Attic air sealing in Bozeman, MT - the leaks closed before anything gets covered
Cold rooms upstairs, drafts near the ceiling and a power bill that keeps climbing? We find where the air gets out and close it.
Does sealing the attic actually stop the drafts?
Attic air sealing in Bozeman means closing the gaps where air from your rooms slips up into the attic, and paired with attic insulation it can help keep dangerous ice dams from forming on your roof in winter.
Most calls start with a cold room, a draft you can feel near the ceiling or an attic nobody has looked in for years. The insulation usually isn't the whole problem, because air moving through gaps in the attic floor carries heat right past it, so we seal those gaps before anyone adds attic insulation.
The price turns on how many big gaps your attic has, how easy it is to get around up there and whether something like wet insulation or old wiring has to be dealt with first. Those same fixes set the schedule, since a roof leak or a wiring repair comes before we seal, and your written estimate lays out the work and the order we'd do it in. Montana requires construction contractors to be licensed with the state Department of Labor & Industry, and we're fully licensed and insured.
- Gaps around the hatch, pipes, wiring holes and can lights get closed so insulation isn't fighting a draft.
- Eave vents stay clear, because sealing the attic floor shouldn't stop the attic itself from breathing.
- We work around the boxes you've stored up there and clean up the hatch area and rooms below.
What happens after you call us about attic air sealing?
I look at every attic myself before we price it, because what's up there decides the order of the work. Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send the form
Call (406) 414-0411 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time. If you know about a gas furnace, a roof leak or odd-looking insulation, tell us then.
I come out and look
I go up into the attic myself and check the insulation, the framing, the vents and anything burning fuel in the house below. I note whatever has to be fixed before sealing, because sealing over a problem just hides it.
You get a written estimate
It says what we'd seal, what has to be fixed first and the order we'd do it in, with your price on it. That's where your own number comes from, so you're not guessing at the cost.
We seal and walk through
A small crew led by our lead installer does the sealing, and I'm on most jobs too. When it's done we walk through it with you, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
What attic air sealing looks like up close
These photos show the kinds of gaps that leak in most attics and how they look once they're sealed. They're examples of the trade, not pictures of any one house.
White spray foam fills the roof framing around exposed wooden beams and bundled black cables.
Loose-fill insulation blankets an attic floor beneath exposed wooden roof trusses.
White spray foam covers the roof sheathing between exposed wooden trusses in an attic.
A worker in protective gear guides a large hose through loose attic insulation during removal.
A crawl space has a white vapor barrier across the floor, insulated walls, black ductwork, and exposed plumbing.
Foam insulation fills the wall cavities between exposed wooden studs in an unfinished room.
Get a written plan for sealing your attic
Call or send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site look at your attic, with no obligation. Mention any gas or oil appliances, wet or dirty insulation and plans to insulate.
(406) 414-0411Questions Bozeman homeowners ask about attic air sealing
These are the questions I hear most when someone calls about sealing an attic. If yours isn't here, call and ask, since most answers shift a little once I've seen the attic.
How much does attic air sealing cost in Bozeman?
The cost comes down to your attic, mainly how many big gaps it has, how much room there is to work and whether anything has to be fixed before we seal. A cramped attic or a repair like a roof leak raises it, and an open attic with a handful of big gaps keeps it lower. Your written estimate after my visit gives you the actual number.
Should I air seal or insulate my attic first?
Seal first, then insulate. The federal guidance is to finish the air sealing before the insulation job, because once insulation covers the attic floor the gaps underneath are buried. If you're planning both, book them in that order, and we can handle the sealing as the first part of the same job.
Is attic air sealing safe if I have a gas or oil furnace or water heater?
Usually, but sealing can sometimes cause a naturally venting gas or oil appliance to send combustion gases back into the house, which isn't safe. The guidance suggests having a Home Performance Contractor test the venting before and after the sealing. Tell me what burns fuel in your house when you call, so it's part of the plan from the start.
Who do I contact about permits for attic work in Bozeman?
You'd contact the city's Building Division, which handles building permits, plans and inspections and can be reached at (406) 582-2375 ext. 1. We check with the building office on each of our jobs and handle the permit when one's needed, so most of our customers never have to make that call.
What is the best way to handle vermiculite insulation in my attic?
Assume it may contain asbestos and leave it alone, which is what the EPA advises, then learn the steps it lists for protecting your family. Most vermiculite insulation in the US came from a mine near Libby, Montana, that was contaminated with asbestos. We won't seal or insulate over it, and if I find it on a visit, you'll hear about it before anything else happens.
How do I get my attic ready for air sealing?
Get any problem fixed that sealing would cover up: wet insulation from a leaky roof, moldy or rotted rafters or joists, fans that blow moist air into the attic and an attic with little or no venting. Knob and tube wiring belongs on that list too, because it can be a fire hazard when insulation touches it, so plan that repair ahead of the sealing. I'll point out anything like this when I look, and it goes at the top of your estimate.
Attic air sealing in Bozeman and nearby cities
Bozeman's Building Division handles permits and posts a list of work that can skip one, so we check with the office on every job and handle the permit when it's needed. We do the same work in Belgrade, Four Corners and Livingston, where most calls are about attics nobody has opened in years.