BPI & IICRC Certified

Bar Harbor Insulation, Air Sealing and Mold Removal

Professional insulation, mold remediation, and waterproofing for homes in Bar Harbor

Insulation, Mold & Water Problems in Bar Harbor Homes

Bar Harbor takes in most of the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, from downtown on Frenchman Bay to Hulls Cove, Salisbury Cove and Town Hill. Census estimates count about 3,570 housing units but only around 2,480 occupied households, a gap that largely reflects seasonal homes. Houses that sit closed through the winter and cottages near salt water each bring their own moisture and insulation problems.

Summer cottages and newer builds

About a fifth of Bar Harbor's homes date from before 1940, and the 1947 fire destroyed 67 of the town's 222 summer cottages, so what survives is a mix of older cottages and houses built later. The median build year is 1985, and roughly 1,080 homes went up between 2000 and 2019. Older cottages were framed for summer use, often with no wall insulation at all; converting one for year-round living starts with sealing the air leaks and then filling walls and roof.

Granite, thin soil and runoff

Mount Desert Island is largely granite shaped by glaciers, and the soil over it is thin. Rain and snowmelt run across the bedrock and collect against foundations cut into it, and a basement dug into ledge can take on water through its walls or up through joints in the floor. Interior drainage feeding a sump, or basement waterproofing matched to the site, is usually the fix.

Heating an island home

Fuel oil heats about 45% of occupied homes, per Census estimates, with propane around 27%, electricity about 16% and wood about 7%. Utility gas is almost nonexistent. For owners adding heat pumps or converting a seasonal place, an energy audit shows which leaks to fix before sizing equipment, and insulation from a registered Efficiency Maine vendor may qualify for a rebate.

Closed-up houses and salt air

A house that sits shut from October to May with the heat off or turned down has little air movement, and moisture from the ground and the bay builds up in basements and crawl spaces. Musty smells in spring are a warning sign. Removing growth through professional mold remediation and then controlling humidity, with a dehumidifier or an encapsulated crawl space, keeps it from coming back each season. Checking the place once in late winter, before the first warm spell, catches problems early.

Local permits and utilities

Bar Harbor has its own Code Enforcement office and a Planning Department, and the Public Works department runs its own water and wastewater divisions. Properties outside those service areas use wells and septic systems, which shapes where a drain line can go. Nearby service areas include Ellsworth and Holden. On the island, scheduling larger jobs outside the peak summer weeks usually makes access easier.