Insulation Before & After in San Francisco, CA
Talk is cheap in the insulation trade. Anyone can say they’ll seal an attic properly. Seeing the difference, bay by bay, is what actually tells you whether a crew cares about the work. Here’s what we’ve walked into around San Francisco recently, what we did about it, and what it looked like when we left. Every job below got the same deal: a written price before we started and the 365-Day Done Right Promise behind it.
Recent Transformations
Attic Insulation: 1930s Sunset District Flat With Barely-There Batts
Before
AfterThe problem: a 1930s flat off Noriega where the attic had maybe R-11 of ancient fiberglass, matted down and black with dust from decades of fog-driven moisture. The homeowner said the top floor never felt warm, even with the heat running. We air-sealed the bypasses, then blew fresh Knauf fiberglass to R-38 across the whole attic floor. The result: a consistent temperature upstairs, and the furnace stopped cycling every twenty minutes.
Spray Foam Insulation: Uninsulated Rim Joists in a Marina District Home
Before
AfterThe problem: a Marina home where cold air poured through the rim joists every time the wind came off the bay. The floor along the back wall read 52 degrees on our infrared gun in January. We sealed the rim with Icynene spray foam, getting into every cavity the builder missed. The result: floors you can walk on in socks, and a heating bill that finally made sense for the square footage.
Attic Insulation: Rockwool Replacement After a Roof Leak in Noe Valley
Before
AfterThe problem: a roof leak had soaked a chunk of old insulation in a Noe Valley attic, and the homeowner was worried about mold and smell. We pulled out the ruined material, dried the area, and laid fresh Rockwool batts, which shrug off moisture in a way fiberglass doesn’t. The result: a clean, dry attic with insulation that keeps working even if San Francisco fog finds a way back in.
Spray Foam Insulation: Unconditioned Garage Ceiling in the Richmond District
The problem: a Richmond District garage with a bedroom above it, and nothing but drywall between the car and the bed. The bedroom floor was the coldest surface in the house. We sprayed Demilec closed-cell foam across the garage ceiling, turning the whole garage into a thermal break. The result: a bedroom that holds heat, plus a garage that no longer chills the whole first floor.
Attic Insulation: Pet-Safe CertainTeed Upgrade in Bernal Heights
The problem: a Bernal Heights family with two dogs and a baby on the way, living with attic insulation that was thin, uneven, and full of gaps the previous owner had “fixed” with scraps. They wanted better performance without harsh chemistry in the house. We installed CertainTeed fiberglass, chosen because the family could stay home during the job, dogs included. The result: a properly insulated attic at R-38, and zero stress about what got installed above the nursery.
Attic Insulation: Full Attic Overhaul in a Potrero Hill Victorian
The problem: a Potrero Hill Victorian with an attic that had been insulated in at least three different eras, none of it well. There were gaps around the chimney chase, open wall cavities, and fiberglass so compressed it was doing almost nothing. We removed everything, air-sealed the entire attic floor, and blew Owens Corning fiberglass to a uniform R-38. The result: the upstairs stopped leaking heat into the attic, and the house got noticeably quieter too.
Want Results Like These?
Every project above started with a call and a conversation, not a hard sell. We’ll walk your attic, tell you what we see, and hand you a written price before any work starts. From the front door to the attic hatch, we lay drop cloths and wear shoe covers, and we leave you a photo of the clean-up. Call (341) 247-0222 and talk to a real person any hour of the day or night.
Written by Neil Barron, Owner at Thistledown Insulation San Francisco, serving San Francisco since 2003.