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NFT: Attic insulation cost

26.2 : 3/31/2023 12:32 pm
Anyone have or have done this kind of job recently? We got a quote last week to remove the old insulation and put new stuff in. The size is approx 16x16 (maybe a little bigger). He quoted me about $5k for that while also really selling me on the tax break I'll get (he said based on the amount of materials you used, I'd get back approx $1k when I file my '23 taxes).

Does this seem right? I'm getting another quote from a different source today and wanted to know if the first quote is what I should expect.

Thanks in advance!
sounds outrageous for  
GIANTS128 : 3/31/2023 12:56 pm : link
those dimensions. Check with your state or electric company. I went thru Mass-save (obviously MA). They insulated my whole house. All new light bulbs etc. All for 500 bucks.
Just do it yourself  
Vanzetti : 3/31/2023 1:31 pm : link
It’s easy. You are just rolling out insulation between the studs. An 8 year old can do it

Just wear a mask and gloves
Are we talking Spray Foam,  
Fat Wally : 3/31/2023 1:36 pm : link
Fiberglass or Rockwool?

Spray Foam is spendy so that sounds accurate, I had a quote to do my basement rafters around the foundation and it was about 2400.
New construction  
Carl in CT : 3/31/2023 2:52 pm : link
(Yes a pretty big house) spray form was $56,000 for entire house.
I spray foamed  
JesseS : 3/31/2023 3:38 pm : link
a combo of closed cell on the attic roof and then open cell over that. You can't go by square feet - you have to go by the amount of insulation used/total R value. The sloped ceilings are R30 and the walls are R 21. Now that's not insane - but my attic is now sealed, which fiberglass does not do. So it's 70 degrees in my attic - all year - whether it's 98 degrees out or 10 degrees. I have a very large walk up attic with the upstairs air handler located in the sweltering heat of an attic space (previous owner went the cheapest way possible). It cost me 6K 3 years ago. It remains the best money I ever spent. I would have payed double. Forget the savings, the comfort is crazy. I use a down comforter when it's 95 degrees out. My units don't work hard. I can't imagine living in a house without it.
What JesseS said...  
Pete in CO : 3/31/2023 4:11 pm : link
That's probably the best way to do it.
Closed cell spray foam is the best product to use...but its cost is high these days. Just make sure you DONT use open cell spray foam against the underside of the roof deck. This will collect migrating warm vapor and trap it within the insulation and against the plywood deck - resulting in mold over time.
One other way to go is closed cell for 2-4" under the roof deck, and then batt insulation instead of open cell underneath. This might be a cleaner application if you have an unfinished condition in your attic space.
Can’t imagine paying that much for regular fiberglass insulation  
UConn4523 : 3/31/2023 4:24 pm : link
either do it yourself or get a quote for spray foam. I haven’t needed to do my attic yet be all my walls are sprayfoamed and every room is the same temp, no drafts, and house heats and cools very easily.
That sounds like a lot for what basically sounds  
oghwga : 3/31/2023 4:28 pm : link
Like the space over a master bedroom. Is your air handler up there? I'm still on the fence about spray foam as I've heard grumblings from inspectors about how important it is for your house to breathe but I get irrationally excited at the prospect of sucking out all of that old dirty dusty insulation in the attic and starting fresh.

Never got the chance to do it in my old house.
Absolutely not!!!  
DefenseWins : 3/31/2023 4:31 pm : link
Go up there and spray seal any penetrations, cracks, gaps, etc. Then put 18 inches of blown insulation over the top of the existing insulation. You can do that yourself too. Home Depot will rent the machine.
If they are taking the old insulation out  
Mattman : 3/31/2023 4:32 pm : link
They should be doing air sealing. Is that part of the cost?

I would get additional quotes and see what each includes to compare apples with apples
RE: What JesseS said...  
Mattman : 3/31/2023 4:45 pm : link
In comment 16079301 Pete in CO said:
Quote:
That's probably the best way to do it.
Closed cell spray foam is the best product to use...but its cost is high these days. Just make sure you DONT use open cell spray foam against the underside of the roof deck. This will collect migrating warm vapor and trap it within the insulation and against the plywood deck - resulting in mold over time.
One other way to go is closed cell for 2-4" under the roof deck, and then batt insulation instead of open cell underneath. This might be a cleaner application if you have an unfinished condition in your attic space.


Yep. It’s called flash and batt. The issue is warm moist air hitting a cold surface and condensing. The closed cell foam is a vapor and air barrier and is very dense. This can prevent condensation by preventing air and vapor movement into the cold part of the wall while insulating enough in a short area to move the dewpoint outside the wall cavity. Open cell is vapor permeable like you said and will cause issues

The extra batt insulation is icing on the cake
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