Experienced Insulation Contractor in Cedar Rapids IA - Warmer Rooms, Fewer Drafts
J&R Cedar Rapids Insulation Services insulates attics and seals drafty houses in Cedar Rapids and the cities around it, like Marion and Hiawatha. We also pull out old, damaged insulation in older homes and insulate crawl spaces under cold floors.
Insulation contractor services in Cedar Rapids, IA
J&R Cedar Rapids Insulation Services is an insulation contractor in Cedar Rapids, IA, and our 16 services come down to warmer rooms, fewer drafts and warmer floors. The price usually turns on how much area there is, what's already up there, whether old material has to come out first and whether foam makes sense or loose fill will do. The schedule turns on how easy the attic or crawl space is to get into and how much needs fixing before anything gets covered up. I come out, look it over with you and write an estimate for your house.
Spray foam goes on as a liquid and swells to fill the space, so it insulates and seals air in one pass. It costs more than loose fill, so we use it where it earns its keep, like an attic with ductwork running through it.
View serviceA hot upstairs or a cold bedroom usually traces back to the attic. We check how many inches are already up there, seal the gaps and bring the coverage up evenly, edges included.
View serviceBlown-in insulation is loose fill blown through a hose, and it's the usual way to top up an attic floor without tearing anything out. It settles into corners and around wiring better than rolls do.
View serviceNot sure where your house is losing heat? We go through the attic, walls, basement and crawl space with you and put the fixes in an order that fits your budget.
View serviceIf the old insulation got soaked or is full of droppings, new material on top just buries the problem. We pull it out and clean up so the new layer starts on a clean, dry surface.
View serviceCold floors over a crawl space are one of the calls we get most. We check for water and air leaks down there first, then insulate the walls or the floor above, whichever suits your house.
View servicePlenty of older houses have walls with little or nothing in them. We blow insulation into the wall cavities through small holes that get patched afterward, so you don't have to open the walls up.
View serviceAir sealing means closing the gaps around pipes, wires, can lights and the attic hatch before insulation goes in. It's often the best value in a drafty house, because insulation can't stop air that's moving through a hole.
View serviceWant to finish the basement or just stop the chill coming up the stairs? We insulate the walls and the rim joist, the band of framing on top of the foundation, after checking for water.
View serviceClosed-cell foam is dense foam that blocks moisture as well as air, which makes it a good fit for rim joists, basement walls and crawl spaces that run damp. It's the pricier foam, so we save it for spots where moisture is the real worry.
View serviceOpen-cell foam is a softer, lighter foam that fills odd-shaped spaces and seals air well for less than closed-cell. We use it in walls and rooflines that stay dry.
View serviceWe also insulate and air seal shops, offices and other commercial buildings. I walk the building and write the estimate the same way I do for a house.
View serviceA crawl space vapor barrier is a heavy plastic sheet laid over the dirt floor so ground moisture stays out of your framing and insulation. We overlap and seal the seams and run it up the walls.
View serviceWe put in vapor barriers in basements, walls and other spots that run damp. Getting the barrier on the right side matters, because one in the wrong place can trap water in the wall.
View serviceBefore we add anything to an attic, we seal the holes in its floor around lights, pipes, chimneys and the hatch. Otherwise warm air keeps slipping past the new insulation and can leave moisture in the framing.
View serviceRetrofit insulation is insulation added to a house that's already built, which is most of what we do in older homes. We work around what's there, so you don't have to gut a room to make it warmer.
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Working in Cedar Rapids and the cities around it
Cedar Rapids is where I started this business in 2021, after learning insulation on other crews, and it's still home. It's a city where you can walk the mansion and grounds at Brucemore, a 26-acre estate that calls itself Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site, work out the clues in an exhibit at The History Center, or spend the afternoon at the pool and ball fields in Jones Park. You can read more about how I got started.
