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| | | Warm air naturally flows toward a cooler space. Insulation resists that flow, slowing the flow of hot air from indoors to outdoors during the cold months, and doing the opposite when temperatures climb outside. Effective insulation can reduce a home's heating and cooling costs. | | |
| Typical costs: | - In order to buy materials or talk to contractors, you need to determine what level of R-value, or thermal resistance, you want to achieve in a given space. The more effective a material is at insulating, the higher its R-value. According to the US Department of Energy, contractor's quotes for installing a specific R-value of insulation in a home can vary by 100 percent or more.
- There are a lot of variables that impact the total cost, but a rough estimate for having a contractor insulate an open attic to modern standards is $0.50 -$2.25 a square foot depending on local climate and the desired R-value of the materials. That's $400 -$1,800 for an 800 square foot space, with a typical attic insulation averaging $750 -$1,100. Do-it-yourself materials for roll-out batting in an open attic can run $100 -$500, depending on R-values, attic size and other factors.
- A rough estimate for hiring someone to blow insulation into a flat roof, cathedral ceiling or wall cavities is $2 -$3.50 a square foot, or $1,000 -$3,500 for filling 1,000 square feet of empty wall or roof space.
- A complete insulation job on a typical family home can run $2,000 -$10,000 or more, but averages $2,500 -$5,500, depending on materials, the regional climate and the local economy.
- Input information about your existing house and the US Department of Energy's ZIP-Code Insulation Program provides a list of specific insulation recommendations and estimated per-square-foot costs.
What should be included: | - First, weatherize your home. There's no point in insulating if you haven't already sealed any and all air leaks. The US Department of Energy provides tips for sealing air leaks.
- Adding insulation is recommended when a home has little or no existing insulation, or if attic, floor or wall cavities will be exposed during an extensive remodeling project.
- The US Department of Energy provides an overview of different types of insulation plus a detailed list of where to consider adding insulation in a home. The department also outlines factors to consider in deciding how much insulation might be needed in an existing home or when building a new home.
- The federal government's Energy Star program provides a chart of recommended R-values based on an existing home's construction, heating system and regional location.
Discounts: | - Many utility companies offer rebates or other programs to encourage the use of effective insulation; check to see what's available in your area, and which projects might qualify.
Shopping for home insulation: | |
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Article updated February 2008 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $1,152.00 |
insulation for garage
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| Posted by: Eduardo in Hope Mills, NC. | Purchased: February, 2010 |
| home depot charge me 1152 just to put insulation in the garage area. |
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| Amount: $2,800.00 |
attic insulation
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| Posted by: a user in grafton, WI. | Purchased: 2010 |
ENERGY AUDIT!!!! DO ONE!!! March 2010
We live in WI and had ice dams in the valleys every winter, which meant raking the roof and using a heat coil.
We have small water stains on some ceilings from attic condensation and the snow melting and refreezing on the roof.
We had no bath roof vents, so the hot moist air from inside was filling the attic. We had 145 degrees in the attic in the summer. Bad for the plywood and shingles.
Our home was built in 1972; had blown loose-fill fiberglass in the attic. I did my research and found out air sealing is so important. We also had an energy audit done for $300 and found out cold air was going down the walls from the attic because of the way our top plates sat on the walls. My heat bills are about $200 to $280 a month in winter for a 1500 square foot ranch.
Last week a local company air sealed the attic first by spraying a 2 part foam in any openings such as around plumbing stacks, wiring, fans, chimney, vents, etc.
They also sprayed foam in all the drop sofits, and over ALL top-plates including top-plates of all interior walls such as the hall.
They put in 2 bath roof vents and attached insulated round tubes to the bath fans.
They used 3 air baffles for each eave vent then rolled fiberglass batts and put them in-between each 2x4 at top-plate to prevent insulation from blowing into eaves. Then they blew in cellulose to a 50 r-factor. It took a crew of 6 men and about 6 hours.
We won't know the results until next winter but with tax credits and rebates it will surely be worth it. Hope this info helps. |
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| Amount: $6,000.00 |
attic insulation
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| Posted by: stupid in Oxford, AL. | Purchased: June, 2009 |
| I feel totally ripped off.. I should have done my homework but got 1,900 sf of insulation in the attic at the outrageous price of $6,000 |
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