Spray foam insulation
Spray foam fits where loose fill can't stay put, like sloped ceilings or an attic that holds ductwork. It costs more, so we suggest it only when sealing and insulating at once really matters.
Insulation contractor in Fairfax, CA - attics sealed before new insulation goes in
Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services is an insulation contractor based in San Rafael that works in Fairfax, CA, sealing and fixing attics, crawl spaces and walls in lived-in homes before adding insulation where it will help.
Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services handles attic, crawl space and wall insulation in Fairfax, along with air sealing, old insulation removal and vapor barriers. We're an insulation contractor in San Rafael, CA, a short drive away, and most Fairfax calls we get are about cold rooms, a high power bill or old insulation nobody trusts.
Insulation work in Fairfax's lived-in homes
Most of the houses we're called to here have people living in them, so the attic has old insulation, somebody's boxes and a few surprises. A drafty bedroom, a hot upstairs in summer or a cold room over the garage usually comes down to two things, gaps nobody sealed and insulation that's settled thin or got wet. Fixing those first is what makes new insulation pay off.
Down in the crawl space, cold floors upstairs often come from bare framing over damp ground, so the fix can be insulation, a vapor barrier or both. We do the same work next door in San Anselmo and Kentfield, so the older homes in this part of Marin are familiar to us.
- Based in
- San Rafael, CA 94901
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Insulation services for Fairfax homes and shops
Attic insulation
A hot upstairs or a high power bill usually starts in the attic. We seal the gaps first, then bring the insulation up to an even depth, edges included.
Blown-in insulation
Blown-in insulation, loose fill blown through a hose, is the usual way to top up a Fairfax attic that's settled thin over the years, without tearing anything open.
Home insulation
When several rooms feel drafty, we look at the whole house, attic, walls and crawl space, and tell you which part is worth doing first and which can wait.
Insulation removal
If the old insulation got soaked or is full of droppings, it has to come out, because fresh material on top just buries the problem.
Crawl space insulation
Cold floors in winter usually mean bare framing over the crawl space. Insulating between the floor joists keeps that chill out of the rooms above.
Wall insulation
Walls in older houses are often empty. We can usually fill closed walls without a full tear-out, and the siding and what we find inside decide how.
Air sealing services
Air sealing means closing the gaps around pipes, wires, can lights and the hatch before insulating, so the new layer isn't fighting a draft all winter.
Basement insulation
A basement room that stays damp and chilly needs insulation that can handle moisture, so we look at the walls and where the water comes from before anything goes up.
Closed-cell foam insulation
Closed-cell foam, a dense foam that blocks moisture, earns its cost on damp crawl space walls and other spots where fiberglass would soak up water.
Open-cell foam insulation
Open-cell foam is softer and lighter, and it suits rooflines and inside walls where air leaks are more of a problem than moisture.
Commercial insulation
Shops and small offices in Fairfax have the same leaks and thin insulation as houses, just more of it. We can plan the work around your business hours.
Crawl space vapor barrier
Bare dirt under the house lets ground moisture rise into the framing. A vapor barrier laid over it keeps the crawl space drier and the insulation working.
Vapor barrier installation
In walls and ceilings, a vapor barrier on the right side slows moisture moving through. On the wrong side it can trap water, so we check before we install.
Attic air sealing
Before anything gets added up top, we seal the attic floor around the hatch, can lights and pipes, and keep the eave vents clear so the attic can breathe.
Retrofit insulation
Retrofit insulation means adding to a house that's already finished and lived in, which is most of what we do. We work around your rooms and your things.
Get a free at-home insulation estimate in Fairfax
Send us a few lines about your Fairfax house and what's bothering you, and we'll reply within one business day. I come out myself, look at the attic or crawl space before I put anything on paper, and write up the estimate. It's free, and there's no obligation.
(628) 234-2144Working in Fairfax: permits, licenses and what sets the price
In the Town of Fairfax, building permits come from the Building Official through the Building Division. If your job needs one, we pull it and set up the inspection, and that can add days because Fairfax holds inspections Monday through Thursday, after the work is done. Before we apply, we also check with the Planning Division that the work is allowed.
