Should Old Insulation Be Removed From An Attic

Spray foam contractors in arizona have differed though in their reasoning over if the existing insulation should be removed or kept along the attic floor.

Should old insulation be removed from an attic.

But it s an expensive undertaking providers say materials and labor to install cellulose to the recommended r value can range from 90 cents to 1 50 per square foot depending on prep work and existing. The case for leaving the loose fill insulation along the attic floor as is the attic floor insulation will keep doing its job and slow the heat coming into the home. You will rarely have to remove your old insulation when setting up a new one. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Although insulation professionals will handle the installation for you here are some things to keep in mind about removing old insulation and installing new insulation over old insulation according to energy star. The answer is no. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. This is a confusing situation and you will probably question yourself if you need to remove the old insulation before you set in the new one.

In either of these situations it s important to remove the affected areas of insulation but it s just as important that the source of the moisture has been located and repaired to. Faced insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Equally important is the need to air seal the attic plane after the vermiculite is removed and before the new insulation is blown in.

The step of air sealing the attic plane has been a building code requirement for new construction homes for almost 20 years. When its times to adding new insulation they are surprised an old insulation already exists. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. If you decide to leave the old insulation on the attic floor after spray foaming the underside of the roof deck the attic will be much cooler in the winter than if you removed the old insulation.

Removal and replacement of attic insulation including sealing penetrations from below assuming you already have the standard vapor barrier on top of the topfloor ceiling drywall should run in the 1 2 sf range in a normally accessible attic if low headroom less than 5 feet or so down the middle or low headroom flat roof then closer to 3 sf.