Insulation contractor in San Rafael, CA - older attics sealed and topped up
D&R Santa Rosa Spray Foam Insulation insulates attics, walls and crawl spaces in San Rafael homes and commercial buildings, sealing air leaks first and clearing out spoiled material so the new layer can do its job.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Homes and business buildings across San Rafael
San Rafael is the business center of Marin, so our calls here come from two directions: homeowners with a hot upstairs, a drafty room over the garage or a power bill that keeps climbing, and property managers looking after commercial buildings. We drive down from Santa Rosa for this work, the same way we head to Novato and over to Sonoma.
Many of the houses we're called to here have had their attic topped up more than once and a crawl space nobody has looked into in years, so every job starts with seeing what's already there.
Our services in San Rafael, CA
- Attic insulation
Older San Rafael attics are often deep in the middle and thin at the edges, which is backward. We even out the coverage so the edges get their share.
- Insulation removal
Old insulation in San Rafael attics that's soaked or full of droppings has to go, because topping it up keeps the problem. We bag it out and start clean.
- Attic air sealing
Can lights, plumbing pipes and the attic hatch in older homes here leak air into the attic. We seal those gaps first so the insulation isn't fighting a draft.
- Crawl space insulation
Cold floors in a San Rafael house usually trace back to a bare crawl space. We insulate between the floor joists and seal the openings around pipes.
- Closed-cell foam insulation
Where ductwork runs through a San Rafael attic, closed-cell foam, a dense foam that blocks moisture, earns its higher cost. Elsewhere we usually seal gaps and top up loose fill.
- Commercial insulation
Property managers call us about San Rafael offices and shops with drafty rooms and high energy bills. I walk the building first and write up the work in order.
What older San Rafael houses need first
In older San Rafael houses, the order of the work matters as much as the material, because insulation laid over a leak or a hidden problem is a pain to undo. Before I quote, I check the attic and crawl space for water stains, droppings, buried eave vents and open gaps. We fix what I find first, and only then does anything new go in.
The price moves with the size of the space, how much old material has to come out, how hard it is to reach, and whether foam makes sense or sealing the gaps and blowing in loose fill through a hose will do. The schedule turns mostly on removal and on whether the city wants a permit, and the on-site estimate is where you get the plan and the figure for your own house.
Get a free on-site insulation estimate in San Rafael
Send the form or call (707) 508-4085, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your San Rafael home or building myself, look at what's in the attic or crawl space and walk you through the estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Insulation work up close
San Rafael insulation questions answered
Do I need a permit to insulate my attic in San Rafael?
It may need one, and the city's Building Safety Division is the office that issues building permits in San Rafael for work that alters or repairs a building. The city's older list of exempt work names finish jobs like painting, tiling and carpeting, not insulation, so we check with the division before we start. When your job needs a permit, we apply for it, set up the inspections and give you a copy of the paperwork for your records.
How do I apply for a building permit in San Rafael?
Since February 23, 2026, San Rafael takes new permit applications only through its OpenGov permitting system. Inspections are scheduled there too, even for older permits still finishing up in the city's previous system. On our jobs we file as your authorized agent and book the inspections, so you don't have to learn the portal.
How long is a San Rafael building permit good for?
A building permit the city issues now is good for two years, and minor permits, such as water heater and furnace permits, for 180 days. If the work hasn't passed its final inspection by then, the city charges a renewal fee. We book the final inspection as soon as our part of the work is done.
Which building code applies to an insulation job in San Rafael?
The code in effect on the day a complete permit application goes in applies to the whole project, even if a newer one starts partway through. For a job applied for now, that's the state building code that took effect January 1, 2026. The Building Division takes code questions at building@cityofsanrafael.org.
Does an insulation contractor need a San Rafael business license?
Yes, San Rafael requires a business license to do business within city limits, even for a company whose office is outside them. The city treats that license as a tax, not as proof the holder is qualified, so ask any contractor about insurance and how they'd handle your job. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to answer those questions on site.
How much does insulation cost in San Rafael?
Most of the difference between two San Rafael jobs comes from what's already in the space, mainly whether old insulation has to come out and how many gaps need sealing before anything new goes in. Foam costs more than loose fill, so the material you choose moves the price too. I give you your own figure after I've looked at the house.