How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? Facts & FAQs

When building or remodeling a house, insulation is absolutely necessary. Without it, your home will have a hard time holding heat or cold, and your energy bills will likely be extremely expensive. Therefore, while insulation can be expensive, it is actually one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs.

Insulating your home well may cost more upfront, but you’ll save more money down the line. Attics are particularly vital to insulate, as they have a lot of exterior walls that can leach heat and cold air out of your home.

Whether you’ve discovered that your home is lacking in the insulation department or you’re building a new home altogether, don’t skimp when it comes to adding insulation. On average, insulating an attic often costs around $2,500.

The Importance of Insulation

Insulation is extremely important for the energy efficiency of your home. Without insulation, hot and cold air will escape through your walls and attic very easily. Therefore, your heating and cooling system will need to produce even more hot or cold air, which can ramp up your energy costs.

There are actually many ways that you can make your home more energy-efficient. However, the most cost-effective way is by insulating properly. While insulation won’t completely trap in all your home’s air, it does help prevent heat transfer.

Plus, homes are often legally required to have a minimum amount of insulation. In some cases, you may want to go over this minimum. However, this does depend on your local climate and needs. The best way to determine the optimal amount of insulation for your home is to talk to a professional.

How Much Does Insulating an Attic Cost?

On average, insulating an attic often costs around $2,500. However, this varies widely depending on a variety of factors. The type of insulation you choose, the labor costs in your area, and the size of your attic will all determine the cost of insulation.

Therefore, while $2,500 is an average price, most people will not actually pay this amount. Instead, you can expect to pay around a thousand dollars more or less depending on the above factors. If you have a relatively small attic, you may pay less. If you choose expensive insulation for the job, you may pay more.

To determine the price, your best bet is to measure your attic and then use the table below.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

Of course, you’ll also need to pay someone to install your insulation, in most cases. There are some forms of insulation that you can install yourself without much of a problem. However, this means a lot of extra work for you, and not everyone has the DIY knowledge necessary to complete this job well. Therefore, you’ll often need to hire an expert to install the insulation.

Typically, you can expect to pay $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot for an installer. In many cases, this does depend on where you live. Some high-cost-of-living areas simply have higher labor costs. The type of insulation also matters as some are more time-consuming to put down.

If there is old insulation in your attic, you’ll have to pay extra for this insulation to be removed. Usually, you can expect to add about $1 to $2 per square foot for insulation removal. Remember, that is on top of all other pricing.

In some cases, you’ll also need to hire an electrician to ensure that there is no damage to the electricity in the attic. Most charge about $80 an hour but this should be a pretty fast job since the electrician shouldn’t have to install anything. Of course, if something is found to be amiss, this cost can add up quickly.

Does Home Insurance Cover Insulation?

There are some cases where replacing insulation may be covered by home insurance. Of course, if you’re simply renovating or replacing old insulation, it is likely not going to be covered. That is simply part of maintaining a home, not an unforeseen event that is covered under insurance.

Any insulation damage that occurs due to maintenance problems is likely not going to be covered, either. If your roof is older and develops a leak, the leak likely falls into regular home maintenance (and all the damage that comes with it). Therefore, it is vital that you stay on top of regular home maintenance. Otherwise, the damage resulting from the lack of maintenance will usually need to be paid out of pocket.

If there was an unforeseen event that caused damage to your insulation, then they may pay for it to be replaced. For instance, if your whole attic is damaged during a tornado, then most home insurance plans will cover fixing the attic and adding more insulation.

Of course, it all depends on the plan you have. Therefore, you’ll need to read through your plan carefully and check for exclusions or call your insurance company.

How Often Does Attic Insulation Need to be Replaced?

Most attic insulation can last as long as 100 years without needing to be replaced. The only exception is if the insulation becomes damaged, in which case it may need to be replaced right away. Water and rodents are usually the biggest threat to attic insulation, so be sure to keep an eye out for mice and water damage.

However, some forms of insulation do not last as long. For instance, insulation can begin falling off of batting in only 15 to 20 years. In these cases, you may need to get it replaced, as it will slowly become less and less effective. An inspection will often let you know if it needs to be replaced.

Other types of insulation last much longer as long as they are kept in perfect condition. Of course, keeping insulation in great condition can be challenging in the real world. If you notice that your insulation is damaged, you can hire an inspector or get an energy audit. These services will help you figure out whether it is worth replacing the insulation or not.

Conclusion

Attic insulation often costs at least a couple of thousands of dollars. However, it is legally required to meet energy standards in most areas, and it can save you lots of money on your energy costs in the future. A well-insulated home does not need as much heating or cooling, which can save your energy costs and prevent your heating and cooling system from being overworked.

There are several factors that affect how much insulation costs. The type of insulation, labor costs, and size of your attic will affect the final price. Someone using more expensive insulation with a larger attic may expect to pay closer to $4,000 to get their attic properly insulated.

Adding and replacing insulation is not usually covered by home insurance. There are exceptions to this, though. For instance, if unforeseen circumstances caused the insulation to become damaged, then it may be covered under your policy. You can always call and ask if you are unsure about what is covered.

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Featured Image Credit: RachelW1, Pixabay