Before you hire anyone, check two things. The Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who alters a house in California once a job needs a permit, uses hired labor or reaches $1,000 in labor and materials, and the contractor has to hold that license before bidding. Fairfax also asks for a local business license, covered in the questions below. We're licensed and insured.
What moves the price is the size of the space, what has to come out first and which material fits. The schedule turns on the same things plus the permit, and you'll get your own figure once I've seen the space. Fairfax is one stop for us. We cover Marin from Petaluma down to Strawberry, and over to Richmond and Berkeley.
Why we fix the attic before adding insulation
I spent my first years insulating new houses, where the walls are open and nobody lives there yet, and that taught me how insulation is supposed to go in. Lived-in homes taught me the rest. Wet or dirty old insulation, unsealed gaps and buried eave vents have to be dealt with first, or the new layer doesn't do much.
So I'll tell you when your attic isn't ready, because I'd rather do that than sell you a job that won't help. When it is ready, our crew does the install and I'm on site running it. We started in 2023, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Call (628) 234-2144 or use our form and tell us which rooms bother you.
What Fairfax adds to an insulation job
A few things about Fairfax and its houses change how we plan the work here. Some are local rules worth asking about before we start, and some are what we keep finding up in the attic.
Stricter local energy rules
Fairfax's building code includes Reach Codes, local rules that ask for a higher level of energy efficiency, with a FlexPath option for meeting it. Whether they touch your project depends on what you're doing. If a permit is involved, I'll ask the Building Division how they apply before we order material, because it's better to know that before the attic is open than after.
Houses beside open space
Fairfax sits next to large natural open space, and it designates fire hazard severity zones on the state fire agency's recommendation. Its fire code also sets clearance requirements around buildings. We don't guess at how those rules bear on an insulation job. If you're not sure whether your house is in one of those zones, I'll check with the Building Division before we start.
Old insulation that has to go
In older houses we often find insulation that got soaked by a roof leak or is full of rodent droppings. Blowing fresh material over it keeps the smell, the damp and the problem. We pull it out and clean up, and we make sure the leak or the way in has been dealt with before anything new goes in, because that's the order that works.
Foam or loose fill
Spray foam costs more, and it seals air as it insulates. In most attics, sealing the gaps and topping up with blown-in loose fill does the job for less. The exception is an attic that holds your ductwork, where foam along the roofline keeps those ducts inside the warm part of the house. I'll tell you which one your attic calls for, and why.
Fairfax insulation questions we hear often
Does an insulation job in Fairfax need a building permit?
It depends on the type of work, and Fairfax's Building Division will tell you at (415) 453-1584. Permits cover work that builds, enlarges, alters, removes, demolishes or repairs a structure. I'll find out what your job needs before we start, so nothing gets held up halfway.
Does an out-of-town contractor need a Fairfax business license?
Yes, in most cases. Fairfax requires a business license, which is a local tax, from most businesses that work within its limits, even when their office is somewhere else, and that includes contract work. It's fair to ask any contractor you're considering, from San Rafael or anywhere else, whether they have one.
How do I find out if my Fairfax home is in a flood hazard area?
Ask the Building Official, who can tell you whether your property sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Fairfax runs the federal flood insurance program within its limits and posts its flood information online. It's worth knowing before crawl space work, because it shapes how we plan for moisture under the house.
How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Fairfax?
The cost comes down to what's up there now. I measure how many inches you already have, check whether any of it is wet or dirty and has to come out, and count the gaps to seal. Removal and foam push the price up, and a sealed attic topped up with blown-in usually costs the least.
How long will the insulation crew be in my attic?
A top-up over a sealed attic is usually the quickest job we do. It takes longer when old insulation has to come out first or there's a lot of sealing to do. If a permit is involved, the inspection adds a little time at the end, and I'll lay out the plan for your house at the estimate.
Do we have to leave the house during insulation, and when can kids and pets come back?
With blown-in loose fill, most families stay home, and we just ask that kids and pets stay out of the work area. Spray foam is different. You'll need to be out, and the foam maker's instructions set the re-entry time, which is when it's safe to come back. Before we arrive, clear the boxes near the attic hatch.
Call us about your drafty Fairfax rooms
We take calls from 8 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, so you can call (628) 234-2144 after work or on a weekend, or use the form whenever it suits you.