If your house is drafty, the heat flow is uneven, and your energy bills are through the roof, you may need new insulation. If your home insulation is over ten years old, you may need to schedule an inspection by top insulation contractors in Worcester, MA.
Quality insulation services can help ensure your home is in sync with the best home insulation practices and improve your home’s energy efficiency.
At Northeast Home & Energy, we’re dedicated to helping homeowners improve their home’s energy efficiency and lower their utility bills. We have diligently served Worcester, Ma, homeowners for over four decades.
Dig in as we answer some of the routine questions we receive from homeowners seeking to learn more about home insulation.
An insulation contractor is a specialized contractor who offers thermal insulation installation services. They may specialize in one type of insulation material, such as cellulose, fiberglass, mineral wool, or spray foam, or install more than one variety.
There are two types of insulation contractors:
- Industrial contractors: They work with construction contractors to provide insulation services to factories, commercial buildings, factories, and manufacturing facilities.
- Residential contractors: They service homeowners and specialize in installing insulations in new and existing houses and small-scale barns.
Most contractors charge $40 to $80 an hour to install home insulation. At these rates, the labor cost works out to $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot. The overall cost of labor depends on the insulation type and the installation project’s complexity.
Complex installations, such as those with hard-to-reach areas or involving removing old installations, will cost more. Battling insulations are quick and easy to install, while spray foam takes time and preparation.
The total cost of insulating any part of your home depends on its size and choice of insulation material. Most insulation contractors charge per square foot when installing insulation in your home. The cost of insulation ranges from $1,400 to $6,300.
- Garage: At $0.50 to $1.25 per square foot, insulating a garage may cost $1,500 to $8,000.
- Crawl space: At $1 to $5 per square foot, it may cost you $500 to $1,500 to insulate the ceiling of your crawl space.
- Attic: Insulating an attic may cost $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the insulation materials.
- Roof insulation: It may cost $1,500 to $6,000 to insulate your roof and up to $40,000 to convert your attic into a livable space.
- Wall insulation: Depending on the choice of insulation material, it costs $1 to $4 per square foot to insulate your walls. Fiberglass and mineral wool are the most affordable options at $1 to $1.50 per square foot. Spray foam is the most expensive, costing $3 to $4 per square foot.
- Pole barn: Insulating your pole barn costs $1 to $4 per square foot. Insulation contractors recommend spray foam or fiberglass batting covered with thick polypropylene sheets.
- Insulation replacement: Replacing old fiberglass and blown-in insulation costs $2 to $7 per square foot. Rigid foam boards are the easiest to remove, while spray foam can be highly problematic.
- Insulation removal: Insulation contractors charge $1 to $1.50 per square foot to remove old compromised insulation material. They may charge separate disposal fees.
You can certainly save money with a DIY installation on some insulation projects. You’re likely to create a mess, but you can complete the project successfully with the right tools, motivation, proper insulation, and sufficient time. However, you should always hire a professional for attic jobs and blown-in roof installations. These projects may require special equipment and professional knowledge. A DIY insulation installation may save you the labor cost of hiring a pro which is about $40 to $80 an hour or $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot.
Insulating a house may seem like a straightforward project, but it takes a lot of hard work and specialized skills. A DIY installer may have difficulties picking the best installation material and can easily make crucial mistakes. Besides lacking the proper know-how, you may not have the right tools for the job, which may lower the quality of your work.
The cost of installing insulation in existing walls ranges from $1.75 to $7.50 per square foot, including labor charges. The cost varies wildly depending on the choice of insulation material.
Expanding foam, made from closed or open-cell polyurethane or a special cement, is the best insulation material for old walls. It’s more costly and requires professional insulation installation, but it will efficiently plug all air leaks.
Typically, the time it takes to insulate your house depends on the size of the area, the choice of insulation material, and the job’s complexity.
A skilled insulation contractor in Worcester, Ma, can insulate an entire house with foam spray in a day or less. Jobs that involve insulating the crawl space, attic, or rim joist take two days since we’ll need to remove the old insulation.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the spray foam insulation time frame.
- Existing external walls: Two to five hours, depending on the area size, siding type, home design, and the number of floors.
- The attic: One to two days, depending on how much of the old insulation needs to be removed. Our removal crew may come a day or two in advance to remove the old insulation.
- Crawl spaces: Two to three hours, depending on the crawl space design.
- Rim joist: One to two hours, but it may take longer if it involves fiberglass insulation removal or the basement design makes it hard to reach the rim joist.
The lifespan of home insulation ranges from 20 to 100 years, depending on the materials used. Some types of insulations can last a lifetime.
- Spray foam Insulation: It’s the most reliable, effective, and durable home insulation. Uncompromised spray foam can last a lifetime, if not longer.
- Fiberglass Insulation: Undamaged fiberglass insulation lasts 80 to 100 years, but those installed with fiberglass batts start deteriorating after 15 years.
- Blown Cellulose Insulation: Cellulose is an eco-friendly insulation with a 20 to 30 years lifespan but may start degrading after 15 years.
- Mineral wool: Mineral wool may serve you for several decades, but the actual lifespan varies between the specific product. Slag, rock, and glass wool all have different longevity.
Home insulation is a highly rewarding home improvement project. Installing new insulation delivers a 100% ROI on your investment by lowering your monthly energy costs while improving your quality of life. At Northeast Home & Energy, we are your one-stop shop for all your roofing, siding, windows, and custom insulation needs. Our skilled technicians are on hand to create a comfortable, energy-efficient home.
Need help picking the best insulation for your home? Contact us today!
