Attic Insulation & Air Sealing in Holland, MI

Attic Insulation & Air Sealing is usually the first job we recommend in a Holland house, because it tends to pay back fastest. Warm air rises and pushes out through every gap in the ceiling: around plumbing stacks, wiring holes, bath fans, recessed lights, chimney chases and the attic hatch. Insulation alone does not stop that air. It has to be sealed first, then covered to the right depth.

Ice dams and frosty nails

When warm air reaches the underside of the roof, it melts snow from below. The water runs down to the cold eaves, refreezes, and builds an ice dam that can push water back under the shingles. In January you may also see frost on roofing nails or dark stains on the decking. Both are signs of air leaking into the attic, and both get better once the attic floor is sealed and insulated to depth.

How much is enough

Ottawa County is in Climate Zone 5A. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends R-60 for an attic with no insulation in that zone, or adding R-49 on top of 3 to 4 inches that are already there. Many older Holland houses have far less, sometimes a thin layer of settled loose fill or old batts that were cut around obstacles. We measure what you have and write the target depth on the estimate.

Blown-in or foam

For an open attic floor with good access, the usual plan is to seal the bypasses with foam and caulk, add baffles at the eaves so the roof can still breathe, and then blow in cellulose or fiberglass to depth. It is usually the cheapest way to reach a high R-value. Spray foam on the underside of the roof makes more sense when the attic holds ductwork or a furnace, when it is being turned into living space, or when there is no room to reach the eaves.

Story-and-a-half houses

Many older Holland homes have a half story upstairs with sloped ceilings and kneewalls. Those houses are hard to insulate because the attic is split into small pockets behind the kneewalls and above a short flat ceiling. We seal and insulate each pocket, and sometimes foam the sloped section from above or behind, depending on what we can reach.

Rebates and paperwork

If Consumers Energy is your provider, its current chart lists attic rebates for at least 500 square feet of attic, from $125 to $200 for combined gas and electric customers depending on the final R-value. Holland BPW's rebate page lists heating, cooling and appliance rebates but no insulation rebate. We write the area and final R-value on your paperwork either way.

Call (616) 801-4092 or book a visit and we will look at your attic, measure it and tell you what it needs. Get a free estimate