Linn County notes that the unincorporated parts of the county have a history of flooding, because they sit in the watersheds of both the Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers. That's one reason I check basements and crawl spaces for water before we insulate them, the same way you'd check a barn floor before stacking hay on it. We're based in Cedar Rapids and work across Linn County and south toward Iowa City, in older homes where nobody's sure what's in the walls and in newer ones with a cold room over the garage.
Why homeowners call J&R
You see what's in there
I show you what's in your attic, walls or crawl space and explain why each step is in the plan. When you know the reason, the call on what to spend is yours to make.
Same person estimates and checks
I come out to look at every job and write the estimate myself. Our installers do the work, and I go over the finished job with you at the end.
Fix first, then seal, then insulate
Wet or dirty material comes out and damage gets handled before anything new goes in, the way you'd patch a feed bin before refilling it. Then we seal the gaps and insulate, so your money isn't covering up a problem.
Want me to take a look at your house? Send us the details or call (319) 536-8073.
Tell us what's going on in your house
We'll get back to you to set up a visit, and I'll come out, look the house over with you and write the estimate myself. There's no obligation, so what happens after that is your call.
What insulation work looks like
Insulation questions from Cedar Rapids homeowners
Should I add new insulation on top of what's already in my attic?
Usually yes, as long as the old insulation is dry and clean. If it's been soaked or has droppings in it, it comes out first, because new material on top just keeps the problem in your attic. When I'm up there I measure how many inches you already have, look for gaps around lights and pipes, and check that the vents at the eaves aren't buried.
Is spray foam worth the extra cost over blown-in insulation in my attic?
Sometimes, mainly when your ductwork runs through the attic. Foam costs more and seals air while it insulates. For most attics, sealing the gaps and topping up with blown-in does the job for less, so that's where I usually steer people.
How long will an insulation crew be in my attic?
It depends on the size of the attic, how easy the hatch is to reach and whether old insulation has to come out first, so I'll tell you what to expect for your house at the estimate. Removal and repairs take longer than a straight top-up. It helps if you clear a path to the hatch and move anything stored right under it before we arrive.
Do we have to leave the house while you install insulation?
For blown-in insulation and air sealing, most people stay home and go about their day. Spray foam is different, so everyone, pets included, leaves while it goes on and stays out until the re-entry time, the wait before it's OK to come back inside, that the foam maker sets. I'll go over that time with you before the job so you can plan around it.
Can you insulate a crawl space that gets wet in Cedar Rapids?
Not until the water's handled, because insulation in a wet crawl space holds moisture against the wood instead of keeping the floor warm. I'll look for where the water's coming from, and a lot of the time the fix starts with a vapor barrier over the dirt floor. If the water comes from grading or gutters, that needs fixing first, and I'll tell you so.
Which insulation jobs can I do myself?
Small jobs like weatherstripping a door, putting foam gaskets behind outlet covers on outside walls or caulking around window trim are fine to do yourself. I'd leave the attic floor to us, because it's easy to step through the ceiling, bury the eave vents or pack the insulation down. If you store boxes up there afterward, keep them on a raised platform so the insulation keeps its depth.
Does an insulation contractor in Iowa have to register with the state?
Yes, Iowa requires construction contractors who earn at least $2,000 a year from construction to register with the state's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. People who earn less, or who work only on their own property, don't have to register. It's worth asking any contractor you're considering about it before they start, and we're licensed and insured.
Do I need a permit to insulate my house in Cedar Rapids?
That's for the city or county office to say, so before each job we check with them. If they tell us a permit is needed, we take care of it, so you're not left sorting out the paperwork on your own.
Cities we serve around Cedar Rapids
J&R Cedar Rapids Insulation Services is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and we work in the cities around it. The 8 cities below each have their own page, from Marion to Iowa City, and they aren't the only places we go.
Talk to us about insulating your Cedar Rapids home
Call (319) 536-8073 or use the form, because a look at what's up there shows what's worth spending on and what isn't.
