Insulation Before & After in Austin, TX
Photos don’t lie. You can feel the difference when attic insulation is done right, but seeing the transformation makes it real. We document our work in Austin homes because a bare attic floor next to a properly insulated one tells the story faster than any spec sheet. Below are real scenarios we handle every week across neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Circle C, Mueller, and Allandale.
Recent Transformations
Attic Insulation: Blown-In Fiberglass Over Old Batts in Crestview
The problem: a 1954 ranch with original fiberglass batts compressed to about R-11. The upstairs ran 9 degrees hotter than downstairs every July afternoon. We air-sealed the top plates, baffled the soffit vents, and blew Owens Corning fiberglass to R-38. The upstairs temperature gap closed to 2 degrees within a week, and the AC stopped running past 9 p.m.
Spray Foam Insulation: Open-Cell Rafters in Mueller
The problem: a 2019 build with a vented attic that trapped 130-degree air above the bedrooms. The owners wanted the attic brought into the building envelope. We sprayed 5.5 inches of Icynene open-cell foam directly to the roof deck. Result: attic temps now track within 8 degrees of the living space, and the upstairs stopped cycling through a full tank of AC runtime by mid-afternoon.
Insulation Removal: Contaminated Blown-In Cellulose in Barton Hills
The problem: squirrels had nested in a Barton Hills attic, leaving droppings throughout 14 inches of old GreenFiber cellulose. We vacuumed every inch, sanitized the decking, and blew in fresh Johns Manville fiberglass to R-38. The homeowner told us the stale odor that had lingered for two years was gone the first day.
Attic Insulation: R-19 to R-49 Upgrade in Circle C
The problem: a 2008 two-story with builder-grade R-19 batts. The second floor was comfortable only when the AC ran nonstop. We topped the existing batts with enough blown-in Rockwool to reach R-49 and fixed the attic hatch seal. The homeowner measured a 31% drop in August energy use year over year. That’s the kind of number we like to see.
Spray Foam Insulation: Knee Wall and Band Joist Sealing in Rosedale
The problem: a 1920s craftsman with an upstairs bedroom over an unconditioned porch. Winter mornings meant 55 degrees at the floor. We applied Demilec closed-cell foam to the knee walls, band joists, and the porch ceiling cavity. The bedroom now holds 68 degrees on a 35-degree Austin morning. R-value, by the way, is the number that measures how well insulation slows heat from moving through your ceiling. That cavity went from R-5 to R-21.
Insulation Removal: Wet Fiberglass After a Roof Leak in Allandale
The problem: a hail-damaged roof let water soak the attic insulation over a weekend. By Monday, the fiberglass had compacted and was pressing against the drywall. We pulled all of it, dried the decking, and treated the affected framing before reinstalling CertainTeed batts to R-30. The homeowner got a written report for their insurance claim, and the attic was dry within 48 hours.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started with a phone call to (361) 321-0817. We’ll give you a written price before anything starts, and every install carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not right, we make it right, and a second visit is free. Book in a tap, get a live arrival time, and see your own before-and-after photos from the job.
Written by Chase Whitaker, Owner of Laurel Attic Insulation Austin. Laurel stays green all year, so should your home’s comfort. That’s the idea behind the name.