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With extreme weather brought about by climate change and power outages due to grid tensions becoming more common, maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home has never been more important. Insulation is an essential part of ensuring that your house survives the winter properly. Regardless of the temperature outside, installing or replacing your home’s insulation is essential to keep your home safe and comfortable.

You may be surprised to find that the cost of upgrading or re-insulating the house can pay for itself in just a few years of reducing electricity bills. For a 2,000-square-foot house, the average cost of home insulation is between US$3,000 and US$10,000, or between US$1.50 and US$5.00 per square foot.

The cost of home insulation varies based on many factors, including the type and material selected for insulation, the location of your home, whether it is a new or existing home, and labor costs in your area.

For cost estimation purposes, dimensions (in square feet) have been given to reflect different price points. Depending on the insulation area, the cost may be lower or higher. All costs are calculated at US$2.00 per square foot.

If you are building a new house, this is probably the easiest time to add insulation to your house. Because the walls and ceilings are not yet finished, they are still "open" and insulation can be added. After the house is completed, you may also want to add blow-in insulation to open spaces such as attics. Insulation between new and existing houses can reduce at least $1.00 per square foot.

If your existing insulation materials start to degrade or are no longer effective in preventing your home from losing air conditioning, then it may be time to replace the existing insulation materials. Although many types of insulating materials can last for decades, some types of insulating materials can only last for 20 to 30 years. If the insulation material in your home is older than this, it may need to be replaced. Removing existing insulating materials may expose you to toxic chemicals, so you should consult and/or hire a professional to complete this project safely.

The cost of removing the insulation material ranges from US$1.00 to US$3.00 per square foot. Adding to the cost of installing insulation materials on existing houses means that the cost of removing and replacing the insulation materials will be US$2.50 per square foot. To 8.00 US dollars.

There are four common household insulation materials, each with different costs and advantages.

Cotton batting or roll insulation material is one of the cheapest household insulation materials and one of the easiest insulation materials to install, especially for DIYers. This type of insulation is designed to adapt to the standard width between wall posts, rafters and joists, so it is very easy to install, especially before the walls, ceilings and floors are sealed during the construction of the new house.

The batting/roll insulation material is usually made of glass fiber, which is irritating to the lungs and skin. It should be handled with care and proper protective clothing and equipment should be used. Other materials such as cotton, mineral wool and even plastic are also available. The average cost of batting/roll insulation is between US$0.65 and US$2.00 per square foot.

Blow-in insulation uses a machine to blow the insulating material into the boundary space between the outside and the space to be insulated. This insulation material is most commonly made of regenerated cellulose material (such as newspaper or cardboard), but it may also be made of glass fiber or rock wool.

The advantage of blow-in insulation is that it can fit almost anywhere, especially helpful for adding insulation to existing areas of your home or hard-to-reach spaces. Although DIY users can rent an insulation blow molding machine, we recommend signing a contract with a professional for this service. The average cost of blow-in insulation is between $1.65 and $3.80 per square foot.

Foam board, or rigid foam board insulation, is best used to isolate the outside of the house and install it under the wall panels. It can also be used for insulation of basement floors and occasionally installed on unfinished walls during home construction.

This type of insulation is much thinner than blanket insulation, but in terms of thickness, it is one of the most effective types on the market. The average cost of foam board insulation is between $2.40 and $3.75 per square foot.

Spray foam insulation, such as blow-in, is ideal for adding insulation to existing finished areas and hard-to-reach spaces in your home. This type of insulating material is made of liquid polyurethane and is sprayed into the cavity of the wall, where it expands and hardens into a solid, thick foam.

There are two types, open-cell or closed-cell foam. The latter is more expensive, but denser and thicker, so it is more suitable for collecting heat. Spray foam insulation is much more complicated than blown cousins ​​and should be handled by professionals. The average cost is between US$3.15 and US$7.50 per square foot.

The location in your home that needs insulation will also greatly affect the overall cost. To save energy as much as possible, houses should be insulated from top to bottom in areas such as garages, basements, attics, roofs and walls.

Garages are rarely insulated when they are first built, and many people only insulate them when they complete the space or add living space above it. Some people also insulate the garage to reduce the energy cost of heat loss. Although the cost of insulation for an average two-car garage is relatively low, many home insulation companies have a minimum charge, so you may want to include the garage as part of a larger project. The average cost of insulating a two-car garage is $0.50 to $1.25 per square foot, excluding the garage door.

