Retrofit insulation in Bozeman MT - warmer rooms without tearing out walls
Drafty rooms and a high power bill in an older house? We seal the gaps first, then add the insulation it's missing.
How do I add insulation to a house that's already built?
Retrofit insulation in Bozeman, MT adds insulation to the attic or walls of a house that's already built and doesn't have enough. Paired with air sealing, which closes the gaps warm air slips through, it can keep the house warmer and save on the power bill.
Most calls we get start with one cold room, a drafty house or an attic nobody's looked at in years. In an older house, what's up there is often thin, settled or soaked, and attics rarely get better with age, so the first job is finding out what you've got. We're based in Bozeman and work in the cities around it, including Belgrade, Four Corners and Livingston.
The price moves with how much attic and wall we're covering, how much old insulation has to come out, which material fits and what needs fixing before anything gets covered. The schedule turns on those same things, so the written estimate after my visit lays out the work and the order we'd do it in.
- We cover attics, closed walls, the room over the garage and crawl spaces, wherever the cold gets in.
- Old insulation that's soaked or full of droppings comes out before anything new goes down.
- We work around your furniture and stored stuff, and we clean up after ourselves as we go.
What happens when you call us about retrofit insulation in Bozeman?
The steps below run the same whether it's one cold room or the whole house. I look at the job myself, and nothing gets covered until what's under it is fixed.
Call or send the form
Call (406) 414-0411 or send the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. Have the year your house was built handy, because lead safety rules can apply to wall work in homes built before 1980, depending on how much of the wall gets disturbed.
I come out and look
I check the attic, walls, crawl space or basement myself, noting how many inches are already up there and what shape it's in. Anything that has to be fixed first, like a leaking roof, a bath fan venting into the attic or live knob and tube wiring, goes on the list before any insulation does.
You get a written estimate
It says what we'd do and in what order, with the fixes and sealing listed ahead of the insulation, and what it'll cost. That way you know the price before anyone climbs a ladder.
We work, then walk through it
A small crew led by our lead installer does the job, and I'm on most jobs too. When we're done, we walk through it with you so you can see what went where.
What retrofit insulation work looks like up close
These photos show the kind of work retrofit insulation involves, from sealing gaps to filling walls. They show the trade in general, not a particular house of ours.
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.
A sloped attic is coated in thick white spray foam around a central support post and small window.
Get a written plan for your attic and walls
Send the form or call (406) 414-0411 and we'll reply within one business day. The visit is free, with no obligation, and I'll write up what we'd do and why. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
(406) 414-0411Questions about retrofit insulation in Bozeman
These are the questions Bozeman homeowners ask most before we climb into their attic. If yours isn't here, call and ask, since attics tend to raise new ones.
How much does retrofit insulation cost in Bozeman?
There's no flat price, because the cost comes down to how much attic and wall we're covering, how much old material has to come out and which material fits the job. Foam costs more than sealing and loose fill, and repairs found on the visit add to it. The written estimate after my visit gives you the figure.
Why should air sealing be done before adding insulation?
Air sealing comes first because insulation slows heat but doesn't stop air, so warm air keeps leaking through the gaps underneath until they're closed. When you compare quotes, check that each one includes air sealing, since insulation alone does little for comfort or the power bill. A properly sealed and insulated attic can also help prevent ice dams on a Bozeman roof.
How do I insulate walls without tearing them open?
Closed walls are usually insulated by dense-packing cellulose or fiberglass through small holes cut from the outside or the inside. Packing it tight fills the whole cavity and keeps the insulation from settling, so the wall stays evenly insulated. Ask any installer which side they plan to work from.
What should I do if my Bozeman attic has vermiculite insulation?
Leave it alone, because the EPA advises treating vermiculite as if it contains asbestos and having a trained professional remove it if it has to go. It may be in thousands of Montana homes, so I look for it on the visit. Sealing and insulating wait until it's been dealt with.
Who licenses insulation contractors in Montana?
The Montana Department of Labor & Industry does, and every construction contractor in the state has to be licensed with it. We're fully licensed and insured, and it's fair to ask any contractor you're comparing about theirs.
How long does retrofit insulation take, and do we have to leave the house?
The schedule depends on how much space we're covering and what my visit turns up, because the sealing and fixes take as much care as the insulation. Whether you need to step out, and when the kids and pets can come back in, turns on the material, and I'll tell you that before we start.
Retrofit insulation in Bozeman and the cities around it
Bozeman's Building Division, (406) 582-2375 ext. 1, inspects anything a remodel will cover, so we check with them on each job and handle the permit if one's needed. We see the same thin old attics in Belgrade, Four Corners and Livingston.