piling it in the middle.
Blown-in insulation
We blow loose fill through a hose to top up an older attic without tearing anything out, as long as what's already up there is dry and clean enough to keep.
Home insulation
For a whole house that feels drafty or runs a high power bill, we look at the attic, walls and crawl space together and tell you which one to fix first.
Insulation removal
When old insulation was soaked by a roof leak or is full of droppings, we bag it out and clean up first, because new material laid over it just buries the problem.
Crawl space insulation
Cold floors over a raised foundation usually mean bare joists below, so we check the crawl space for moisture and then fit insulation between the joists, snug against the subfloor.
Wall insulation
Older Pasadena houses often have empty wall cavities. We can fill them through small holes and patch the holes after, which avoids opening up original plaster you'd rather keep.
Air sealing services
We close the gaps that let air in and out of the house, around pipes, wires, outlets and floor penetrations, because insulation can't stop a draft blowing straight past it.
Basement insulation
Where a house has a basement or a lower level dug into a slope, we insulate the walls and rim joist, the band of framing on top of the foundation.
Closed-cell foam insulation
Closed-cell foam is dense and blocks moisture as well as heat, so we suggest it for damp crawl spaces, rim joists and spots where a thin layer has to do a lot.
Open-cell foam insulation
Open-cell foam is softer and lighter and expands to fill the roofline, so it suits the underside of the roof over a finished attic room where moisture isn't a concern.
Commercial insulation
I learned this trade on offices, warehouses and metal buildings, so property managers can call us for small commercial spaces and rentals, and we'll plan the work around your tenants.
Crawl space vapor barrier
We lay a heavy plastic sheet over the dirt so ground moisture stays out of the floor framing and insulation above, which also keeps the space cleaner for repairs later.
Vapor barrier installation
Where damp air meets a cold surface, we put the vapor barrier on the correct side of the insulation, since on the wrong side it can trap moisture in the framing.
Attic air sealing
Before we add anything up top, we seal around can lights, plumbing vents, wire holes and the hatch, and we keep the eave vents clear so the attic can still breathe.
Retrofit insulation
Retrofit work brings an older house closer to today's comfort without a remodel. We start with the room that bothers you most, often an upstairs bedroom, and work out from there.
Get a written insulation estimate for your Pasadena home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come look at your attic or crawl space and give you a free written estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Free, on site and in writing
The estimate costs you nothing and is done at your house, because I can't price an attic I haven't seen, and having it in writing lets you compare bids fairly.
When you can come back in
If the job uses spray foam, you'll need to be out for a while, and I'll give you the re-entry time, when everyone including pets can come back in, before we book the day.
Fixes first, insulation second
If I find a roof leak or old wiring, I'll put that in the estimate first, because new insulation laid over a problem only hides it and wastes your money.
Pasadena insulation questions we hear
These are the questions Pasadena homeowners usually ask before they hire anyone to work in their attic or crawl space.
Do I need a permit for attic insulation in Pasadena?
It can need one, and the City of Pasadena decides that for each job. The city's Permit Center issues building permits for most construction projects, and when your job needs one, we handle the application and set up the inspection. We check with the city before anything starts, so the question is settled before the crew climbs into your attic.
Does an insulation contractor in Pasadena need a state license?
Yes, for most jobs. The California Contractors State License Board requires a license when a job needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or when labor and materials come to $1,000 or more. Pasadena's permit staff check the contractor's license with the board and require workers' compensation insurance. We're licensed and insured.
Is spray foam worth the extra cost over blown-in insulation?
Usually not, unless your ductwork runs through the attic. Foam costs more because it seals air while it insulates, which pays off when the ducts are up there. Otherwise, sealing the gaps and topping up blown-in fill usually gets you more for the money. I'll tell you which way I'd go once I've seen your attic.
Cities we serve for insulation work
These are the cities with their own page on our site. If your home is somewhere else near South Pasadena, call or send the form and ask, since we work in other nearby cities too.
Book a look at your Pasadena attic
We take calls until 11 PM, weekends included, so you can reach us at (626) 597-0202 after work or use the form.