Attic Insulation in Kirby - Same-Day Service, Done Right the First Time

Insulation in Kirby, TX

Crawl space encapsulation and vapor barrier work in Kirby, TX addresses a specific problem: most homes here are 1950s-1970s slab-on-grade ranches built before Texas had meaningful insulation codes, and many have crawl spaces that trap the area’s chronic soil moisture against floor systems. We’re Envelope Insulation Co., and we treat air sealing as a hard prerequisite, not an upsell - every job starts with a written price and ends with a documented record. If your Kirby home has musty floors, high humidity readings, or visible mold in the crawl space, call (830) 243-6352 for a free estimate with upfront pricing.

Call (830) 243-6352

Why Kirby Homes Are Different

Kirby is a fully built-out mid-century enclave completely surrounded by San Antonio, which means virtually every insulation job we do here is a retrofit upgrade, not new construction. These 1950s-1970s tract homes were built when Texas had no meaningful attic insulation code requirements, so attics routinely exceed 150°F in summer and many still run on original fiberglass batts - or nothing at all. The housing stock is modest post-WWII and early-Cold War ranch-style homes on slab foundations, originally built as affordable working-class housing during Bexar County’s mid-century suburban boom. Because Kirby is an independent municipality inside San Antonio, homeowners often assume permits go through San Antonio’s building department, but Kirby runs its own permitting - a step that trips up out-of-area crews who don’t know the enclave’s independent status. Summer highs hit 98-102°F for weeks, driving attic temperatures above 140°F, while periodic ice storms like February 2021 exposed how severely under-insulated these older slab homes are for cold events.

Our Main Kirby Services

Most Kirby homeowners who call us start with attic work or spray foam, but blown-in remains the workhorse for these aging ranch homes.

Attic Insulation in Kirby

Attic insulation in Kirby almost always means retrofitting homes that started with R-11 or less - sometimes nothing - in a ceiling plane that sees 150°F daily for months. We air-seal first, then insulate, and publish before-and-after blower-door numbers so you can verify the result. Attic Insulation in Kirby covers our full process for these mid-century homes.

Spray Foam Insulation in Kirby

Spray foam makes sense in Kirby when we’re dealing with complex attic geometries, knee walls, or additions where batts leave gaps. We use open-cell and closed-cell products from Owens Corning and Demilec, and we never spray over an unsealed substrate. Spray Foam Insulation in Kirby details our application standards.

Blown-In Insulation in Kirby

Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose - we stock GreenFiber cellulose and Owens Corning fiberglass - is the most cost-effective way to bring a Kirby attic from R-11 to R-38 or R-49. The material fills around ductwork and top plates that batts never seal properly. Blown-In Insulation in Kirby explains our density and coverage requirements.

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Crawl Space Encapsulation & Vapor Barrier in Kirby

Kirby’s mid-century slab homes don’t always have true crawl spaces, but where they exist - typically in additions, pier-and-beam sections, or homes on Kirby’s slightly lower east side near Salado Creek drainage - they’re unsealed dirt floors that trap the area’s humid subtropical soil moisture against floor joists. We encapsulate these spaces because the alternative is rot, mold, and indoor humidity that overwhelms the HVAC system. Crawl Space Encapsulation & Vapor Barrier is our full service hub for this work.

Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

Signs you need it

You notice musty odors inside, floor insulation is sagging and wet, or your humidity readings stay above 60% even when the AC runs continuously.

What it costs in Kirby

A 6-mil or thicker polyethylene vapor barrier installed over bare dirt in a Kirby crawl space typically runs $1,200-$2,800 depending on square footage, pier count, and whether we need to remove degraded existing material first.

How we do it

We remove any wet or moldy insulation, grade the soil surface, seam-seal 10-mil reinforced polyethylene across the entire floor, run it 6 inches up pier bases, and seal all seams with vapor-barrier tape before reinstalling insulation.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

Signs you need it

You’re seeing mold on floor joists, experiencing spring floor bounce from moisture-weakened wood, or finding that dehumidifiers in living spaces can’t keep up.

What it costs in Kirby

Full encapsulation with sealed vapor barrier, rigid foam wall insulation, and mechanical dehumidification for a typical Kirby crawl space runs $3,500-$7,500 based on perimeter linear footage and whether we need to address active fungal growth first.

How we do it

We install sealed 10-mil or 12-mil reinforced liner on floors and walls, apply closed-cell spray foam or rigid XPS to foundation walls, seal the rim joist with foam, and install a dedicated dehumidifier with condensate pump to a daylight drain.

What Crawl Space Encapsulation & Vapor Barrier Costs in Kirby

Do I need a permit for crawl space work in Kirby?

Yes - Kirby requires its own building permit for any crawl space modification that involves structural repair, electrical for dehumidifiers, or closed-cell foam application; we pull these permits as part of our standard process, not as an add-on fee.

