How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost In Florida?

November 29, 2017

The cost to add attic insulation to a Florida home ranges from $2,000 to $6,000.

But what you’ll actually pay depends on these cost factors…

• The type of insulation you use
  
• The size of your attic
• Removing old, wet insulation
• The contractor you hire

Let’s go into more detail about each of these to get a better understanding of what you’ll pay for attic insulation.

Want a quote on how much it will cost to insulate your attic? Just give us a call and we’ll give you an estimate.

Cost factor #1: The type of insulation you use

The type of insulation you choose for your attic greatly affects what you’ll end up paying.

Let’s look at 3 of the most common types of insulation:

• Batts (fiberglass or cotton): Batts are the most common type of insulation, which consist of “blankets” of interwoven fiberglass or cotton. They are relatively easy to install and they’re generally the most inexpensive option.
  However, the downside is that batts don’t work as well as other types of insulation because they don’t fill the space very well. You see, since batts come in square pieces and many parts of an attic have odd shapes, they can’t cover every opening where air may escape.
• Blow-in fiberglass or cellulose: Blow-in insulation is made of paper-like fiberglass or cellulose particles that are blown into a space using a special blower (think of a firefighter with a hose).
  Blow-in insulation is slightly more expensive than batts, although it’s still affordable because it doesn’t take as long to install. Plus, it insulates a lot better than batt insulation because it can conform to and fill tiny spaces.
• Spray-in foam: Similar to blow-in insulation, spray-in foam expands to fill any cracks or voids so air can’t enter or escape. This option is generally the most expensive, but it’s also the best insulator because the foam expands up to 100 times its volume to fill in cracks and crevices (blow-in insulation doesn’t expand). Because the foam fills space so well, it eliminates almost all air infiltration.

Our recommendation? Go with blow-in fiberglass insulation

For Florida homes, we usually recommend going with blown-in fiberglass insulation. Visit our insulation installation page for more information about the benefits of this type of insulation.

Cost factor #2: The size of your attic

After you choose your insulation, you’ll need to know how much of it to purchase. And that depends on the size of your attic space.

The bigger the attic, the more insulation you’ll need to purchase. Also, the bigger the space, the longer it will take to install the insulation, making the job more expensive.

Cost factor #3: Removing old, wet attic insulation

According to Energy Star, if your old insulation appears wet, you’ll need to get rid of it and fix any water leaks before adding new insulation. Water can damage new insulation and foster mold growth in your attic.

The cost to have a professional remove any existing insulation ranges from $2,000–$5,000, depending on the size of your house. So, if your old insulation is wet and needs to be removed, you’ll have to add that to the total cost of adding new insulation in your attic.

Now, you can remove the old attic insulation yourself, but it’s a tedious and dirty job. Plus, since it’s in the attic, you risk stepping through the ceiling if you’re not careful. For these reasons, we recommend having a professional remove any existing insulation. If you find mold in your attic, hire a mold remediation specialist to remove it before you install any new insulation.

Cost factor #4: The contractor you hire

When it comes to choosing a contractor to install insulation in your attic, you get what you pay for. Beware of contractors who underbid or offer super low installation costs because the work they offer may be of low quality.

Improperly installed insulation can cost you money on energy bills in the long run, so it’s better to pay for a quality job from the get-go—even if it’s more expensive upfront.

We’ll share a few tips on how to find a quality contractor:

• Look for high customer satisfaction through online reviews
  
• Obtain bids from multiple contractors so you get an idea of what’s on the higher and lower ends of price
• Make sure the contractor is insured in case anything goes wrong on the job

Want an attic insulation install quote from a Florida pro?

Just give us a call. We’d be happy to give you a quote based on your home’s needs and size.

For more information, visit our insulation installation service page.

Posted in: Buyer's Guide