Insulation Removal In PhoenixMany homeowners notice dust streaks around the registers or a thin film of powder on their dressers and tables and think their source of dust is from the insulation in the attic. Other homeowners feel like the dirty insulation becomes useless with age, especially after settling below the attic studs. This may be true, but does that insulation need to be removed?
When Should Insulation Be Removed In Your Attic?The Insulation Should Be Removed When It’s Water Damaged
If you’ve had a roof leak or the condensation from your air conditioner has spilled out the drip pan onto your insulation, the insulation can hold moisture in for a long time and become a source of mold spores or mildew. It also will lose its effectiveness at slowing down the transfer of heat into your home once it’s wet. If a small area was affected, only that portion should be removed, the entire attic insulation does not have to be removed. In Preparation For Electrical Wiring Or Remodeling We can remove attic insulation if you are raising a dropped ceiling, remodeling or rewiring a home. Loose fill fiberglass gets removed with an extraction machine and dispose of the bags at the local landfill. Extraction jobs take 1-2 days and are done by a team of three. The Attic Was Infested With Rats Or Other Critters Roof rats are a common problem around neighbors with fruit trees and you may even hear them tapping around your attic at night. These critters will build nests and use the insulation as their home while seemingly multiplying and inviting all their friends to their new home. Rat urine and droppings are hazardous and need to be removed along with all the insulation in the infected areas. If a rat has been in an area, a trail of droppings will follow them. In this situation, the insulation should be removed and the attic disinfected before blowing new insulation in. When adding new insulation we prefer using cellulose blown in insulation because of the fire retardant chemical borate that’s used is also a rodent deterrent. With Spray Foam Insulation To Air Seal The Attic In hot dry climates like Phoenix, we typically use open cell spray foam and remove all the insulation from the attic floor. Spray foam is an insulator and air sealant in one and with the attic ventilation completely closed off, there’s no more dust coming in from the outside. We want to create a completely sealed attic space which will naturally also improve the air quality of the home plus reduce your energy bills. How Is Insulation Removed From The Attic?For loose fill or blown in insulation we use an extraction machine to suck out the insulation. We use the same machine to suck out the insulation when we are applying spray foam along the roof decking. Many homeowners have tried to remove the insulation by hand in trash bags but anything over 500 sq ft is a monumental task and has always proven too much work. The extraction will suck out the insulation from a 6” hose and fill 20 gallon bags. A typically 2000 sq ft home will use about 6-10 extraction bags. For fiberglass batt removal, it must be done manually, one batt at a time.
How Much Does Insulation Cost?Insulation removal cost will depend on the existing depth of insulation, square footage, attic access and offshoots, and if it is rodent infested. The cost will range from $0.70-$1.50 sq ft for extraction.
Contact Green ID to have a insulation removal specialist help you with your next attic project. |
|