Spray foam insulation
Spray foam makes sense when ductwork runs through the attic or a space is too tight for loose fill, because it seals and insulates at once. It costs more, so we'll tell you when it's worth it.
Insulation contractor in Larkspur, CA - attics sealed before anything goes in
Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services insulates, air seals and clears out old insulation in Larkspur homes, from the attic over hot bedrooms to the crawl space under cold floors and the room over the garage.
In Larkspur, Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services handles attics, crawl spaces, walls and air sealing for houses of every age. Most of our calls come from owners of older homes with a drafty upstairs, high power bills or insulation they don't trust, and the fix usually starts with cleanup and sealing, not a fresh layer on top.
Insulation work in Larkspur's older and newer homes
Larkspur has a little of everything we insulate. Older houses come with plaster walls, mixed layers of old fill and wiring running across the attic floor. In newer homes, the batts have often slumped or never reached the edges. Rooms over the garage run hot in summer and cold in winter, and crawl spaces range from roomy to a tight squeeze.
Greenbrae is part of the work here too. Jobs in Larkspur look a lot like the ones we do next door in Corte Madera and nearby in Kentfield, and the order is the same everywhere. We clean up what's wrong and seal the gaps, then add insulation, so the new layer actually does its job.
- Based in
- San Rafael, CA 94901
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Insulation services for Larkspur homes
Attic insulation
When the upstairs runs hot or the power bill keeps climbing, the attic is usually the first place we look. We measure the inches already up there, seal the gaps, then add what's missing.
Blown-in insulation
Blown-in insulation is loose fill sent through a hose. It's how we top up most attics here, because it settles into corners and around framing that batts leave open.
Home insulation
For a whole-house look, I walk the attic, walls and crawl space at the estimate and tell you which one is costing you the most, so you can fix that first.
Insulation removal
If old insulation got soaked by a roof leak or is full of droppings, we vacuum it out before anything new goes in, because covering it just buries the problem.
Crawl space insulation
Cold floors over a crawl space usually mean insulation that's missing or sagging under the subfloor. We put it back tight to the floor and seal around the pipes coming through.
Wall insulation
Older walls with little or nothing inside can often be filled without opening up the rooms. I check what's already in a wall before we plan any work on it.
Air sealing services
Air sealing closes the gaps before we insulate. It matters most around can lights, pipes, wiring holes and the attic hatch, where a draft pushes straight through new insulation.
Basement insulation
In basements and below-grade rooms, we look for where water gets in before choosing what goes on the walls, so the insulation doesn't end up holding moisture.
Closed-cell foam insulation
Closed-cell foam is a dense foam that blocks moisture. It earns its cost on surfaces that stay damp or where there's little room, like rim joists and some crawl space walls.
Open-cell foam insulation
Open-cell foam is lighter and fills odd-shaped cavities well. It suits rooflines and walls where moisture isn't the issue and the main job is stopping air.
Commercial insulation
For shops and offices in Larkspur, we insulate and seal ceilings and walls and plan the work around when you're open, so the space can keep running.
Crawl space vapor barrier
A vapor barrier over the crawl space floor keeps ground moisture away from the framing and the insulation above it. That's why we often pair it with crawl space insulation.
Vapor barrier installation
In walls, ceilings and under floors, a vapor barrier has to go on the right side of the insulation. Put it on the wrong side and it traps moisture instead of stopping it.
Attic air sealing
Before we add anything to an attic, we seal the tops of the walls, every pipe and wire hole and the hatch. We also keep the eave vents clear so the attic can still breathe.
Retrofit insulation
Retrofit means insulating a house people already live in, and that's most of what we do. We work around stored boxes, older wiring and the finished rooms below.
Get a free in-person estimate for your Larkspur home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit to your Larkspur house. I come out myself and look at the attic and crawl space before I put anything on paper. The estimate is free and comes with no obligation.
(628) 234-2144Permits, licenses and pricing for Larkspur jobs
Permits here come from the City of Larkspur's Building Department, which covers work that alters, repairs or improves a building. If your job needs a permit, it has to be issued before we start. Once it's issued, work has to begin within 180 days or the permit can expire, so we pull it when the job is on the calendar and set up the inspection ourselves.
