8 Questions to Ask an Insulation Installer Before Signing

If your insulation needs replacing, you might start by researching and looking for the right insulation for your home. However, if you start by looking for the right insulation installer, a professional insulation installer will be able to guide you towards the right insulation for your home saving you time. Even with the right insulation, if your insulation is not installed properly, it simply will not work as intended. If that is the case, you can lose a lot of time and money that would not have been lost if you hired the right insulation installer in the first place. That is why we have put together this article, covering the 8 questions you should ask an insulation installer before signing.

But First, what is Insulation?

Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, which naturally lowers your heating and cooling costs. Most insulation materials work by slowing conductive heat flow (that is, the way heat moves through materials). Heat flows from warmer to cooler until there is no longer a temperate difference. In your home, this basically means in winter, heat will flow from all your heated living spaces to all the unheated places like your attic, garage, basement and sometimes outdoors. So, to keep your home feeling comfortable, the heat lost needs to be replaced by your heating system, and vice versa in the summer.

This makes your heating and cooling systems work much harder, which often results in an expensive energy bill. A properly insulated home, however, will decrease this heat flow by offering effective resistance to the flow of heat. This means your heating system will not need to work as hard, which ultimately results in reduced heating costs.

Now that you understand what insulation is and why it is important, let us look at the key questions you should be asking an insulation installer. 

8 Important Questions to Ask an Insulation Installer

1. How long have you been in business?

While time in business does not necessarily mean they will be a good insulation installer, the longer they have been in business, the more work they will have done and the more references they will have. You can then ask for these references to ensure they are reliable, trustworthy and skilled in insulation installation. However, just because someone has been in business for say 20 years, it does not mean they are an expert. Always ask for past client references or at the very least examples of previous work.

2. Do you live and work locally?

While having a local insulation installer is not an essential requirement, it certainly helps. They know the area and the climate, meaning they can provide the best advice on which insulation will be best for your home. Meanwhile, being local means they live and work in the community and are far less likely to do a bad job because word will quickly get around.

3. Are you a licensed insulation installer?

Depending on the type of insulation, the contractor may need a license. For example, loose-fill fiberglass cellulose or batt insulation does not require any type of specialized licensing, while spray foam requires an exclusive license.

4. Do you provide a guarantee/warranty?

Guarantees and warranties are two separate things – but a good insulation installer will offer both. Warranties cover the materials used, while guarantees cover the labor performed in the insulation process. The warranty period depends on the manufacturer, while a guarantee period is up to the contractor. Typically, you can feel safe with an insulation installer who offers a 10-year guarantee on labor.

If an insulation installer does not have liability insurance or offer worker’s compensation – run fast in the other direction. These two things are essential (and legally required in most states) depending on the size of the job. Always check that the contractor you are vetting has both liability insurance and worker’s comp insurance. It is also a good idea to ask the contractor to get their insurer to send you their current certificates of insurance before they start the job.

6. What type of insulation do you recommend?

A good insulation installer will be able to easily recommend the right insulation for your needs – as well as an explanation as to why they recommend it. Any insulation contractor worth their money will be able to talk about the benefits and disadvantages of the different insulation products on the market. They will also be able to recommend the best type, brand and application technique based on your specific requirements. If they seem clueless or can not tell you which insulation is best for your home – find another installer.

7. How long will the work take and how much will it cost?

The time to complete the insulation installation and costs should be something you ask an insulation installer about before signing. When it comes to home improvement, most things are a rough estimate because there will inevitably be a few hiccups along the way that can lead to increased time and prices. However, a good insulation installer should be able to foresee some common problems and include room for that in their estimate.

8. Will you be the one doing all the work?

Depending on the type of insulation job, the insulation contractor might not be the one to do the entire project. For example, air sealing might be necessary before new insulation is added. If this is the case, ask the contractor if they have someone they recommend.

We hope this has helped make the process of searching for an insulation installer easier. If you have an insulation project you need help with, get in touch with Windows on Washington today.