With the cost of energy prices soaring around the country, many people should be looking for low-cost home improvement projects that can help lower their home energy bills.  Most homeowners never consider the fact that their attics is the main source of energy loss in their home.  With 49% of your home’s energy bill going to heating and cooling (according to the US Department of Energy); insulating your attic is an inexpensive and effective way to lower your monthly payments.  The cost of blown-in insulation can vary depending on the scope of the project and the material used; so in this blog, we’ll take a quick look at what attic insulation is and the costs to install the different types of blown-in insulation.

Blown-in Attic Insulation

Insulation is a material used to reduce the transfer of heat in and out of your home.  When your attic is properly insulated it will maintain comfort in your home by eliminating draftiness and conditioned air loss.  Maintaining your temperatures inside will allow your heating and cooling systems to run less, therefore, bringing down energy bills.  Blown-in insulation is a great way to insulate your attic because it has an adjustable R-value ( measurement of how well a material resists heat, measured in inches), and its ability to easily seal gaps and get maximum coverage.  The cost of your insulation project will depend on the type of insulation used and the depth of insulation needed to reach the desired R-value.  The region you live in will dictate what your R-value needs to be; the colder your climate the higher the R-value will need to be. Let’s take a look at the three types of blown-in insulation for your attic; fiberglass, cellulose, and mineral wool, and how much it may cost.

Fiberglass Insulation

Blown-in fiberglass is the most commonly used insulation type, and the least expensive to install.  Fiberglass is the cotton candy-like, itchy material in most attics today.  It has the lowest R-value which means more depth will be needed to get the desired thermal resistance but is readily available, cheap, and easy to install.  There are several brands of fiberglass insulation giving you more options for pricing and performance.  The material cost per square foot of fiberglass insulation can range from $0.50-$1.10 depending on brand and R-value.  Depending on the climate zone you live in the cost of a 1000-square-foot insulation job can cost anywhere from $500 to reach R30 ( a pretty standard R-value for most areas) to $1060 for a value of R60.  

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is another cost-effective way to insulate your attic.  This material is made from 85% recycled paper materials and has the highest rated R-value at around 3.7 per inch.  This eco-friendly insulation is denser than fiberglass allowing it to fill in tight gaps and hard-to-get areas giving it more insulating value.  This product however can take a little more time to install and can be dusty when first blown in so some installers may charge extra for installing cellulose.  The material cost of cellulose insulation costs on average around $1.20 per square foot, making it only slightly more than fiberglass but with a better performance value.  With the added benefits of being fire-resistant and pest, mold, and mildew-resistant, cellulose is an eco-friendly, effective, and inexpensive material for your home energy efficiency project.

Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool insulation is made from molten rock and slag that has been hyper-heated, basically into lava, and spun into fibers that are blown in like the other insulation types.  This material is extremely flame resistant, naturally repels pests, repels moisture, and is highly sound dampening.  Combined with the second-highest R-value of around 3.2 per inch, this product is an amazing attic insulator.  On the other hand, mineral wool can be hard to find and usually boasts a much higher price.  The cost of mineral wool can range from $1.40 to $2.10 per square foot making it over double the price of fiberglass and still more expensive than cellulose.  With this product, you have to ask yourself are its benefits worth the cost.

There are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to how much it would cost to insulate your attic.  Whether just adding some new insulation to your existing insulation to bump up its R-value or a complete attic remodel with insulation removal, air sealing, and brand new high-performing insulation; This project will make your home more comfortable, energy-efficient, and save you money every month.  With savings from 25-35% or more on your home energy costs, Home Shield Insulation wants to be your partner in creating a more energy-efficient and green world.  Call us for a free inspection and estimate today to see how we can help make your home more comfortable and start saving you money!

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