CASE STUDY
RIM JOIST INSULATION IMPROVES COMFORT IN HAYWARD, WI
Cold floors and poor energy efficiency led a Hayward, WI homeowner to seek a permanent insulation solution. DBS installed spray foam insulation along the rim joists to help create a warmer and more comfortable home.
This customer reached out to DBS after noticing their home was relatively cold, especially with the floors. The customer’s expectations included achieving better insulation and having a more energy-efficient home. Once our Design Specialist was able to get out to the property, they recommended a plan that involved removing the current fiberglass and applying our Dr. Energy® spray foam to the rim joist to help keep the floor permanently insulated. Once our crew was able to get out to the property and install the spray foam, the customer was happy with the quick fix and solution.
See the Hidden Benefits of Basement Insulation!
Complete Home Insulation: Basement, Crawl Space, Walls, Attic, and Air Sealing
DBS Repair does not patch insulation problems with a layer of fiberglass and call it done. We deliver a complete, area-by-area insulation system using waterproof, high-performance materials built for Wisconsin homes in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Hudson, River Falls, Superior, Rice Lake, Menomonie, and nearby counties, always paired with professional air sealing to eliminate the energy losses that standard insulation alone cannot fix.
Step 1: Attic Insulation and Air Sealing
— Stopping Heat Loss at the Top of Your Home
The attic is where many Wisconsin homes lose the most heat, especially during Eau Claire, Superior, Hudson, and Rice Lake winters. Every upgrade DBS Repair installs starts with thorough air sealing to close the gaps that let conditioned air escape, then adds the right insulation system for how the attic is used.
For standard attics:
- Airtight vent covers block cold winter air and humid summer air from entering the crawl space
- A heavy-duty vapor barrier is installed across floors and walls to stop moisture vapor transmission completely
- Concrete block walls receive a mechanically attached wall covering that seals open cavities while keeping the space visible for pest inspections
- The result is a clean, dry, conditioned environment — not an open underground chamber
For attics used for storage or housing HVAC equipment:
- DBS Repair installs the SuperAttic System, which insulates directly beneath the roof rafters rather than the attic floor
- SilverGlo rigid foam panels create an airtight, continuous insulation layer with a built-in radiant heat barrier
- The result is a conditioned attic space that stays usable year-round without allowing outside air to enter
Step 2: Basement Insulation
— Turning a Cold, Damp Space Into a Comfortable One
Wisconsin basements demand insulation materials that can handle moisture, cold concrete, and freeze-thaw conditions without degrading. DBS Repair replaces failure-prone fiberglass batts with rigid foam systems specifically engineered for below-grade environments.
For basement walls:
- Rigid foam wall panels will not compress, fall out of place, or absorb moisture the way fiberglass batts do
- Basement to Beautiful wall insulation panels are sized specifically for basements and include built-in wiring channels and steel flanges ready for drywall
- The system prepares the entire wall surface for finishing in one step, saving time and reducing the total project cost
For basement floors:
- ThermalDry Insulated Floor Decking addresses the discomfort of cold, concrete basement floors with a complete thermal barrier
- Interlocking panels combine high-performance rigid foam insulation with an inorganic composite subfloor surface
- The system will never support mold or wood rot and creates a finished floor surface ready for carpet, laminate, or tile
Step 3: Crawl Space Insulation
— Waterproof Solutions for the Most Moisture-Prone Area of Your Home
Wisconsin crawl spaces are often damp, cold, and exposed to seasonal temperature swings, which makes standard insulation materials a guaranteed failure. DBS Repair uses closed-cell, waterproof rigid foam products throughout the crawl space to deliver insulation that performs permanently regardless of moisture levels.
For crawl space walls:
- SilverGlo Crawl Space Wall Insulation uses expanded polystyrene foam infused with graphite particles that boost insulating ability by 24 percent
- Closed-cell construction means zero moisture absorption and zero degradation over time
- A built-in radiant heat barrier on the visible face reflects warmth back into the crawl space
For crawl space floors:
- TerraBlock crawl space insulation provides a 3/4-inch foam layer covered on both sides with a durable moisture barrier
- Creates a cushioned, puncture-resistant surface that handles regular foot traffic without compressing or degrading
- Delivers critical thermal protection on rough or uneven dirt floors where standard insulation cannot be installed
Step 4: Spray Foam and Dense-Pack Cellulose for Walls, Rim Joists, and Floors Above Garages
Some of the most impactful insulation work in Wisconsin homes happens in places you cannot easily see. Finished wall cavities, basement rim joists, and floors above attached garages are consistently under-insulated and require specialized materials and installation techniques to fix properly.
- Two-part closed-cell polyurethane spray foam expands to completely fill irregular cavities, acting as both a high-R thermal barrier and an airtight air barrier simultaneously
- Spray foam is waterproof, does not support mold growth, and bonds to framing to add structural rigidity as a secondary benefit
- Dense-pack cellulose is injected directly into finished wall cavities through small access points, eliminating voids without requiring demolition
- Rim joists receive spray foam treatment to address one of the single largest sources of air leakage and heat loss in the entire home
- Floors above attached garages get complete insulation coverage between the joists, eliminating the cold floor problem in the living space above
Highest R-value
per inch of any insulation material
Air barrier + insulation
Spray foam does both jobs at once
Why Every Wisconsin Insulation Job from DBS Repair Includes Air Sealing:
The Step Most Contractors Skip
Adding insulation without air sealing is like stuffing a sweater with cotton and leaving all the zippers open. DBS Repair treats every insulation upgrade as a whole-home thermal system, not a single-area fix. Air sealing is always part of the work.
- Air sealing closes the gaps, holes, and cracks where conditioned air leaks out and cold outside air seeps in
- Without it, the stack effect continuously pumps heated air out through the attic and pulls cold air in through lower-level gaps
- Insulation slows heat transfer but does nothing to stop air movement through gaps. Air sealing handles what insulation cannot
- The combination of air sealing and correctly rated insulation is what produces the dramatic energy bill reductions homeowners expect
- DBS Repair performs a full air sealing assessment as part of every insulation project to identify and close every significant leakage point
Get It Fixed Now. Pay Over Time.
Serving Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Hudson, River Falls, St. Croix County, Superior, Douglas County, Rice Lake, Barron County, Menomonie, and Dunn County — qualify for competitive rates with no closing costs or hidden fees.
Why Choose Us
We provide patented permanent home performance solutions for Wisconsin homeowners with up to a 75-year transferable warranty!
We will treat you like family throughout your entire experience!
We are experienced with over 4,300 Wisconsin and regional homeowners helped!
BBB Rating of A+
Over 40 Years of Industry Experience
Family Owned and Operated
Thumbs Up forIntegrity
Home Insulation
Reviews
your neighbors are talking about us…
DBS Repair has been keeping attics, basements, crawl spaces, and walls warm in winter and cool in summer with home insulation across Minnesota and Wisconsin,
from Duluth to Eau Claire, for nearly 15 years!
See what your neighbors have been saying about DBS Repair’s
home insulation services.
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