Cost to Insulate an Attic – Estimates and Prices at Fixr

How much does it cost to insulate an attic?

Insulation is a material used to prevent heat loss or heat gain. It effectively creates a barrier between two spaces to control temperature variances. Homes contain insulation that is made from either spun glass (fiberglass1) or rock substances that have been heated and spun into fine, hair-like material (rock wool) and a binding agent is used to hold these materials together. Some homes may also have insulation boards or spray foam as an insulate.

A properly insulated home and attic can save 10 to 50 percent off your homes power bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Heat rises in a home, and without attic insulation, it quickly escapes through the homes roof. Insulation prevents heat and cooling loss in the home, so with attic insulation, your home will feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

An average-size attic of 1,200 square feet will usually cost about $1,700-$2,000 for blown-in cellulose or fiberglass.

Ideally, prior to insulating your attic, you should have an energy audit to determine where your home may be losing energy. Many energy companies offer this service. It will help you determine what type of insulation is best for your home. An energy audit will typically cost around $150.

When picking insulations, you will want to consider cost as well as ease of installation and how well the insulation will reach all the areas in your attic. d

Nowadays, blown-in cellulose or fiberglass1 remain almost identical in price. However, prices are constantly changing. Fifteen years ago, fiberglass cost twice as much as cellulose. Rolled fiberglass or rock wool insulation, known as batt, is the least expensive form of insulation. Spray foam and foam board are the most expensive forms of insulation and are rarely used for attic space because of the higher cost.

Many things can cause the price of attic insulation installation to vary, such as the size of the overall attic, the amount of existing insulation, and the number of ventilation fans in the homes roof. If there is existing insulation it will often need to be removed before applying new. Insulation will need to be installed around vent fan openings. Overall, the complexity of the project is a factor in the final cost.

There are several indicators that you need insulation in your attic:

There are numerous types of insulation to consider when insulating your attic. You should talk to your insulation installation company to determine which type of insulation best fits your attics needs.

Loose fill, also called

blown-in

R-20: $0.65-$0.80 per sq.ft.

R-31: $.85-$1.10 per sq.ft.

R-42: $1.25-$1.45 per sq.ft.

Environmentally friendly

Made of fiberglass, cellulose, or mineral wool

Must install soffit2 venting

Must thoroughly air seal the attic

Grows mold easily in humid climates or if it becomes wet

Must be professionally installed

Spray foam

Open cell: $0.44-$0.65 per sq. ft.

Closed cell: $0.70-$1.00 per square ft.

Twice as insulative than other forms of insulation

Normally only used in small areas

Not suitable for an entire attic

Rigid foam or foam board

-inch thick: $0.28-$0.38 per sq.ft.

1-inch thick: $0.60-$0.80 per sq.ft.

Usually has a much higher R-value (see below) than other insulation forms of the same thickness

Rigid foam cannot be used to insulate existing walls

Blanket batts and rolls

R-11: $0.12-$0.16 per sq.ft.

R-13: $0.15-$0.20 per sq.ft.

R-19: $0.27-$0.34 per sq.ft.

R-25: $0.37-$0.45 per sq.ft.

R-30: $0.39-$0.47 per sq.ft.

R-38: $0.55-$0.60 per sq.ft.

Easy to install

Fiberglass blankets and batts only have an R-value of R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch of thickness

Need to add 10-12 inches of insulation to obtain enough insulation for an attic

Takes up a great deal of room

Certain types of insulation work best in various areas of your home. To determine which type of insulation you should use in your attic, you should talk with your attic insulation company.

Blown-in

Attic because it can be blown into all areas of the attic - the floor, walls, roof, and around joists.

It is wonderful for a finished attic because it can be blown in under flooring and behind walls without needing to tear out any areas of the attic.

Blankets, batts, and rolls

Walls, floor, and roof of the attic.

Spray Foam

Attics walls, floor, and roof.

It is especially beneficial when used to fill in gaps around vent fans, skylights, and plumbing fixtures.

Foam Board

Walls.

It is rarely used on the floors or roof of the attic.

