Few insulation contractors earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality. Even fewer can also claim more than 40 years of industry experience, but that’s exactly the case for Alcal Specialty Contracting, Inc. “The fact that we’ve been around since 1970 tells our customers that we’re doing things right,” says Home Services Division Manager Greg Sutliff. “We do business in a way that enables us to build our brand and make sure every client is completely satisfied with the products, services, and value we provide.”

Alcal Specialty Contracting offers services and products that are designed to increase indoor comfort and reduce the year-round costs associated with heating and cooling, including insulation installation and removal, garage door replacement, and attic air-sealing. The family-owned and operated company is also qualified to perform roofing and waterproofing work, install fireplaces and decorative mantels, and more.

Unlike less experienced insulation contractors that lack the personnel or equipment to perform certain services and are forced to keep their prices relatively high as a result, Alcal Specialty Contracting utilizes its large size to take on a sizeable volume of work while maintaining a pricing structure that’s designed to provide superior value. “Simply put, other companies don’t do as much work as we do,” says Mr. Sutliff. “For example, we’re one of the largest purchasers of insulation materials from Owens Corning, which is one of the world’s leading insulation manufacturers, so we’re able to deliver first-rate products at excellent prices.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Alcal Specialty Contracting is its dedication to providing clear communication throughout every step of its clients’ projects, from promptly returning their phone calls to arriving on time for appointments. “This type of communication shows our customers that we genuinely care about them and their time,” says Mr. Sutliff. “They trust us to deliver the services and value that they deserve, and that’s exactly what we do.”

If you’re thinking about installing new insulation in your home, make sure you’re familiar with California’s new insulation guidelines. Most homeowners don’t think about their insulation very often, even though its absence can leave their homes less comfortable and significantly increase their energy costs. Even if your home had the right amount of insulation when it was built, chances are good that it’s now outdated. According to Greg Sutliff, Home Services division manager at Alcal Specialty Contracting, Inc., this is because the code requirements for insulation have changed three times in the last 10 years. “As recently as 2003, insulation needed to be rated at least R13 on the thermal resistance scale, but as of July 2014, it must be R38,” he explains. “The higher an insulation’s R-value, the more effective it is and the thicker it gets, which can impact installation and retrofitting. The changes to the code mean minimum insulation thickness has increased from 3 or 4 inches to about 16 inches.”

Those are only minimum code compliance requirements, though, so if you want extra windows or other energy-spending features, you may be required to install even thicker insulation to make up for energy lost elsewhere in your home. “These new standards apply to new homes and remodels as well,” says Mr. Sutliff. “All retrofitted and remodeled homes in California have to comply to the same standards as new construction.”

There are other reasons to opt for higher R-values and thicker insulation in your home, like reducing your carbon footprint and lowering your energy costs. “As energy gets more expensive, having better insulation will reduce your costs even further,” says Mr. Sutliff. “You’ll also have less noise pollution from outside and a more even indoor temperature year-round.”

While these new guidelines can seem confusing for some homeowners, Mr. Sutliff says they ultimately represent positive changes for the outlook of California’s consumer energy consumption. “Energy efficiency in homes and commercial buildings is very important in this energy-intensive new world, and better home insulation will help make increased energy efficiency a reality.”

Q: How soon can you start my project?

A: We can usually schedule the first visit within one to five days of your initial call, depending on our schedule and your availability. Once we do the initial evaluation and estimate, we’ll schedule your job to start one to five days later.

Q: How long will it take to install my new insulation?

A: For attic insulation, it can take anywhere from four to eight hours depending on the size of your house. Sometimes it can be as quick as one or two hours. Either way, we’ll give you a time estimate when we do our initial site visit.

Q: What types of insulation products do you sell?

A: We primarily sell fiberglass insulation made by Owens Corning, including rolled batt insulation and loose fill blow-in insulation. This type of insulation is a Green-Rated 60 percent post-consumer recycled product, which means it doesn’t contain formaldehyde or borates, which can be endocrine disrupters in some environments. Our sales team has in-depth knowledge of all the products we sell, and they can provide you with the information you need.

Q: How much money will I save by installing new insulation in my attic?

A: That depends on what’s already in your attic. Your energy savings will be greater if you upgrade from low levels of insulation to a high-rated insulation, but if your home already has good insulation and your energy bills are still high, that can indicate another problem area where energy is being lost. We’ll come to your home and do a complete assessment to give you an idea of how much money you’ll save by installing new insulation.

Q: Is the insulation installation process messy?

A: It can be a little messy, but we clean up as we go along, and we always leave our customers’ homes cleaner than they were when we arrived.