Insulation Before & After in West Covina, CA
Anyone can say they do clean work. Pictures show it. The attics we work in across West Covina tell a story before we touch them: thin, settled fiberglass, dust-caked rafters, rooms that never hold temperature. When we finish, the difference should be obvious to any homeowner standing on the top rung of the ladder. Here’s what that transformation actually looks like, job by job.
Recent Transformations
Attic Re-Insulation After 30 Years of Settling
Before
AfterThe original fiberglass batts in this 1989 West Covina tract home had compressed to about R-11, well below what Southern California summers demand. We removed every batt, air-sealed the top plates, and blew in fresh GreenFiber cellulose to R-38. The upstairs bedrooms stopped swinging ten degrees between afternoon and midnight. Neil Barron walked the attic after the crew finished and took photos before anyone hosed out the space.
Spray Foam for a Vaulted Ceiling with No Attic Access
Before
AfterSome West Covina homes built in the 1970s and 80s have vaulted ceilings with almost no attic cavity, which means heat pours straight through the roof deck. The family’s living room hit 88 degrees by 4 p.m. in August. Our crew applied Icynene open-cell spray foam directly to the underside of the roof sheathing, turning that sloped ceiling into an air barrier. The result was a twelve-degree drop in the living room during the hottest part of the day, and the air conditioner finally cycled off before sunset.
Pet-Dander Attic Cleanout and Re-Insulation
Before
AfterThe previous owners kept two large dogs, and the attic had become a collection point for dander and dust that made the new family’s allergies worse every time the HVAC kicked on. We removed the old insulation with a HEPA-filtered vacuum, then blew in Owens Corning AttiCat fiberglass at R-30. We chose a product line with no formaldehyde and low dust output, and we laid drop cloths from the front door to the attic hatch so nothing tracked through the hallway. The family’s dog stayed home during the job and the homeowners told us the bedrooms smelled neutral for the first time.
Garage Ceiling Insulation for a Home Gym
A homeowner in the South Hills area of West Covina converted his garage into a workout space, but by July it was unusable past 9 a.m. We installed Knauf faced batts between the garage ceiling joists, then added a layer of Thermo-Shield reflective insulation under the rafters. The garage now stays within eight degrees of the house, and his treadmill sessions no longer double as sauna treatments. We left the written price on the workbench and the clean-up photo on his phone before the door came down.
Under-Floor Insulation for a Pier-and-Beam Home
Older West Covina neighborhoods near the civic center still have pier-and-beam foundations with exposed floor joists. Cold air moved freely under the house and the floors felt like standing on tile in January. Our crew installed Rockwool Comfortbatt between the joists and secured it with twine, then sealed the rim joists to stop drafts. The homeowners told us their barefoot mornings stopped being a negotiation with the thermostat. Neil Barron checked the crawl space after the crew finished, which is exactly the kind of place where the Done Right Promise matters.
Attic Air Sealing Before New Blown-In Insulation
This home off Amar Road had decent insulation levels but the attic leaked air through every can light, plumbing chase, and top plate. We foamed and caulked every penetration before adding a fresh layer of CertainTeed blown-in fiberglass to bring the attic to R-44. The dust in the upstairs bedrooms dropped noticeably within the first week, and the homeowner’s monthly cooling bill fell by almost a third that summer. No name posted, no address shown, just honest before-and-after photos from a real West Covina attic.
Want Results Like These?
Every one of these projects started with a phone call to (831) 480-4947. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, and a live person on the line whenever you call. Your attic, your comfort, your call. We’ll bring the drop cloths, the shoe covers, and the clean-up photo.
Written by Neil Barron, Owner at Thistledown Insulation West Covina, serving West Covina since 2003.