Insulation FAQ: How Much Should I Pay For Insulation?

With half the year already gone, we hope you have been making it through your home improvement to-do list. If not – do not worry, there is still time! If you are thinking about what needs doing and what needs to be prioritised now, if new or replacement insulation is on your list, we would suggest making it a top priority.

It is a common misconception that insulation is only necessary for the winter months, but we are here to tell you that this is certainly not the case. Insulation works in your favor year round – from keeping your home warm in the cooler months and cooler in the warmer months. It also works to keep your home comfortable year round, while also lowering your overall energy costs. It is one of the most important investments you can make in your home. The good news is any time of the year is a great time to install new insulation – even now in the middle of summer.

The thing with insulation installation – as with most home improvement projects – is you want to find a good deal without compromising on quality. The reality is most of the time, you get what you pay for. Quality insulation, and a quality installer, will always cost more. And while it might cost more upfront, the thing to remember is it will save you money down the line when you are not paying to re-do poorly installed or bad quality insulation and when you save money on energy costs from high-quality and energy-efficient insulation. 

In this article, we will be discussing how much you can expect to pay for quality installation in Maryland and Virginia, as well as how to find the best home improvement contractor for the job. Let us get right to it! 

How Much Does Insulation Cost in Maryland and Virginia?

According to Forbes, the average cost of new insulation in the US costs anywhere between $2,000 to $24,000, with the average cost sitting between $3,000-$10,000. As you can see, that is a pretty wide price range. These costs are based on a 2,000 square-foot house. 

There are several factors that go into calculating the final insulation installation price. While you need to consider the cost of materials, you also need to consider the cost of labor, insurance, business costs and the price of any specialty machinery. It is often the case that electrical rewiring is a necessary part of insulation upgrades and installation, so this is another cost you will need to factor in. Other cost elements to consider include:

• Any repairs to rotten wood
• Adding central heating to the attic
• Adding seals around chimneys and framing
• Having a professional check for water leaks
• Any plumbing work
• The current state of insulation in your home 

How to Find a Quality Insulation Contractor

At the end of the day, even the highest quality insulation will not do its job effectively if it has not been installed by a quality insulation contractor. Yet with the countless insulation contractors in Maryland and Virginia, how do you know who is the best company for the job? Well, luckily there are a few ways to determine if you have found yourself a quality insulation contractor. 

Your Insurer is Certified and Insured

Always look for a contractor who is Licensed, bonded and insured. Apart from asking the contractor whether they are insured, you can verify a contractor’s certification by checking the Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA). Insurance is vital because if something goes wrong during the insulation installation project and your contractor is uninsured, you will be the one out of pocket. 

They Know Their R-Values

R-values are essential to insulation, so safe to say your contractor needs to know their R-values front and back so they can determine the R-values of any existing insulation you have. This means you can decide if you want to add more insulation on top, or remove the existing insulation completely and replace it with new insulation. Your contractor  also must understand how to combine the R-value of the new insulation with the R-value of the old insulation so it equals the recommended value for your area.

They Run Advanced Diagnostic Tests

A quality insulation contractor will run advanced diagnostic tests to figure out where to add insulation in your home. They will also use these tests to determine how much insulation is needed. The benefit of using advanced diagnostics tests is that it takes the guesswork out of how much insulation you need to buy. Even the most experienced contractor can not always get it right when taking a guess, which is why at Windows on Washington we always run diagnostic tests with our insulation projects. This saves our clients money because they only need to buy the exact amount of insulation required.