Attic insulation in Burnsville MN - an attic sealed first and covered edge to edge
A drafty, hot upstairs or a high power bill often traces back to the attic. We seal the gaps first, then insulate it evenly.
Why is my upstairs drafty or hot, and is the attic to blame?
Attic insulation in Burnsville means sealing the gaps in your attic floor and then blowing new insulation over it, so the heat you pay for stays in the rooms below instead of slipping into the attic.
Most calls start with a drafty bedroom, a hot upstairs in July, a heating bill that keeps climbing or ice along the eaves, and the attic is often where it starts. The price mostly comes down to how much your attic needs, like how many inches are already up there, how many gaps need sealing and whether old fill has to come out first through insulation removal. The schedule turns on the same things, plus anything I find that has to be fixed before we start, such as a roof leak, and I look at all of it in person before I give you a price.
How we do attic insulation, in the right order
I start with what's already up there, because new material laid over old fill full of droppings just buries the problem, and if the old fill looks like vermiculite, we stop and talk it over with you before anyone touches it. Next we seal the attic floor, closing the gaps around can lights, pipes and the hatch, because insulation laid over open gaps has warm air blowing right through it. Then baffles go in at the eaves, which are guards that keep the vents open so air keeps moving and insulation can't spill into them. Last, we spread the new insulation evenly all the way out to the outside walls, since thin coverage at the edges is where a lot of attics come up short.
In most attics the fill we use is blown-in insulation, loose fill blown through a hose, because it settles around the framing and into corners better than rolls do. Spray foam costs more because it seals air and insulates in one pass, and it's worth it when your ductwork runs through the attic, but otherwise sealing the gaps and topping up with loose fill is the better buy. When the attic is only part of the story, like a cold room over the garage or drafty walls downstairs, we look at the whole house through our home insulation work.
What affects attic insulation in Burnsville homes
Burnsville says a residential permit has to be obtained before every project, but its list names roofing, siding, windows and remodels, not attic insulation, so the city's page doesn't settle whether your attic job needs one. We check with the city before work starts, take care of the permit if one is called for, and set up the inspection and meet the inspector if there is one. The city issues these permits to a licensed contractor or to a homeowner who owns the house, lives in it and is doing the work, and either one can apply online with the City of Burnsville.
Story-and-a-half houses are the ones I watch closest for ice dams, because the upstairs ceiling sits so close to the roof that there often isn't room for enough insulation. Sealing and insulating what we can reach still helps a lot, but on those homes it may not mean a roof free of ice dams, and I'd rather tell you that up front. We see the same kinds of houses on jobs in Apple Valley and Eagan, and we handle them the same way.
How attic insulation works with us
Call or send a message
Call (952) 234-9016 or fill out the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out and see the attic.
I look over your attic
I go up with a flashlight, measure the inches already there and check for vermiculite, roof leaks or anything else that has to be handled before insulation goes in. You get a price for your attic that spells out what we'll seal and what we'll add, so you can compare it line for line with other quotes.
We install, then walk it together
Our install crew does the work the way we planned it at the estimate, sealing first and insulating second. Before we leave, I walk the finished attic with you so you can see the coverage reaches the edges, not just the middle.
Get a price on sealing and insulating your attic
We reply within 1 business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at your attic in person and leave you a free on-site estimate, with no pressure to book.
Questions before you book attic insulation
How much does attic insulation cost in Burnsville?
Attic insulation and air sealing together in Minnesota usually costs about $1,000 to $4,500 per job. Where yours lands depends on how much your attic needs, and energy advisors in Minnesota say most quotes they review fall near the middle of that range. That's the usual price around here, not ours, and I give you your own figure once I've seen the attic.
What causes ice dams, and will attic insulation stop them?
Ice dams point to a problem inside the house, not just on the roof, so the attic is the place to look. Thorough sealing and insulating between your rooms and the attic helps prevent ice dams and the roof damage they cause, and it brings the energy bill down too. On a story-and-a-half house it may not stop them completely, for the reason covered above.
How much insulation does an attic need in Minnesota?
Minnesota's energy code lists R-49 for ceilings in the state's climate zones, R-value being a measure of how well insulation slows heat. Added insulation should meet or beat what current code calls for, so ask every contractor what rating your finished attic will reach and compare it with that number.
How do I tell if my attic has vermiculite, and what should I do about it?
Vermiculite is a pebble-like, pour-in insulation, usually gray-brown or silver-gold, and you can check for it by looking without touching. The EPA recommends leaving it undisturbed, because disturbing it could release asbestos fibers into the air. If you decide to remove it, the EPA says a trained, accredited asbestos abatement contractor should do that work, separate from whoever looked at it and spotted it.
What should a good attic insulation quote include?
A good quote covers air sealing and insulation together, with the sealing done first, because that's how you get the most out of the job. It should also say what rating the finished attic will reach. A federal guide for installers calls for an insulation certificate posted by the attic entrance when the work is done, so it's fair to ask for one.
Does an insulation contractor need a license in Minnesota?
A Minnesota contractor needs a state license if they work in more than one special skill, and the state counts insulation and vapor barriers as one of those skills. A specialty contractor offering only one skill doesn't need a state license unless they do residential roofing. Ask any contractor you're comparing which one applies to them.
Why Burnsville homeowners call Thermal Burnsville Insulation Company for attic insulation
The owner prices every attic
I look at every attic myself and put the estimate together, then our install crew does the work the way we planned it. You're never getting a price from someone who hasn't been up there.
Started in Burnsville in 2021
I learned insulation working beside my dad in attics and crawl spaces, and I started this business in Burnsville in 2021. Most of our calls are drafty rooms, high heating bills and ice dams, so that's the work we know best.
Licensed and fully insured, every job
We're licensed and fully insured, which covers your house while our crew is up in the attic. It's worth asking every contractor you're comparing the same question.
On an attic, the order is what counts, with old fill checked, gaps sealed and insulation spread evenly out to the walls. When you're ready, call (952) 234-9016 or request an estimate.
Other insulation work around your home
Blown-in insulation
If your attic already has some fill and only needs topping up to an even depth, loose fill is usually the most practical way to get there.
Home insulation
When cold floors or drafty walls downstairs are part of the problem, we look past the attic at the rest of the house.
Get your attic sealed and insulated right
When you call (952) 234-9016 or use the form, tell us your home's style, whether you've had ice dams and if there's pebble-like fill up there, so I come out ready for your attic.
