Insulation Before & After in Torrance, CA
Photos get looked at before words get read. We know that. So instead of telling you how much difference proper attic insulation makes in a Torrance home, we’re showing you. The following projects represent the kind of work we do week in and week out, from Hollyglen to Southwood. Each one started with a homeowner who was uncomfortable or paying too much, and ended with a quieter, steadier house.
Recent Transformations
Blown-In Insulation Over Old, Settled Fiberglass in a 1960s Tract Home
Before
AfterThe problem: a 1964 home off Anza Avenue with original R-11 fiberglass batts that had compressed to maybe R-6 after six decades. Upstairs bedrooms hit 84 degrees by 3 p.m. in August, and the AC ran from noon to midnight. What we did: air-sealed the top plates and can light housings, then blew GreenFiber cellulose to R-38 depth across the entire attic floor. The result: a 14-degree drop in upstairs afternoon temps and a utility bill that fell by roughly a third in the first summer. The homeowner told us she stopped dreading July.
Spray Foam Insulation on a Vaulted Ceiling With No Attic Cavity
Before
AfterThe problem: a mid-century ranch in Seaside Ranchos with a vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling and zero attic access. The homeowner could feel heat radiating through the ceiling at 5 p.m. and heard every gust of wind off the ocean. What we did: applied Demilec open-cell spray foam directly to the underside of the roof deck between the rafters. The result: the ceiling now reads within three degrees of the interior walls, and the wind noise is gone. Spray foam makes sense here because it insulates and air-seals in one pass, something batts can’t do without a cavity.
Attic Insulation Replacement After a Rodent Infestation in a Craftsman
Before
AfterThe problem: a 1920s craftsman near Torrance High with rat droppings and urine throughout the old cellulose. The insulation had to go, both for health reasons and because the R-value had collapsed where the rodents had tunneled. What we did: removed every bag of contaminated material, sanitized the attic floor, air-sealed the plank gaps and plumbing chases, then blew Owens Corning fiberglass to R-38. The result: a clean attic you could actually walk through, lower heating bills in winter, and no smell migrating into the living space. We also pointed out the entry points along the roofline so the homeowner could place traps before the issue returned.
Blown-In Insulation in a Torrance Condo With a Shared Attic Wall
The problem: a top-floor condo unit near Wilson Park where the owner heard every footstep from the unit next door and could not keep the bedroom below 78 degrees. The attic had a thin layer of builder-grade batts, roughly R-13. What we did: air-sealed the firewall penetrations, then blew Knauf fiberglass to R-44. The result: sound transfer dropped noticeably within a week, and the bedroom now holds 72 degrees without the AC cycling constantly. Condos in Torrance have specific fire separation requirements, and we kept every material a full six inches clear of the shared wall.
Spray Foam Insulation on a Garage Ceiling Beneath a Bonus Room
The problem: a 1980s two-story in West Torrance where the bonus room above the garage was unusable for half the year. The garage ceiling was drywall on open framing, zero insulation, so the bonus room floor felt like standing on a sidewalk in August. What we did: applied Icynene closed-cell spray foam to the garage ceiling at a three-inch depth. The result: the bonus room floor warmed up to within five degrees of the rest of the house, and the garage stopped dumping hot air into the lower living area. Closed-cell also stiffens the assembly, which helped with a slight bounce in the floor.
Attic Insulation Top-Off in a Southwood Track Home
The problem: a 1998 track home in Southwood with R-19 batts that had settled to about R-11 along the eaves. The homeowner’s heating bill was $340 in January, and the furnace kicked on every 20 minutes. What we did: air-sealed the attic hatch and top plates, then blew Johns Manville fiberglass over the existing batts to reach R-44. The result: the furnace now cycles twice an hour instead of three times, and the January bill dropped to $240. We used fiberglass here because the existing batts were in decent shape and the homeowner wanted the most cost-effective fill.
Want Results Like These?
Every project above started with a phone call and a look at the attic. You’ll get a written price before any work begins, and the whole job is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, covering labor and materials. Call (424) 306-0725 to schedule a look. We answer live, 24/7.
Written by Garrett Sloane, Owner at Aspen Attic Insulation Torrance, serving Torrance since 2002.