R-value explains the resistance to heat flow through a certain thickness of the material. The higher the R-value, the greater the heat flow resistance and the better the insulation. The thicker the insulation, the great the R-value. Many people mistakenly believe that doubling the insulation will provide a double R-value. However, insulation must be the correct thickness and installed properly to gain the greatest R-value.

Batts or rolls

R-11, 3-inch thick

R-13, 3-inch thick

R-19, 6-inch thick

R-25, 8-inch thick

R-30, 9-inch thick

R-38, 12-inch thick

R-11: $0.12-$0.16 per sq.ft.

R-13: $0.15-$0.20 per sq.ft.

R-19: $0.27-$0.34 per sq.ft.

R-25: $0.37-$0.45 per sq.ft.

R-30: $0.39-$0.47 per sq.ft.

R-38: $0.55-$0.60 per sq.ft.

Blown-in

R-20, 6 inches deep

R-31, 9 inches deep

R-42, 12 inches deep

R-20: $0.65-$0.80 per sq.ft.

R-31: $.85-$1.10 per sq.ft.

R-42: $1.25-$1.45 per sq.ft.

Foam board

R-3, -inch thick

R-7.5, 1-inch thick

R-6, 1-inch thick

R-16, 4-inch thick

-inch thick: $0.28-$0.38 per sq.ft.

1--inch thick: $0.60-$0.80 per sq.ft.

Spray foam

R-22.4, 3-inch thick

R-38.4, 6-inch thick

R-57.6, 9-inch thick

R-76.8, 12-inch thick

Open cell: $0.44-$0.65 per board foot

Closed cell: $0.70-$1.00 per board foot

Years ago it was recommended that a vapor barrier3 be installed to keep water and air from penetrating the attic. However, current standards are to no longer use a vapor barrier that forms a barrier between the insulation and the drywall4 of the ceiling because it can actually trap moisture and create mold growth.

Many people mistakenly believe that simply laying or spraying insulation into an attic onto the floors and ceilings will suffice to insulate the space. However, there are other parts of an attic that require insulation. Most attics have pipes that run through them. Insulating warm water pipes in the attic will keep the water warmer and also conserve energy. All wiring inlets/outlets, chimney rim space, and exhaust fans will also require insulation with a material such as spray foam. The walls, floor, ceiling, and rafters will all need insulation. If there are any air leaks around windows, pipes, wires, fans ducts, light fixtures, flooring, or the chimney then they will need to be insulated. For such difficult areas, many insulation installers opt to use spray foam to fill in any leaks or gaps.

Attics that have adequate space are often used for storage. It is advised that you lay insulation on the attic floor and then lay storage decking over the surface expanse of the insulation. This provides a firm planking to store items while protecting the installed insulation.

Labor and installation should be done by a licensed contractor. Most licensed insulation companies charge about $0.95 per foot for labor. This price does not include materials.

There are numerous types of insulation that require different methods of installation:

A finished attic is more difficult to insulate because there is usually flooring and sheetrock4 in place. The insulation must be placed under the flooring and behind the sheetrock. One of the easiest methods is to use blown-in insulation between the walls and the ceiling. Using blown-in insulation requires less tear out and rebuild and will effectively reach the rafters and wall joists coating them in a covering of insulation.

Many older attics are under-insulated and require additional insulation. Remember that the greatest R-value is obtained by adding extra inches of insulation. R-value can be doubled just by adding extra insulation on top of existing insulation. Adding additional insulation only works if there is enough space to accommodate the extra insulation. However, some insulation companies will require that the old insulation be removed and a new, higher R-value insulation added.

Insulating and finishing an attic can easily turn the space into additional air-conditioned/heated living space. The insulation is laid in the floor space, wall spaces, and ceiling of the attic. The insulation is then covered with wood and sheetrock to create a finished living area. Heating and air conditioning ducts can also be run into the attic space to create a climate-controlled space.

Soundproofing eliminates any noise from inside the house reaching the outside and also prevents outdoor noise from reaching the homes interior. Usually, a 1,000 sq.ft. space costs $8,000-$12,000 to soundproof.

Mold is an invasive fungus that can become a problem in your attic if moisture is present. Mold remediation services often need to be undertaken before an attic space can be insulated. Mold remediation usually costs from $2,000-$6,000.

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Cost to Insulate an Attic - Estimates and Prices at Fixr