Holden Insulation, Air Sealing and Basement Waterproofing

1970s ranches, raised ranches and mobile homes

Houses built in the 1970s usually have 2x4 walls with thin fiberglass batts, attic insulation that has settled, and a poured or block foundation with nothing on it below grade. About 17% of Holden homes are mobile homes, per Census estimates, and their belly insulation and skirting often need attention. Air sealing the attic plane and topping it up with cellulose is usually the best value in a house of this era. Basements finished in that decade often hide bare concrete behind paneling, and insulating the foundation walls properly warms the floors above.

Lakes and ponds in town

Holden covers about 32 square miles, and Brewer Lake, Holbrook Pond and Davis Pond lie at least partly within it. Homes on waterfront roads and low wooded lots can have high groundwater in spring, and wet soil against a foundation pushes water through cracks and the floor joint. Exterior grading and downspout drainage reduces the water reaching the wall, and interior drainage handles the rest.

Oil heat, eighty percent

Fuel oil or kerosene heats about 80% of occupied Holden homes, per Census estimates, a higher share than in Bangor. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for the Bangor area show about 42 inches of precipitation a year and a December-to-February average near 22°F, so the burner runs for much of the year, including about 20 nights below zero. Insulation work may qualify for Efficiency Maine rebates.

Camps, wells and radon

Lakeside camps closed for the winter hold stale, humid air when they are opened in spring, and mold on walls and under floors is common. Mold removal paired with a fix for the moisture source keeps it from returning. A camp over a dirt crawl space dries out best once the ground is covered with a sealed vapor barrier and the vents are closed. Maine CDC recommends water radon testing for every home with a well, and reports that at least a quarter of homes tested anywhere in Maine have radon problems.

Permits and nearby towns

Holden's Code Enforcement Officer reviews building and plumbing applications, and the town lists building and housing inspections, including plumbing and heating, among the office's duties. The same insulation and waterproofing services cover Brewer, Bangor and Ellsworth.

Areas We Serve in Holden