How long does crawl space encapsulation take in Kirby?

Most Kirby crawl space vapor barrier jobs finish in one day; full encapsulation with dehumidification typically takes two to three days, with a final moisture reading documented before we close out.

Radiant Barrier Installation in Kirby

Kirby attics hit 140-150°F routinely in summer, and the original 1950s-1970s construction had no radiant barrier at all - meaning roof deck heat radiates directly onto ductwork and insulation. A radiant barrier installation reflects that infrared energy back toward the roof deck rather than letting it load the attic floor and HVAC system. Radiant Barrier Installation is our dedicated service page.

Attic Radiant Barrier

Signs you need it

Your AC runs nonstop from 2 PM to 8 PM, upstairs rooms stay 8-12°F hotter than downstairs, or you’ve touched your ceiling on a summer afternoon and felt significant heat radiating through.

What it costs in Kirby

Radiant barrier foil stapled to attic rafters in a typical Kirby ranch runs $0.75-$1.50 per square foot of attic floor area, so most jobs fall between $900 and $2,400 for a 1,200-2,000 square foot home.

How we do it

We staple perforated double-sided aluminum radiant barrier to the underside of roof rafters, maintaining a minimum 3/4-inch air gap above the foil, and we never compress it against the roof deck where conduction defeats the purpose.

Radiant Barrier & Ventilation

Signs you need it

Your attic has radiant barrier but still exceeds 130°F, or you have blocked soffit vents, no ridge vent, and bathroom fans dumping into the attic - all common in Kirby’s original construction.

What it costs in Kirby

Combined radiant barrier with passive ventilation correction - adding baffles, clearing soffits, and installing ridge vent where structurally feasible - typically runs $1,800-$4,500 in Kirby’s modest ranch footprints.

How we do it

We install the radiant barrier first, then add vent baffles at every eave, verify soffit intake isn’t blocked by insulation, and calculate net free vent area to meet 1:300 attic ventilation code before signing off.

What Radiant Barrier Installation Costs in Kirby

Does radiant barrier work with existing insulation in Kirby?

Yes - we install radiant barrier in Kirby attics that already have insulation, and the combination typically reduces attic floor temperature by 20-30°F; we document the before-and-after surface temperature with an infrared camera.

Can radiant barrier be installed in summer?

We schedule radiant barrier work year-round in Kirby, though attic temperatures above 140°F mean we start early morning; the work itself takes 4-6 hours for most ranch homes and doesn’t require you to leave.

Insulation Removal & Replacement in Kirby

Kirby’s 1950s-1970s homes often contain original fiberglass batts that have settled, been disturbed by rodents, or absorbed decades of dust and cooking particulates - and some have vermiculite that may contain asbestos. We remove and replace insulation when the existing material is doing more harm than good to indoor air quality and thermal performance. Insulation Removal & Replacement covers our full protocol.

Contaminated Insulation Removal

Signs you need it

You smell urine or decay when the HVAC runs, see droppings in the attic, or your insulation has visible mold staining - all common in Kirby’s older homes with roof leaks or unsealed entry points.

What it costs in Kirby

Contaminated insulation removal with HEPA containment, bagging, and proper disposal in Kirby typically runs $1.50-$3.00 per square foot, so a 1,500 square foot attic costs $2,250-$4,500 before replacement.

How we do it

We set up negative air machines with HEPA filtration, remove contaminated material in sealed bags, apply an EPA-registered antimicrobial to exposed framing, and don’t install new insulation until lab-clearance or visual inspection passes our protocol.

Insulation Replacement

Signs you need it

Your original batts are compressed to less than half their labeled thickness, R-value has dropped below R-11, or you’ve had removal done and the attic is bare going into another Kirby summer.

What it costs in Kirby

New blown-in fiberglass or cellulose installed to R-38 after removal in a typical Kirby ranch runs $2.00-$3.50 per square foot, or $3,000-$5,250 for a 1,500 square foot attic including air sealing.

How we do it

We air-seal all top plates, penetrations, and duct boots first - the Haven Standard requires sealing before insulating - then blow Owens Corning or GreenFiber to specified density and depth, marking depth rulers every 300 square feet.

What Insulation Removal & Replacement Costs in Kirby

How do I know if my Kirby attic has asbestos?

We don’t guess - if your Kirby home was built before 1980 and has gray, pebbly vermiculite insulation, we stop work, collect a sample, and send it to a certified lab; we coordinate abatement if positive, and we don’t charge for the collection call if you proceed with us.

Can I stay in my house during insulation removal?

For most Kirby insulation removal jobs, you can stay - we seal the attic hatch with tape, run negative air machines, and keep the HVAC off during removal; we only recommend temporary relocation for severe contamination or active fungal blooms.