Before you hire anyone, check two things. The California Contractors State License Board licenses whoever does work that needs a building permit or uses extra workers, and anyone whose contracts on the project total $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The city also expects every contractor working here to hold a current Larkspur business license.
The price here depends on how big the attic or crawl space is, how hard it is to reach, whether old insulation has to come out and how much sealing the house needs. Those same things set the schedule, along with any permit. We run Larkspur jobs the same way we do in Mill Valley, and your own number comes after I've seen the space.
Why we fix the attic before adding to it
I learned the trade on new houses, where the walls are open and nothing gets in the way. In 2023 I started this business to work on lived-in homes, where the attic holds old insulation, somebody's boxes and a surprise or two. Those jobs taught me that the order matters. Leaks, wet spots and droppings get dealt with first, or the new insulation won't do much.
I come out myself to look at the job and write the estimate, and I'm on site running the install with our crew. We make sure coverage reaches the edges of the attic instead of piling up in the middle, and we keep the eave vents open. If your attic isn't ready, or a job won't help, I'll tell you so.
We're licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. As an insulation contractor based in San Rafael, CA, we're a short drive from Larkspur and Greenbrae. Call (628) 234-2144 or use the estimate form to set up a visit.
What Larkspur's houses and rules mean for insulation
Some of what shapes an insulation job here comes from the houses themselves and some from the city's rules. These four come up when we plan work in Larkspur.
Older houses downtown
Downtown Larkspur, with its Queen Anne Victorians and false-front stores, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In houses that old, we expect thin or mixed insulation, open gaps at the tops of walls and older wiring we have to work around. I look at all of it before pricing anything, because what's already in there decides what can go in next.
Earthquake hardware stays put
The city's own findings put Larkspur buildings in the stricter earthquake design categories and say the area carries more seismic risk than most of the country. In crawl spaces and attics, that shows up as bracing, straps and hold-down hardware. We insulate around it instead of cutting, moving or burying it, so the parts that tie the house together stay intact.
Fire hazard zones
Larkspur has mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the areas the city is responsible for, following the state fire agency's recommendation. If your house sits in one, we look up your address on that map and ask the city what, if anything, it changes for your job. We do that before we choose materials or plan any work near the attic vents.
Gear stays off the street
The city requires an encroachment permit for any work in the public right of way, and staging or storing equipment and materials there isn't allowed. So at the estimate, we work out where the insulation truck parks, where the bags and hose runs go and how we reach the attic without setting up in the street.
Insulation questions from Larkspur homeowners
How much does attic insulation cost in Larkspur?
I can't give you a fair number until I've seen the attic, because the price depends on what's up there now. Removing wet or dirty old insulation, sealing a lot of gaps or choosing foam over loose fill all raise it. Sealing and topping up with blown-in usually costs less and does the job, unless your ductwork runs through the attic.
Do I need a permit to insulate my house in Larkspur?
Ask the city's Building Department, because it decides which jobs need a permit, and you can read through its permit process online. Don't assume insulation work is exempt. I'll find out what your job needs before we start, so you're not left guessing.
Who handles permits for a Greenbrae address?
Depending on the exact address, permits in Greenbrae go through either the City of Larkspur or the County of Marin. The city's permit FAQ covers this split. Give us your address and we'll confirm which office covers your house before we plan the job.
Does my insulation contractor need a Larkspur business license?
Yes. The city expects every building contractor and subcontractor working in Larkspur, including incorporated Greenbrae, to hold a current city business license. A permit application can go in without one, but the permit won't issue until the license is current, so a lapsed license can hold up your start date.
How long will an insulation crew be in my attic?
It depends mostly on the prep, not on the insulation itself. Pulling out old material, sealing gaps around lights and pipes and clearing stored boxes all add time, while a straight top-up of loose fill goes quickly. I'll tell you how long we expect to be there when I write the estimate.
Do we have to leave the house while you insulate?
For loose fill and air sealing, you can usually stay home, as long as kids and pets stay out of the work area and away from the hatch. Spray foam is different. The foam maker sets a re-entry time for when you can come back inside, and we follow it. You'll know that time before the job is booked.
Have your Larkspur attic looked at first
Call (628) 234-2144 or send the form. Finding out your attic needs cleanup or sealing first costs you nothing, and it keeps you from paying for a layer that won't help.