Hampden Insulation, Crawl Space and Basement Waterproofing

Farmhouses, capes and newer subdivisions

Hampden was incorporated in 1794, and about 12% of its homes date from before 1940, per Census estimates. Houses that old often stand on fieldstone or granite foundations with little or no wall insulation. Postwar capes brought poured or block basements and knee walls that run cold in winter. The houses built since 2000, roughly a fifth of the town, are tighter but still lose heat at attic hatches and rim joists. Attic, wall and basement insulation is sized differently for each.

River frontage and the Souadabscook

The town lies along the Penobscot River estuary and is drained by the Souadabscook Stream and the Penobscot. Low ground near these waterways holds water after snowmelt, and a basement that stays dry in August can take water in April. Regrading and French drains and downspout extensions handle surface water; groundwater coming up through the floor joint needs interior drainage.

Mostly oil heat

About 69% of occupied Hampden homes heat with fuel oil or kerosene, per Census estimates, with propane around 12% and wood about 7%. With a Bangor-area winter averaging about 7,600 heating degree days, every gap in the building shell shows up on the oil bill. NOAA normals also count about 20 nights a year below zero at the Bangor airport, which is when cold floors and drafty window sashes are hardest to ignore. An energy audit measures how leaky the house is before any work is priced. Air sealing before adding insulation gives the best return, and qualifying work may be eligible for Efficiency Maine rebates.

Crawl spaces and damp additions

Additions, sunrooms and older ells often sit over a dirt-floored crawl space rather than a full basement. Bare soil gives off moisture year-round, which ends up as damp insulation, cupped floors and mold on the joists. Encapsulating the crawl space with a 20-mil vapor barrier, sealed vents and a dehumidifier keeps it dry. If mold is already established, remediation comes first.

Permits, sewer and nearby towns

Hampden's Code Enforcement office handles building permits, and the town office is on Western Avenue. The town's Public Works department runs the sewer system; a sump pump should discharge outdoors, not into a sewer line. Our office is in neighbouring Hermon, and we also serve Bangor, Brewer and Holden.

Areas We Serve in Hampden