Attic Air Sealing in Kirby

Kirby’s mid-century ranch homes were built with no top plate sealing, unsealed can light housings, and duct boots that leak conditioned air directly into the attic - meaning you’re paying to cool 150°F attic space. Attic air sealing stops that conditioned air loss before any new insulation goes in, because blowing insulation over leaks just buries them. Attic Air Sealing is our detailed service page.

Top Plate & Penetration Sealing

Signs you need it

You feel drafts from outlets and switch plates on exterior walls, or your blower-door test - if you’ve had one - shows excessive leakage at the ceiling plane despite what looks like adequate insulation.

What it costs in Kirby

Sealing top plates, wire penetrations, and plumbing stacks in a typical Kirby ranch attic runs $800-$1,800, with the wide range depending on whether we need to move existing insulation to access all plates.

How we do it

We pull back existing insulation, apply fire-rated caulk or expanding foam to every top plate joint and penetration, use intumescent sealant where required by code, and photograph each sealed location before covering.

Can Light & Duct Boot Sealing

Signs you need it

You have original recessed can lights in your Kirby home’s ceiling - especially non-IC rated fixtures from the 1960s-1970s - or you can feel conditioned air blowing from ceiling registers even when the system is off.

What it costs in Kirby

Sealing or replacing can light housings with airtight LED retrofits, plus mastic-sealing all duct boots, typically runs $600-$1,500 in Kirby’s modest ranch homes with 6-12 can lights.

How we do it

We install airtight LED can light retrofits or build sealed boxes over IC-rated fixtures, then apply mastic - not duct tape - to every duct boot and trunk connection, testing with a smoke pencil before we close.

What Attic Air Sealing Costs in Kirby

Do you test after air sealing in Kirby?

Yes - on every applicable job we run a blower-door test before and after, and we give you the documented CFM50 readings; most Kirby ranch homes we seal drop 25-40% in air leakage, and we don’t consider the job closed until you have that paper.

Can air sealing be done without adding insulation?

Absolutely - we do standalone attic air sealing in Kirby for homeowners who want to verify the leakage reduction before investing in new insulation, or whose existing insulation is in good condition but was installed over unsealed leaks.

Wall Insulation in Kirby

Kirby’s 1950s-1970s ranch homes were built with empty wall cavities - no insulation at all - because Texas didn’t require it at the time. That means your exterior walls are thermal bridges, and in summer the south and west walls radiate heat for hours after sunset. Wall insulation is the most disruptive upgrade we offer, but for Kirby homes with no cavity insulation, it’s the only way to address the wall plane. Wall Insulation details our methods.

Drill & Fill Wall Insulation

Signs you need it

Your exterior walls are hot to the touch in afternoon sun, rooms on the south and west sides are unusable without blinds drawn, or you’ve confirmed with a thermal camera that cavities are empty.

What it costs in Kirby

Drill-and-fill dense-pack cellulose or fiberglass in a typical Kirby ranch - 1,200-1,800 square feet of wall area - runs $2.50-$4.50 per square foot of wall surface, or $3,000-$8,100 for the full home.

How we do it

We drill 2-inch holes at stud-bay spacing from the exterior, blow GreenFiber cellulose to 3.5 pounds per cubic foot density, patch with color-matched siding plugs or stucco, and verify fill with thermal imaging from inside.

Injection Foam Wall Insulation

Signs you need it

Your Kirby home has aluminum siding or brick veneer that makes exterior drilling problematic, or you need insulation in a specific wall plane without disturbing the entire facade.

What it costs in Kirby

Injection foam for selective wall planes in Kirby - typically 2-4 walls rather than whole-house - runs $4.00-$7.00 per square foot of wall area, with brick or stone veneer adding 20-30% for specialized drilling.

How we do it

We access cavities through mortar joints or siding seams, inject slow-rise foam that won’t bow studs, verify complete fill with borescope inspection, and seal access points with matched materials.

What Wall Insulation Costs in Kirby

Will drill-and-fill damage my siding?

We match the patch to your existing siding type - on Kirby’s common aluminum or Masonite siding, we use color-matched plugs; on brick, we drill through mortar joints and repoint - and we photograph every patch location for your record.

How much does wall insulation help in Kirby’s climate?

In Kirby’s cooling-dominated climate, filling empty wall cavities typically reduces south and west wall surface temperatures by 15-25°F and can drop cooling load by 10-15%; we calculate projected savings using your actual utility bills before you decide.

Attic Cleaning & Rodent Proofing in Kirby

Kirby’s mature tree canopy and fully built-out neighborhoods mean rodents have established travel routes through attics, especially in homes with original construction gaps at eaves and soffits. Combined with insulation that’s decades old, the result is contaminated attics that compromise air quality and thermal performance. Attic Cleaning & Rodent Proofing is our complete service page.

