Insulation Before & After in Pasadena, CA
Photos don’t lie. A compressed, rodent-compromised attic in Bungalow Heaven looks nothing like the same space after proper air sealing and blown-in fiberglass. We’ve documented every job we’ve completed since 2016 - over 9,000 homes - because homeowners deserve to see what they’re actually paying for before anyone lifts a tool.
Recent Transformations
Attic Insulation Removal & Replacement: Mold-Damaged Batts in Linda Vista
The homeowner called after a roof leak went undetected for two seasons. The existing fiberglass batts were compressed, discolored, and harboring mold along the north slope where Pasadena’s winter rains had found a path through aging flashing. We removed the contaminated material, treated the deck, sealed all top plates and can-light penetrations, then blew in new Owens Corning ProPink to R-49. Blower-door test read 3,800 CFM50 before sealing and 1,900 after. Written scope, written price, documented photo record - Haven Standard Clause 1.
Crawl Space Encapsulation & Vapor Barrier: Moisture Issues in Madison Heights
This 1924 crawl space had bare dirt, standing water after every rain, and fiberglass batts drooping between joists like wet newspapers. Pasadena’s clay-heavy soil holds moisture against foundations for weeks. We installed a 20-mil reinforced vapor barrier sealed at all seams, closed-cell spray foam on the rim joists, and a dedicated dehumidifier drain line. The before-and-after blower-door numbers dropped from 4,100 to 2,400 CFM50. No more musty air pulling into the living space.
Spray Foam Insulation: Open-Cell in a Mid-Century Addition in Chapman Woods
A poorly insulated 1960s second-story addition was running 12 degrees hotter than the main floor every July afternoon. The knee walls and vaulted ceiling had 2-inch fiberglass scraps and no air barrier. We stripped it to studs, applied Icynene open-cell spray foam to 5.5 inches in the rafter bays, and sealed the floor joist transitions. The result: the upstairs now tracks within 2 degrees of the downstairs thermostat setting. The homeowner got before-and-after photos, blower-door readings, and a written 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Radiant Barrier Installation: West-Facing Roof in Hastings Ranch
Hastings Ranch gets hammered by afternoon sun. This home’s attic was hitting 148 degrees in August, forcing the AC to run 14 hours daily. The existing R-30 batts were doing nothing against radiant heat gain. We air-sealed the envelope first - always - then laid Owens Corning AtticCat blown-in over the top plates, and installed a perforated radiant barrier across the rafter bottoms. Attic temperature peaked at 102 the following August. The AC runtime dropped by about a third. Documented with photos and temperature logs.
Attic Air Sealing & Blown-In Over Old Batts: Bungalow Heaven
A 1912 California bungalow had original knob-and-tube wiring still active in the attic, with homeowners stuffing grocery bags into gaps around chimney chases. We don’t blow insulation over unsealed floors - that’s not the Haven Standard. We sealed every top plate joint, the chimney chase, plumbing and electrical penetrations, and the bath fan exhaust path with fire-rated foam and metal flashing where required. Then we blew Knauf Jet Stream Ultra over the existing batts to achieve R-49. Blower-door: 5,200 CFM50 down to 2,800. The grocery bags are in the photo record if you want proof of what we found.
Insulation Removal & Rodent Proofing: South Lake Avenue Area
Rodents had tunneled through 15 years of blown-in cellulose, compressing it to R-11 in places and leaving contamination across 70 percent of the attic floor. We removed all material, sanitized the deck, sealed every entry point with ¼-inch hardware cloth and copper mesh, and air-sealed interior penetrations. Then we blew in GreenFiber all-borate cellulose to R-49. The homeowner received the full photo record showing entry points found, materials removed, and finished condition. No callbacks in two years.
What Every Job Includes
- Written price before any work starts - flat price, written scope, written warranty. Haven Standard Clause 1.
- Air sealing before insulation - we seal first, then insulate. Always.
- Before-and-after blower-door test - pressurization reading showing exactly how much conditioned air your home was losing, in one number.
- Documented Photo Record - included on every job, not available on request.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise - if it’s not done right, we make it right.
- Materials from major brands - Owens Corning, Johns Manville, Knauf, Rockwool, CertainTeed, Icynene, Demilec, GreenFiber. No proprietary lock-in.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Want Results Like These?
We’ve sealed and insulated over 9,000 homes since 2016, every one with a written price before work started and a documented record when the crew left. Call (213) 816-5351 to schedule a free estimate or bring us any competing written estimate for a free second opinion. A live person answers, 24/7.
Written by Wes Okafor, Owner at Topside Attic Insulation Pasadena, serving Pasadena since 2016.