Insulation costs $1.00 to $4.50 per square foot installed, depending on the type, material, R-value, and area. The average cost to insulate a house is $1,600 to $8,000. Insulation material prices are $0.50 to $2.80 per square foot, plus $0.50 to $1.70 per square foot for installation labor.
The cost to insulate a 2000-square-foot house can range from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the type of insulation used and other factors.
Average Cost of Fiberglass Insulation
The cost of fiberglass insulation can range from $0.40 to $1.50 per square foot, depending on the type and R-value chosen. When calculating the cost for an average home of around 1,500 square feet, homeowners can expect to pay between $600 and $2,250 for materials alone.
Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency, you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today, but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years.
However, insulation can start falling from fiberglass batts after 15 to 20 years, so if your insulation was installed in batts well over a decade ago, it might be time for an inspection or a home energy audit.
Irritation to skin and respiratory system
Wall insulation solutions like Rockwool are made of ultra-fine fibres. While thermally efficient, they can cause skin and respiratory irritation.
Fiberglass batt is considered to be the best insulation for attics. Compared to other insulation materials, it is the cheapest and easiest to install.
Most installers charge between $40 and $80 per hour to install insulation, so the more complex the project, the more it will cost. A few complexities that may increase the cost of labor include: Your installer needs to install insulation in hard-to-reach areas.
Lowe's is here to help with our blown-in and batt insulation installation service. There are two types of insulation material to choose from, and which one you choose is up to you. Cellulose insulation, made from recycled paper and treated to be fire-resistant, is the most common material used.
DIY Home Insulation Pros
Fiberglass batts and rolls are fairly inexpensive and can be installed in open and accessible areas like attics, crawl spaces, and rim joists by the handyman homeowner. The homeowner can install blown-in cellulose insulation, but a machine must be rented for the installation.
Overall, fibreglass insulation is the cheapest and most effective insulation option available, making it a popular choice for homeowners and builders alike.
Cost and Considerations
Attic insulation installation ranges from $1.50 sq/ft. to $2.45 sq/ft. The average cost of attic insulation installation is $1.80 sq/ft.
Spray foam insulation does cost more than traditional options, but over time it pays you back in energy savings, and you can't really put a price on the comfort of your family.
Blown fiberglass insulation scores an R-value of 3.2 to 3.8, making it slightly less likely than rolled fiberglass to prevent the flow of heat into and out of your house. That being said, though, blown fiberglass insulation isn't meant to cover huge areas like rolled fiberglass insulation.
However, due to its construction with natural materials, eventually the product will lose effectiveness. Fiberglass insulation typically needs to be replaced 15-20 years into it's life, as it can easily become dirty, wet, moldy, and ineffective if there's a roof leak or water damage of any kind.
Insulating your attic floor can create a vented attic, which is ideal for storage and not needing temperature control upstairs. Insulating the ceiling will make an unvented attic, which allows you to control the temperature for temperamental storage items, living space, and HVAC ductwork.
Do I Have To Remove Old Insulation? Unless your insulation is wet, moldy or infested with pests, you don't need to remove it before adding insulation on top of it. ENERGY STAR® recommends that you inspect your insulation for signs of mold, mildew, moisture and pest infiltration before making this determination.
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers.
SAVINGS AND COMFORT
EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements.
Never place insulation close to water heaters, oil burners or anything hot. The backing is especially flammable and will be a major fire hazard for your home.
The short answer is yes, upgrading insulation can increase the resale value of a home.
Look for damp patches, mould growth, cold spots, increased bills, or condensation. These signs could signal potential insulation problems. It's important to ask for professional inspection and advice without delay.