Insulation contractors are professionals specializing in installing and maintaining insulation materials in homes and commercial buildings. They improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling costs, and enhance comfort by selecting and installing the most suitable insulation types.
There are times when you will need to add some more insulation into your home to make it comfortable and to keep all the cold air out when the winter months happen. Or maybe you would like to add it to an office building, your shed, or a barn. No matter where you need to add that extra insulation, you may wonder who is able to come and get it done for you. An insulation contractor can take on the work, but what are they and what work can they get done for you?
Choosing the right insulation contractor will help you get the right type and amount of insulation into your business, making it more comfortable and improving energy efficiency overall. Let’s take a closer look at what an insulation contractor can do for your property.
Do I Need an Insulation Contractor?
If your property feels drafty in winter or overheated in summer, or if your energy bills are unusually high, you may need an insulation contractor. These professionals assess your building, identify insulation gaps, and install materials that meet energy efficiency and safety standards.
It is common for most insulation contractors on a variety of different buildings. This includes coming into residential areas and working on homes that may have older insulation or would like to have more than what was originally put into the property. These professionals can also work with commercial properties too, taking the time to do an analysis to figure out where more insulation could be beneficial.
What Work Do Insulation Contractors Perform?
There are a lot of different tasks that an insulation contractor can take on, depending on the work their client requires. They will work to help improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and colling costs, and enhance the amount of comfort that one can feel inside the property.
Insulation contractors handle the following tasks:
- Building Assessments: Determine the right insulation type for your property.
- Installation: Insulate attics, walls, basements, and crawl spaces to meet safety and building codes.
- Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Replace outdated insulation to reduce energy costs and improve thermal performance.
- Material Recommendations: Offer advice on insulation types like fiberglass, spray foam, cellulose, and rigid foam boards.
Proper insulation can lower energy bills by up to 20% annually while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.
In addition, they have a number of responsibilities. They will often assess a building to figure out which type of insulation makes the most sense at the time. They can take on the goal of installing the insulation into basements, crawl spaces, attics, and walls of the property. And they will ensure that the insulation meets building codes and safety standards on each project.
What Materials Do Insulation Contractors Use?
These professionals are able to work with pretty much any type of material that you would need for the insulation in your commercial or residential property. They can handle fiberglass, spray foam, cellulose, and rigid foam boards. It just depends on the specific needs of the project. They can also provide the property owner with some advice on the different energy-saving measures that they can use and will do upgrades to improve the thermal efficiency of older buildings they work on.
Contractors work with these common insulation materials:
- Fiberglass: Affordable, costing $1–$2 per square foot.
- Spray Foam: A premium option costing $5–$7 per square foot but offering superior thermal performance.
- Cellulose: Eco-friendly, costing $0.60–$2.30 per square foot.
- Rigid Foam Boards: Versatile and durable, priced between $1.50–$4 per square foot.
The choice depends on the project’s needs, budget, and energy efficiency goals.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Insulation Contractor?
The cost of hiring these professionals can vary depending on the material that you use, the size of the project, where the property is located, and how complex the installation is at the time. Some ideas on how much you will spend include:
- Fiberglass insulation: This can be a very affordable option to use, coming in under $2 a square foot, including materials and labor.
- Spray foam insulation: This is more expensive, but will provide more insulation than the other types. It will cost up to $5 for the open-cell spray foam and up to $7 for closed-cell spray foam a square foot.
- Cellulose insulation: This one will be somewhere between $0.60 to $2.30 a square foot, depending on if it is done in an attic or in the walls.
- Rigid foam board insulation: This one will be between $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot. It will depend on the type of foam board and the thickness.
Choosing the Right Insulation Contractor
There are a lot of things to consider when it is time to pick out an insulation contractor to help take over some of the work that needs to be done around our property. Whether the insulation in the property is getting older or it is time to add a bit more in to help with energy efficiency, a good insulation contractor will be able to take over the work and get it done for you.
Selecting the right contractor ensures your project is completed efficiently and effectively. Look for:
- Experience and Certification: Verify licenses and credentials.
- Reviews and References: Check online reviews and ask for referrals.
- Transparency: Request a detailed quote and timeline before starting.
Make sure to do your research and find someone who will be able to take on your project in no time.