Remove Attic Insulation – #1 Reasons Why

Do you want to update your home’s energy-saving features? One place to start is the attic. The attic space if not insulated properly can cause your home to use more energy than is needed to maintain the interior and its structure.

The insulation in your attic can prevent gradual damage to your home, caused by heat and moisture. It prevents water vapor from seeping in and eroding your walls. It also slows down heat buildup in your attic, which can cause the shingles on your roof to swell and crack or cause the plywood on your deck to soften.

If you have an attic insulation and it is in poor condition from ie. water damage, considered a hazard, or pests infestation you may need to remove attic insulation. According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. “Faced” insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. Any new roll or batt insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic needs to be without a vapor retarder (face).

What does it cost to remove attic insulation?

The estimated cost of removing old insulation is $1 to $2 per square foot. Keep in mind, this is on top of the price of installing your new insulation.

Check out the video below that discusses when you should remove old attic insulation.

Can you have too much attic insulation?

Possibly. If a home is over-insulated and is too tightly sealed, moisture can get trapped inside. If a home does not have proper ventilation, a home can build up too much moisture, especially in the attic (warm air rises), which can cause mold problems and, overall, lower indoor air quality.

One more thing to keep in mind is to ensure contractors that perform work on your home place any disturbed insulation back in its original location and the contractors remove any debris from their work. ie. re-roofing. Of course, I assume if you did any work you would do this already but it’s a reminder for all homeowners. Almost more than 50% of the time I find debris or disturbed insulation during a home inspection.

I hope this information has been helpful for remove attic insulation. If you have additional questions and want to get in contact with GGR Home Inspections please send us a note, text, or call.

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