How Much To Replace Insulation In Attic – Did you know that attic insulation and other home insulation can lower your energy bill? The EPA reports that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs with efficient insulation. Attic cleaning is a good place to start if you are looking at the benefits and costs of attic insulation.
While budgeting for attic insulation costs, we urge you to consider investing in an attic roof cleaner before the installation itself. Cleaning the attic involves removing debris from the space, as well as any existing insulation – often old, damaged and dirty. Although it’s great that these two services go hand in hand, there is a misunderstanding out there that blowing new insulation over existing insulation will do the trick; The team at Crawl Pros begs to differ.
How Much To Replace Insulation In Attic
Without cleaning the attic, you are at risk of a variety of problems, including rodent and insect infestation, deteriorating structure, energy inefficiency, and mold. Read on for more information on attic cleaning, attic insulation installation, and other things to consider while budgeting for an attic insulation project.
Choosing The Right Attic Insulation For Your Home
The value of an attic cleaning is not only in the cleaning and removal of junk but also in the inspection (and removal, if necessary) of the existing insulation of the attic. How well your insulation works depends on when your home was built and the type of insulation (and how much insulation) you have. Another thing to note is the R value, which measures the ability to block heat transfer; If the number is large, less heat is lost due to effective and efficient insulation. In the 1970s, attics stayed around the R-19 value, rising to the R-38 value in the 1990s, and in 2011, the standard was R-49. A lot has changed in 40 years!
During attic cleaning, one of the first steps is to test your insulation to see if it is up to code for full energy efficiency.
There are many different types of insulation that you can consider for your attic, which we have listed below.
Many of these types of attic insulation will need to be removed due to health hazards or safety issues. For example, Vermiculite can contain asbestos, while balsamic wool (made from stones from cedar wood, and popular from the 1950-1970s) can contain carcinogens that have been proven to pose health issues. Cellulose, made from recycled newspaper, can be a fire hazard depending on its age. Many times during the cleaning of the attic, we find that about 90% of the insulation must be removed – not only because of the dangers above, but also because the insulation can be dirty, worn, or the home to destroy the waste.
Tips For Removing Attic Insulation By Hand
Why is your attic clean and inspected? As already mentioned, the main reason is to identify issues with your attic insulation and remove it if necessary. Depending on the age of your home, your attic may have any of the problematic deficiencies listed above or a combination of many factors from home renovations over time. Even without problematic insulation types, blown insulation can be affected and need to be replaced over time, especially if it’s 30+ years old. If there is no cross-dressing, which includes 14-18 inches of product, it will need to be replaced. It will also need to be replaced if your insulation is contaminated with insects or dirt.
Now that you know why you might want an attic cleaning, let’s talk about attic cleaning. Understanding each step in the process, and which steps will work for your unique attic, will ultimately help you budget for the cost of attic insulation. The Crawl Pros attic cleaning process includes the following steps:
The first step in our attic cleaning is to remove any debris or junk from the attic, and to clear the space for future insulation work if necessary. Debris includes anything from rotting wood to small rodent carcasses to pollen and dirt. Finding and removing these debris materials will not only improve the air quality of your home, but will also tell us about other issues in your attic, such as insect infestation, mold, or malfunction/damage infestation.
After that, the area will be inspected for mold. If mold is found, your Crawl Pros expert will identify why the mold is there in the first place – perhaps from a leaky roof or, due to the pile effect, a leaking crawl space. After that, they’ll blast soda all over the mold and spray with a primer, so the mold can’t grow back. Our primer comes with a 10-year warranty to ensure a mold-free environment. If you suspect mold in your attic for any reason, budget for great attic insulation.
How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Save
After that, we remove the insulation if necessary. The process of removing your insulation will depend on how many different types of insulation are available. Typically, a 6-inch hose will go up into your attic to clean out the insulation and waste product, pushing the material into a machine that breaks up the old insulation. Professional grade truck sweepers; trying to remove insulation as a DIY project with a ShopVac, for example, will cause a lot of frustration on your end as the ShopVac will shut down quickly. Another way to remove it manually; this is usually done with batt insulation, a type of insulation that is stored in rolls and fiberglass. Interested in learning more? Check out the Fool-Proof Formula for Easy Attic Insulation Removal.
Fourth on our list is attic air sealing. This part of attic cleaning involves placing a bead of silicone caulk on the top plate and spraying expanded foam anywhere there may be a point of entry, including electrical wires.
Installing proper venting is the next step in attic cleaning. Ventilation is determined by building code (cubic ft is the vents), and your professional will block the vents, which allow air to flow when the insulation is installed.
Next comes a rodent inspection to ensure that mice, birds, and other pests cannot enter the attic. Learn more about our rodent removal and extermination program.
How To Insulate Within Tight Space » The Money Pit
The final step in attic cleaning is blowing in new cellulose insulation. We use this insulation because it can’t “insulate,” which other coatings will do when they blow on new insulation (usually fiberglass) to cut costs and make the attic appear properly installed. Cellulose is an excellent air-blocker, meaning it has a high R-value and is less likely to be contaminated by dirt and dust from the air. At Crawl Pros, we pride ourselves on using high quality cellulose insulation. Many suppliers use cellulose coating with 80% alum nitrate/sulfate and 20% borate because it is the cheapest method. Alum nitrate/sulfate, however, has been linked to various health issues. In contrast, Crawl Pros uses 100% borate coverage, although it is more expensive, to prioritize the safety of our customers.
This all sounds like a lot of work, and that means it’s expensive, right? Isn’t it! However, we admit that it is difficult to give you an exact cost because there are so many factors at play. Factors that affect the cost of cleaning an attic include:
With all factors considered, the average attic junk and insulation removal costs about $1.50–$3 per square foot. If there is mold, however, the cost is at the top of that range or higher – about $4.5-$6 per square foot. Check out the above factors and cost estimates as you consider whether your home could benefit from an attic cleaning and insulation inspection.
Also, it is difficult to give an exact price without seeing your unique property, and the above estimate is non-binding. To get an accurate estimate of how much attic cleaning will cost in your home, book a free consultation today.
Attic Duct Insulation, Repair And Sealing
Simply blowing new insulation over your existing insulation is a bad idea. Early attic cleaning and insulation removal will save you from potential hazards, including rodent and insect infestation, structural deterioration, poor air quality, and mold. Determining whether attic cleaning is worth the cost is entirely up to you, but – in our completely unbiased opinion – the benefits to your family and home are worth it.
Our estimators will schedule an appointment to come to your home, conduct a corner-to-corner inspection, and then present their findings, recommendations, and cost estimates to you in the comfort of your own home.
Crawl Pros serves the greater Seattle, Washington area, greater Portland, Oregon area, and Boise, Idaho. If you’re interested in learning more about attic insulation costs or need attic cleaning – contact the experts at Crawl Pros for a free estimate today. Expert advice from Bob Vila, a trusted name in home improvement, home improvement, home improvement, and -DIY. Tried, True, Trusted Home Advice
How Much Does Insulation Cost? Coverage costs range from $1,400 to $6,300, with the national average at $2,900.
Why You Need Attic Insulation & How To Install Attic Insulation
If you experience a strong house, high energy bills, attic moisture, uneven temperatures from room to room, and an HVAC system that runs constantly, your home may need new insulation. According to HomeAdvisor, home insulation cost options start at $1,400
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