Blown-in insulation in Burnsville MN - an even layer that keeps heat in
Cold rooms upstairs and a high power bill usually point to a thin attic. We seal the leaks, then blow in an even layer.
Do I need more blown-in insulation in my attic?
Blown-in insulation is loose cellulose, made from recycled newspaper, or fiberglass that we blow through a hose into your attic. At Thermal Burnsville Insulation Company, it's how we top up most attics in Burnsville, because it fills in around the framing and leaves one even layer that slows the heat leaving your house.
Most calls start with a hot upstairs in July, cold floors in January or a power bill that keeps climbing. When I go up with a flashlight, I usually find a few inches of old insulation with a lot of open gaps under it, which is why attic air sealing is part of the job. The price moves with the size of the attic, how much is already up there, how many leaks need sealing and whether any wet spots have to come out first. The schedule mostly turns on what I find on that first look, since a roof leak or old wiring has to be dealt with before anything goes in. You get your own number in the estimate I leave you after I've been up there.
How we do a blown-in insulation job
I start by checking the attic for anything that has to be handled first, like a roof leak, old knob and tube wiring that's still live or vermiculite, because insulation over any of those just hides the problem. Most attics we see already have some insulation, so we usually blow new fill right over it and pull out only the spots that are wet. Before the new layer goes on, our crew does the air sealing, closing the gaps around can lights, pipes, wires and the attic hatch, since loose fill does little against air moving through it. Then we set plastic baffles at the eaves so the vents stay open and the attic can breathe, and we blow cellulose or fiberglass to full depth all the way out to the edges, where thin coverage usually shows up first.
If the old layer is soaked from a leak or full of droppings, it can't stay, and our insulation removal work clears it before anything new goes in. When the attic is only part of why the house feels drafty, I'll look at the rest of it with you and talk through home insulation for the other trouble spots.
What blown-in insulation runs into in Burnsville
The City of Burnsville says permits have to be in place before a project starts, and it issues them only to a licensed contractor or to an owner who lives in the house and does the work. We check with the city before our crew starts and take care of the permit when the job calls for one, and if an inspection is part of it, we set it up and meet the inspector.
Many Minnesota attics already have some insulation and most can use more, and that's what we find across Burnsville, usually a few inches that have sat there for years. Story-and-a-half houses are the hard ones, because the ceiling sits so close to the roof that there often isn't room for full depth, so we put extra care into sealing every gap we can reach. In older homes I also look for vermiculite on the first visit, since finding it changes the whole plan. We're based in Burnsville and work in many of the cities around it, and we see the same kinds of attics on jobs in Bloomington and Apple Valley.
How a blown-in job goes
Call or send a message
Call (952) 234-9016 or use the contact form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. Tell us a little about the house and how you get into the attic.
I check your attic first
I go up, see how many inches are already there and look for wet spots, leaks, old wiring and anything else that has to be handled first. The estimate I leave you shows what we'd seal, what comes out, how much we'd add and the price, so you're not guessing about cost.
Our crew seals, then blows
Our install crew does the work the way we planned it, sealing the leaks and setting baffles before the new layer goes on. They work from the plan in your estimate, so you know what's happening above your ceiling.
We walk the finished attic
Before we leave, I walk the finished job with you and show you the depth in the middle and out at the eaves. If anything doesn't look right to you, that's the time to say so.
Get a price on blown-in insulation for your attic
Send the form and 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.
What people ask about blown-in insulation
How much does blown-in insulation cost near Burnsville?
Blown-in insulation in the Minneapolis area usually costs about $2 to $8.50 per square foot of attic. Where your attic lands in that range depends mostly on how much work it needs, like how many leaks have to be sealed and whether any wet spots come out first. I give you your own price after I've looked at the attic.
Do I have to remove my old insulation before adding blown-in?
Usually not, because blown-in insulation can go right on top of what's already there unless it's wet from a roof leak or moisture coming up from below. If the roof is still leaking, I'll tell you to get that fixed before we add anything, since new insulation over a wet spot just hides it.
How do I know how much blown-in insulation my attic needs?
Most attics should end up with roughly 12 to 20 inches of insulation, depending on the material, which gives a good barrier to heat loss. Going deeper won't hurt, but each extra inch pays back less, so I check what's up there now and we weigh the added depth against the cost.
What is the best way to insulate an attic, blown-in or spray foam?
For most attics, sealing the gaps and topping up with blown-in fill is the better buy. Spray foam insulation costs more and seals air while it insulates, so I lean toward it mainly when your ductwork runs through the attic.
What if my attic has vermiculite insulation?
Leave it alone if it's intact, because the Minnesota Department of Health warns that disturbing vermiculite may release asbestos fibers, and for removal it strongly recommends a Minnesota-licensed asbestos contractor. If any is spilling through cracks into your living space, seal those cracks right away. I'll point it out on the first visit so the plan can change before any insulation goes in.
Will blown-in insulation stop ice dams on my Burnsville house?
It usually helps a lot, but insulation and air sealing together may still not guarantee a house free of ice dams, especially a story-and-a-half. Warm air leaking into the attic is a big part of the problem, so we put as much work into sealing as into the new layer.
Why Burnsville homeowners call Thermal Burnsville Insulation Company for blown-in insulation
The owner sees every attic
I come out to every job before there's a price, and after our install crew finishes, I check the attic with you. The person who planned the work is the one looking it over, and we back it with satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
A Burnsville business since 2021
I learned insulation working next to my dad in attics and crawl spaces, and I started this business in Burnsville in 2021. We're best known for sealing and insulating attics in the right order, which is most of what makes a blown-in job work.
Licensed and fully insured
Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry requires a license for residential contractors who offer a homeowner more than one kind of skilled work. We're licensed and fully insured, so you're not taking on the risk of someone working in your house without it.
On an attic, the order matters more than the depth, and I'd rather find a leak than cover it up. When you're ready, send us a message or call (952) 234-9016 and I'll come take a look.
Other work that goes with an attic top-up
Home insulation
When cold floors and drafts follow you through the whole house, this looks past the attic and puts every problem area in one plan.
Insulation removal
For an old layer that's past saving, we clear it out so the new fill starts on a clean, dry attic floor.
Book an attic check for blown-in insulation
Call (952) 234-9016 with your home style, how you reach the attic and any roof leaks or vermiculite you already know about, and I can plan the first visit around your attic.