Attic Sanitizing & Decontamination

Signs you need it

You’ve found droppings in the attic, smell ammonia or musk when the HVAC runs, or see dark staining on insulation batts that indicates prolonged rodent activity.

What it costs in Kirby

Attic sanitizing with HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial application, and removal of contaminated insulation in a typical Kirby ranch runs $1,800-$3,500, with severe contamination requiring full removal at the higher end.

How we do it

We remove all contaminated material, HEPA-vacuum every surface, apply an EPA-registered disinfectant to framing and sheathing, and don’t begin rodent proofing until the space is documented clean.

Rodent Proofing & Exclusion

Signs you need it

You hear scratching in walls at dawn or dusk, find new droppings after previous cleaning, or see gaps at eave returns, plumbing penetrations, or where the chimney meets the roof - all common entry points in Kirby’s aging homes.

What it costs in Kirby

Rodent proofing for a typical Kirby ranch - sealing all entry points with steel mesh, concrete patch, and exclusion fabric - runs $800-$2,200, with one-way doors and trapping included if active infestation is present.

How we do it

We inspect with a camera on a pole, seal every gap larger than 1/4 inch with rodent-proof materials, install one-way doors on active runs, return to remove them after 7-10 days, and photograph every sealed location.

What Attic Cleaning & Rodent Proofing Costs in Kirby

Do you handle live rodents or just seal?

We coordinate trapping and one-way door installation for active infestations, but we don’t perform extermination - we partner with licensed wildlife operators in Bexar County if poisoning or large-scale trapping is needed before we seal.

How do I know rodents won’t get back in?

We guarantee our rodent proofing for one year with the 365-Day Done Right Promise - if they breach our work, we return and reseal at no charge; our documentation shows every sealed entry point so you can verify the coverage.

Home Energy Audit in Kirby

A home energy audit in Kirby gives you a prioritized roadmap for the upgrades that matter most in your specific house - critical when you’re dealing with 1950s-1970s construction that has multiple simultaneous deficiencies. We use blower-door testing, thermal imaging, and duct leakage measurement to quantify what you’re actually losing, not guess based on house age. Home Energy Audit explains our full diagnostic protocol.

Blower Door Test

Signs you need it

Your utility bills are 30% higher than neighbors with similar homes, you can’t maintain even temperatures between rooms, or you’re planning insulation work and want to verify the result.

What it costs in Kirby

A standalone blower-door test with written report in Kirby runs $300-$500; when bundled with thermal imaging and duct testing as a full audit, the package is $450-$750.

How we do it

We install a calibrated blower door in your front door, depressurize to -50 Pascals, measure CFM50 leakage, then walk the house with a smoke pencil to locate dominant leak paths while the fan runs.

Thermal Imaging Inspection

Signs you need it

You have rooms that never cool evenly, suspect missing insulation in walls or vaulted ceilings, or want visual proof of air leakage before committing to sealing work.

What it costs in Kirby

Thermal imaging as part of a full Kirby audit is included in the $450-$750 package; standalone thermal inspection with report runs $250-$400 for a typical ranch home.

How we do it

We run the blower door to force leakage, then scan with a FLIR camera to capture images of missing insulation, thermal bridging at studs, and air infiltration at plates and penetrations - all documented in your report.

What Home Energy Audit Costs in Kirby

What does a Kirby energy audit include?

Our full audit includes blower-door test, thermal imaging, duct leakage test, combustion safety check, and a written priority list with estimated savings for each upgrade - you get the raw data and our recommendations, no obligation to hire us.

Can an audit tell me if I need wall insulation?

Yes - the thermal imaging portion of our Kirby audits clearly shows whether wall cavities are empty or insulated, and the blower-door test quantifies how much of your total leakage is at the wall plane versus ceiling or foundation.

Brands We Service in Kirby

We source insulation and air-sealing materials from Owens Corning, Johns Manville, Knauf, and GreenFiber - no proprietary lock-in means we specify what’s right for your Kirby home, not what we’re obligated to sell. Most materials are stocked locally for next-day availability on approved jobs. See our brands for full specifications.

Pricing for Insulation in Kirby, TX

Neighborhoods We Serve in Kirby

We work across all of Kirby’s residential areas, from the original mid-century tracts near FM 78 to the infill areas closer to IH-410. Most Kirby neighborhoods are 5-15 minutes from our San Antonio dispatch office, so we typically schedule same-day or next-day assessments.

• Kirby Terrace
• Forest Ridge
• Willow Springs
• Kirby Manor
• Salado Creek Estates

Service Area - Cities Near Kirby

We serve Kirby and surrounding communities from our San Antonio dispatch office, with local crews covering New Braunfels, TX, Cibolo, TX, Seguin, TX, and Schertz, TX - all within our standard service radius for insulation, air sealing, and energy audit work.

FAQs About Insulation in Kirby