Spray foam insulation
Spray foam seals air while it insulates, and it costs more. We suggest it for Strawberry homes where the ductwork runs through the attic or the framing is too tight for loose fill.
Insulation contractor in Strawberry, CA - attics sealed before new insulation goes in
Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services insulates attics, walls and crawl spaces in Strawberry, CA. We seal the gaps, clear out old or damaged insulation when it has to go, and add new insulation where the house loses heat.
Comfort San Rafael Insulation Services insulates attics, walls, crawl spaces and the room over the garage in Strawberry. Most of the work here is in homes people already live in, so we deal with what's up there before we add anything new.
Insulating lived-in homes on Strawberry Point
We're an insulation contractor based in San Rafael, and Strawberry sits at the south end of where we work, out on the point that runs into Richardson Bay between Mill Valley and Tiburon. The calls from here sound like the rest of Marin. People tell us about a drafty bedroom, cold floors, a hot upstairs or a power bill that keeps climbing.
A lot of the homes we see here are older, and their attics show it, with boxes stacked by the hatch, a few tired inches of insulation and a can light or two letting air through. I'd rather tell you your attic isn't ready than sell you a top-up that won't help, so the first visit is about finding out what's really up there.
- Based in
- San Rafael, CA 94901
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Insulation work we do in Strawberry
Attic insulation
When the upstairs runs hot or the bedrooms stay cold, the attic is usually where to start. We seal the gaps first, keep the eave vents open and carry the insulation evenly to the edges.
Blown-in insulation
Blown-in insulation is loose fill blown in through a hose, and it's often the simplest way to top up a thin attic. We check the depth already there and bring the low spots up to match.
Home insulation
If you can't tell where the house is losing heat, we look at the attic, walls and floors together. Then I tell you which part is worth fixing first and which can wait.
Insulation removal
Insulation that's been soaked, flattened or taken over by rodents comes out before anything new goes in. We bag it, haul it away and clean the space so the new layer starts fresh.
Crawl space insulation
Cold floors usually trace back to the crawl space. We check for water and damage underneath first, then insulate the floor above so the rooms stop pulling cold up from below.
Wall insulation
Older walls often have little or nothing inside them. We fill the cavities through small holes and patch them after, so you get warmer rooms without tearing the walls open.
Air sealing services
Air sealing means closing the gaps before the insulation goes in. We seal around pipes, wires, can lights and the hatch, because insulation can't do much with a draft moving through it.
Basement insulation
When a lower level is used as a bedroom or an office, it should stay as warm as the rest of the house. We insulate the walls and the rim where the framing meets the foundation.
Closed-cell foam insulation
Closed-cell foam is dense foam that also blocks moisture. It suits spots where damp is a worry, like a crawl space wall or rim joist, and it costs more than open-cell foam.
Open-cell foam insulation
Open-cell foam is lighter and softer, and it fills odd gaps and rooflines well where moisture isn't a concern. It also helps quiet a room that picks up street or neighbor noise.
Commercial insulation
For offices, shops and rental buildings, we walk the space with you first and plan the work around the hours your tenants or staff keep, so the place stays usable.
Crawl space vapor barrier
A crawl space vapor barrier is a heavy plastic sheet over the soil that keeps ground moisture out of the house. We fix wet spots first, then seal the seams and edges.
Vapor barrier installation
Some walls, floors and attics need a vapor barrier and some are better off without one. We tell you where your house needs it and where adding one would trap moisture instead.
Attic air sealing
Before we add anything to an attic, we seal the holes around can lights, plumbing, wires and the hatch. It's the step that most often gets skipped, and it's the one that stops drafts.
Retrofit insulation
Retrofit insulation goes into a house that's already finished and lived in. We work around your furniture, stored boxes and schedule, and pick a method that doesn't mean opening the walls.
Get a free in-person insulation estimate in Strawberry
We reply to every request from Strawberry within one business day. I set a time to come out myself, look at your attic or crawl space, and then write up the estimate. It's free and there's no obligation to go ahead.
