[1] Air sealing and insulating your attic can have a massive, positive impact on your energy bills and comfort level. But before you jump into this work, you’ll need to account for the cost to air seal and insulate attic spaces.
It’s hard to estimate this cost without knowing your situation, since the expenses that come with [2] insulation and air sealing will vary based on a few factors. But when you research the costs of insulation and get help from attic professionals, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of an insulated and air-sealed home without breaking the bank.
Understanding Attic Insulation and Air Sealing
[3] Attic insulation and air sealing have the same basic goal: controlling heat transfer and improving efficiency in your home. However, these are two different tasks at heart.
[1] Air sealing is all about stopping drafts and preventing air leaks. Meanwhile, [2] insulation materials have a different goal: reducing your home’s heat transfer rate and maintaining consistent indoor temperatures.
Even though it’s important to know the differences between air sealing and attic insulation, these tasks provide the best results when you take care of both at the same time. Start by working on air sealing to cut off any nooks and crannies where air could leak into or out of your home. When that’s done, install insulation to get even better thermal resistance and save more on energy costs.
How Much Will Insulation/Air Sealing Cost?
Like almost any other home improvement project, you’ll have to spend money to insulate and air seal your attic. And [4] according to the Center for Energy and Environment, the cost to air seal and insulate attic spaces isn’t set in stone.
Some factors determining the price tag for this work are your attic’s size and the amount of effort it would take to insulate this space. Still, [4] attic insulation/air sealing should run you anywhere from $2,000 to $6,500.
Though this might sound steep, you should also think about the money-saving opportunities that come with doing this work. Just ask [5] the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has said homeowners can lower their energy costs by 11% when they air seal and insulate their homes.
Exploring Your Insulation Options
To get the best results from insulation and air sealing, you’ll need to find an insulation type that works with your attic. Here are the pros and cons that come with some well-known types of insulation:
Spray Foam
[2] Spray foam is sold as a liquid, which expands after being sprayed into attic spaces. But even though spray foam fills gaps better than some insulation products, it can’t replace the traditional air sealing process.
To get the best results, you’ll still need to air seal your home before installing spray foam insulation. (Spray foam also isn’t the most cost-effective insulation option, since other insulation types are less expensive than this material.)
Fiberglass Batts
[2] Fiberglass batt insulation delivers some huge advantages:
- It isn’t challenging to install
- It’s great at blocking outdoor sound
- It has a lower shrinkage risk than other insulation types
- It’s a relatively cheap choice for your insulation needs
Still, you’ll need to be careful while working with these batts since [6] fiberglass can irritate skin. To prevent these problems, wear the right safety equipment during attic insulation work.
Blown-In Insulation
Instead of spray foam and batts, you could invest in blown-in insulation – loose material installed in your attic with a blower. [2] Cellulose and fiberglass are two common types of blown-in insulation.
Both of these materials can deliver cost-effective insulation that gets the job done. But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all insulation option: blown-in cellulose can easily suffer from mold growth, while blown-in fiberglass poses the same health hazards as fiberglass batts.
Other Things to Consider During Attic Work
If you already have attic improvements on the schedule, you might as well take care of other essential tasks while you’re working in this space. That could include jobs like:
Ventilation Improvements
Though it’s important to air seal your attic, that doesn’t mean you should avoid ventilating this space. During the winter months, ventilation can lower your risk of roof damage resulting from ice damming.
Your attic’s vents can also help heated air move out of your attic during the summer. Between these factors and other benefits, you should install attic ventilation if this space isn’t already ventilated and clear out existing vents if they’re blocked.
Wiring Inspections
Do you live in an older house? If you do, your attic may have knob and tube wiring. This is an old, ungrounded type of wiring that no longer meets today’s electrical safety standards. Before you can work on insulation and air sealing, you’ll need to find a licensed electrician who can remove and replace this wiring for you.
Insulation Removal
If your insulation is suffering from damage, you’ll probably need to remove it entirely and start from scratch. Even if this material appears to be in good enough shape, you may still need to replace your insulation if it has been in use for a long time.
When you’re thinking about insulation removal, you’ll need to make sure your existing insulation isn’t dangerous. This is especially true for people living in old homes which might have [7] vermiculite insulation that contains asbestos.
If you think your attic’s insulation might fall into this category, you should never attempt to [7] remove that insulation by yourself. Find a professional contractor who can safely remove this material for you instead.
Get Affordable Air Sealing and Insulation Installation
Though there’s no getting around the cost to air seal and insulate attic spaces, that doesn’t mean you should avoid this work entirely. Instead, think of this as an investment in your home’s future (especially since these tasks can actively lower your heating and cooling costs).