How Much Does It Cost to Remove Insulation From an Attic? 2024 Price Update

Homeownership comes with more than its fair share of costs, and if you are new to it all, it can be overwhelming trying to figure everything out. You don’t want to have a contractor come in and rip you off for a job, but you also don’t want to seem like you’re trying to lowball them.

So, how much should you expect to pay if you need to remove insulation from an attic this year? There are a few different factors that go into it, and we break down everything that you need to know here. But in general, you can expect the prices to go from $600 to $1,400 depending on the amount removed.

The Importance of Attic Insulation

While attic insulation might seem like a trivial matter, the truth is that there are many benefits to having insulation in your attic. For starters, it helps control both heat and cold air temperatures inside your home, leading to lower energy bills.

It also helps improve air quality, deter pests, and even enhance your home’s value. Other benefits of attic insulation include prolonging the life of your roof and reducing the amount of noise that comes in.

But while these are all great reasons to have an insulated attic, there are two reasons that you might need to pull out the old insulation. First, over time, attic insulation loses its overall effectiveness. Second, if you’re looking to finish your attic into a livable space, you will likely want to take out the insulation first.

How Much Does Removing Insulation From an Attic Cost?

Now that you know more about attic insulation, you can start getting quotes for attic insulation removal, so you can either update it or finish your attic.

Quotes can vary depending on what company you go with, and they need to evaluate your specific attic in your specific region to give you an accurate quote.

Therefore, we decided to provide low-end, average, and high-end quotes for you to consider. Keep in mind the cost of living in your area and the size of your attic when trying to determine what range your quote would fall in.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

Keep in mind that these costs are just for old insulation removal. It’s not the final cost that you can expect to pay if you have a professional come in and complete the job for you. Additional costs to anticipate include disposal costs, the cost of new insulation, and taxes.

Just the disposal and taxes can add another $100 to $200 to the overall cost, and new insulation will significantly raise the cost of the entire project.

Of course, whether you need new insulation comes down to whether you’re finishing the attic. If you’re removing the old insulation and not finishing the attic, we highly recommend adding new insulation.

How Often Should I Replace Insulation in an Attic?

This depends on the type of insulation material in your attic. Older insulation materials typically last between 15 and 20 years, so if you have older insulation in your attic, this is about how long you can expect it to last.

The good news is that most newer insulation materials can last anywhere between 80 and 100 years if the attic stays in good condition overall. So, if you keep moisture out of the attic and leave it alone, there’s a good chance that you’ll never have to replace the insulation in your attic.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Removing Attic Insulation?

While homeowners insurance covers a wide array of conditions, it will not cover attic insulation and removal unless it’s part of a larger claim. For instance, if a storm damages the roof and part of that damage affects the insulation in the attic, the homeowner’s insurance should cover it.

But if you simply need to replace the insulation in your attic because of routine wear and tear, this isn’t something that homeowners insurance will cover. It only covers damages from accidents or natural disasters, not typical expenses that are part of owning a home.

What to Do to Keep Your Attic in Good Shape

If you want the insulation in your attic to last, there are a few things that you need to do. First, ensure that your attic has proper ventilation. This will keep the air moving and help prevent mold and mildew from forming in the insulation.

Second, keep the roof in good condition. The fastest way to create damage in your attic (and home) is for the roof to start leaking, bringing moisture into the attic.

Finally, you should periodically inspect the attic for pests. While proper insulation will help with this, bats and other critters can still find their way into your attic. A periodic inspection and proper treatment if they do show up will go a long way in keeping the insulation in good shape year after year.

Conclusion

Now that you know what a fair price is for insulation removal from an attic, all that’s left is for you to reach out to a few different companies and get a few quotes for yourself. We highly recommend getting at least three different quotes, so you know that you’re getting a good deal for your area before you settle on a final contractor to do the job.

Featured Image Credit By: LianeM, Shutterstock