Introduction
Learn how to insulate your attic yourself with blown-in cellulose insulation, and start saving money on your utility bills. This step-by-step article walks you through every detail of the job, plus you'll learn about attic insulation costs.Blown-in Insulation Overview
If you need to add insulation in your attic, save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself.
How much does attic insulation cost? The pros charge $1,500 to $2,000 to do a 1,200-sq.-ft. house. You can do it yourself for about $500. Blowing attic insulation isn’t hard, but it’s dusty, sweaty work.
To make insulating an attic easier, grab a helper and set aside two days: one for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation. By the end of the weekend you’re going to be sore and tired. But saving $1,000 or more with blown-in ceiling insulation will make up for your aching back. Here, check out the types of attic insulation to select the one that suits your needs the most.
The long-term payoff of insulating an attic is impressive, too. You could see your energy bills go down by as much as 15 to 25 percent depending on your climate and existing levels of insulation. And you may also qualify for a tax credit on the blown in attic insulation cost (check with the IRS or at energystar.gov).
To show you how to do the blown-in insulation job right, we asked our expert to share his tips for making the job go smoothly and help you avoid the top three attic-insulation mistakes.
Our Blown-in Insulation Expert
Arne Olson, the owner of Houle Insulation in Minneapolis, has insulated more than 5,000 homes. “A lot of those homes were insulated by DIYers who didn’t know what they were doing,” says Olson. “They didn’t use enough insulation and they didn’t seal up the attic bypasses or put in vent chutes.”
Olson says it’s also common for older insulation to settle over time. “But you can blow cellulose over whatever kind of insulation is already there, and this is a great DIY project for someone who doesn’t mind working up a sweat.”
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