Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for insulation contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For American Attic, the keys to keeping clients happy are simple: take an honest approach to their projects and provide them with high-quality work. “I take my relationships with my clients very seriously,” affirms owner Juan Santos. “I’ve built a reputation for treating them and their properties with respect, and that’s something worth protecting.”

American Attic provides various attic and crawl space cleaning services that are designed to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency for residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area. In addition to removing and replacing all types of insulation, the company is qualified to install radiant barriers and other supplementary products.

Unlike less experienced insulation contractors that tend to cut corners because they know their clients won’t go into their attics or crawl spaces to check their work, American Attic focuses on delivering excellent work that stands the test of time. “My goal is to help each client understand that they’re making a worthwhile investment in their property,” says Mr. Santos. “By talking to them about the issues they’re experiencing and performing a detailed energy assessment, I’m able to utilize the right methods and materials to give them the best possible results.”

To further differentiate itself from its competition, American Attic adheres to strict quality control practices in every aspect of its operations. “I take the time to do the job right and check all of my work before considering a project complete,” explains Mr. Santos. “At the end of the day, my goal is to make sure every customer is completely satisfied with my services.”

Insulating your attic and/or crawl space can help you save energy and keep your home more comfortable.

Most people rarely go into their attics or crawl spaces, but what you don’t know about those spaces could be costing you money and comfort. Modern homes are built for energy efficiency, so their attics and crawl spaces are insulated with modern materials. But older homes can have ineffective or insufficient insulation, and sometimes even no insulation at all.

Experts say it’s important to know what type of insulation is present in your home and consider whether it’s enough. “There are new codes that require attics and crawl spaces to be insulated,” explains Juan Santos, owner of American Attic in Oakland. “Beyond that, insulation helps seal in treated air and maintain your home’s energy efficiency. Without insulation, your home can lose a lot of warm or cool air through the floors.”

The benefits of insulated attics and crawl spaces
The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) estimates that 90 percent of single-family homes don’t have enough insulation, primarily in attics and crawl spaces. Some were never insulated while others have old insulation that has lost its effectiveness. If this is true for your home, consider adding or replacing insulation. Here’s why:

• Attic and crawl space temperatures fluctuate, which impacts the comfort within the home. Proper insulation helps seal these spaces and prevent the loss of treated air. Replacing old attic and crawl space insulation with new insulation can save homeowners up to $800 per year in energy costs.
• Drastic temperature swings can cause moisture collection, water vapor, heat buildup and more. These things can damage structural elements, crack roof shingles, cause mold and mildew, and create unhealthy air conditions within the home. Insulation and vapor barriers limit temperature changes and prevent this from happening.
• Homes with less insulation demand more of heating and cooling systems to stay comfortable. This causes wear and tear on HVAC systems, raising energy bills and requiring the systems to be serviced and replaced more often.

Q: What’s the best solution for my attic?
A: It depends on your attic space and your specific needs. For example, sometimes I recommend blown-in insulation for small or tight attics where I can’t reach all of the spaces.

Q: How will you clean my attic?
A: The first thing I’ll do is cover the entire work area with plastic sheets to protect the house. Next, I’ll remove the large debris by hand and use a high-powered vacuum to remove rodent droppings and dust.

Q: Can you stop birds from getting into my attic?
A: Yes, I just need to find all of the possible entry points and close them.

Q: Do you install vapor barriers?
A: Yes. I attach vapor barriers to foundation walls with concrete nails and then seal all the seams with a special waterproof tape. It hangs around the perimeter of the building and acts as a waterproof barrier.

Q: Do I really need insulation in my crawl space?
A: Yes. There are new codes that require attics and crawl spaces to be insulated. Beyond that, you want insulation to help seal in treated air and maintain your home’s energy efficiency. Without insulation, you can lose a lot of warm or cool air through the floor. The type of insulation you need depends on whether your crawl space is ventilated or unventilated.

Q: What if my home doesn’t have enough air flowing through the vents?
A: I can add more air vents or check for blockages in your existing vents or ducting system.