(628) 234-2144Working in Strawberry: county permits, licenses and price
Strawberry doesn't have its own city building department. It's unincorporated Marin County, so permit questions for homes here go to the Marin County Community Development Agency. When a job needs a permit, the permit and its inspection become part of the schedule, not just our crew's time. Before you hire anyone for insulation work, check that they hold a license from the California Contractors State License Board.
When your job needs a permit, we pull it through the county and set up the inspection, and if you're not sure whether it does, I'll find out before we start. The price comes down to the size of the space and how hard it is to reach, whether old insulation has to come out, how much sealing it needs, and whether you choose foam or loose fill. We do the same work up the road in Corte Madera and Larkspur.
Why we fix the attic before we fill it
I spent my first years in the trade insulating new houses, where the walls are open and nobody lives there yet. I started this business in 2023 to do the work in lived-in homes, and the biggest lesson is order. Leaks, damp spots and bad old material get dealt with first, or the new insulation doesn't do much. If your attic isn't ready, I'll tell you.
I come out myself to look at the job and write the estimate, and I'm on site running it when our crew does the install, so the person who saw your attic is the one in it on install day. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Call (628) 234-2144 or use the estimate form on this page to set up a visit.
What we run into on Strawberry jobs
These are the things that shape an insulation job in a Strawberry home, from who's living there to what we usually find when we lift the attic hatch or open the crawl space.
Many homes are rented
Most occupied homes in Strawberry are rented, so a job here often involves two people, the owner who approves the work and the tenant who lives with it. We set the visit and the install with both of you, and we let the household know ahead of time what day we're coming and whether anyone will need to step out.
Old insulation you don't trust
Plenty of attics we open still have their old insulation, flattened, patchy or stained. I check how many inches are up there and whether it's dry and clean. If it's been soaked or is full of droppings, it comes out before anything new goes in, because fresh material laid on top keeps the problem in your house.
The room over the garage
The room over the garage is often the hardest one to keep comfortable, because its floor sits over an unheated space and its walls and ceiling tend to leak air. We look at all of it before suggesting anything, since adding insulation in one spot won't help much if air is still getting through another.
Crawl spaces near the bay
Before we insulate a crawl space or lay a vapor barrier, we check for standing water, wet soil and damage under the floor, because insulation under a wet floor won't do its job for long. On a point that runs into the bay, it's also worth knowing your flood zone. The FAQ below shows where to look it up.
Insulation questions from Strawberry homeowners
How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Strawberry, CA?
I give you a price only after I've been in your attic, because what's already up there sets most of it. The biggest choice is foam or loose fill. Foam costs more and seals air while it insulates, but sealing the gaps and topping up with blown-in usually wins unless your ductwork runs through the attic.
How long does attic insulation take, and do we have to leave the house?
How long we're in the attic depends mostly on whether old material has to come out and how much sealing it needs. With loose fill you can usually stay home. Spray foam comes with a re-entry time, the wait before people and pets go back inside, set by the foam's maker, and we tell you that before the day so you can plan.
What do I need to do before insulation contractors come to my house?
Clear a path to the attic hatch and move anything stored right around it. Our crew carries material and hoses through that opening, so a clear hallway saves time and keeps your things out of the way. Keep pets in a closed room while we work, and if you rent, let your landlord know the date.
When does an insulation contractor need a license in California?
A state contractor's license is needed when the job requires a building permit, uses other workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The contractor should hold it before giving you a bid, and a bigger job can't be split into smaller pieces to stay under that amount. We're licensed and insured.
How big a down payment can a contractor ask for in California?
A contractor can't ask for or take more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price up front, whichever is less. That's the state licensing board's rule for home improvement work. Any other payments have to be listed clearly in the contract and match work done or materials delivered, so read that part before you sign.
How do I check if my house in Strawberry is in a flood zone?
Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, the official home of federal flood maps. You search one address at a time. It's a good thing to know before you put money into crawl space insulation or a vapor barrier.
Call or message us about your attic
We answer seven days a week from 8 AM to 9 PM, so call (628) 234-2144 or use the estimate form whenever it suits you.