The basement usually does not need as much insulation as the rest of the house, because the surrounding terrain helps keep the area cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The average cost of basement insulation is $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.

The attic is the most important insulation location in your home. Due to the heat rise, the insulation of many houses is twice that of the main wall to prevent the loss of rising warm air. Spray insulation foam is a common material for attic, followed by cotton batting or blow-in insulation. The average cost of attic insulation is between US$1,500 and US$6,000.

If you still can't keep the heat in your home, or if you are trying to transform the attic into a livable space, the roof insulation is very good. Although attic conversions can be expensive, they can often be bundled with new roofs with roof insulation installed or new insulation added to existing roofs.

For new buildings, professionals can lay rigid foam board insulation under shingles. For existing buildings, cotton wool or spray foam can be installed along the rafters. The average cost of roof insulation is between US$1,500 and US$4,500.

Wall insulation is the most common type of insulation, usually installed as mineral wool or glass fiber batting, installed between the studs of the wall. Newly built houses can also use spray foam or install rigid board insulation under the outer wall panels of the house. The cost of wall insulation ranges from US$1 to US$4 per square foot.

Household insulation materials can be made of many different materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Some materials can only be used in certain locations, and some materials are only used in new buildings, rather than adding or replacing insulation materials. The following are the most common insulators, common applications, and average costs.

Fiberglass is one of the most commonly used insulation materials, which is affordable and popular. It is most commonly used for batting or loose filling, and can be used between wall cavities and the floor when installed during a new building or complete renovation. The median cost of fiberglass insulation is US$0.40 to US$1.50 per square foot.

Cellulose insulation is almost exclusively used for loose filling and is blown into existing wall cavities. Most commonly, it appears as a damp spray and sticks together when it falls into the wall. The cost of cellulosic insulation ranges from 0.60 to 2.30 US dollars per square foot.

Polystyrene insulation is used to make foam boards or spray foam insulation. Foam board is used to cover the exterior of the building (under roof tiles or siding), while spray foam is used to fill wall cavities or under the attic floor. The average cost of polystyrene ranges from $1.00 to $15.00 per square foot.

Blue jeans insulation is an environmentally friendly and easy-to-handle insulation material designed to replace glass fiber cotton, made from recycled blue jeans. Because it does not contain small glass particles such as glass fibers, it is easier to use for DIY enthusiasts. The average cost of blue jeans insulation is $1.50 to $1.75 per square foot.

Rock wool or mineral wool insulation material is made from recycled slag and spun into fibers. Like glass fiber, it is made into cotton wool or loose filler. Its insulation is better than glass fiber, but it is much more expensive. Rockwool contains silica, so it can only be installed by professionals who can take appropriate safety precautions to control dust. The average range cost of rock wool is $1.40 to $4 per square foot.

Wood fiber insulation is used to make rigid boards that insulate ceilings or interior walls. Wood fibers form large and heavy boards, which can only be installed on a flat surface. Wood fiber insulation is often used as a supplementary layer of insulation, rather than the main insulation material in the space. The median cost of wood fiber insulation ranges from $4.25 to $6.75 per square foot.

The labor cost of installing household insulation materials varies greatly depending on the type of material, the installation method, the equipment used, and the accessibility of the area to be insulated. Spray foam is one of the types of insulation that requires special equipment, and is more costly due to the protective equipment required for the project. Household insulation labor costs are estimated to increase by 0.25 to 2.50 US dollars per square foot.

With careful planning and preparation, you can install certain types of household insulation materials yourself. However, certain types of household insulation materials can only be installed by professionals. Batting and blow-in insulation are items that homeowners can complete, while foam board and spray insulation are more often handled by professionals. This process is time- and labor-intensive, and may involve hard-to-reach places in your home, so plan not only to set aside time for the installation itself, but also time for research and preparation. Keep in mind that although some insulation installations may be relatively simple, it may be worthwhile to hire professional installers due to the location of the job.

Local, state, or federal regulations may govern the energy needs of new buildings and homes in your area. These usually specify the amount of insulation or R value in each area of ​​your home. If you are building a new house, make sure your contractor understands and complies with the requirements of your area.

You can install many other energy upgrades that affect the overall energy efficiency of your home while adding insulation. These will help improve the overall thermal efficiency of your home and may qualify you for a tax refund from the local or state government.

Many insulation material manufacturers now offer environmentally friendly products that contain recycled and/or biodegradable materials or are made entirely from recycled and/or biodegradable materials. Although these products may be more expensive, it may be worthwhile to reduce their environmental impact.

As with any home improvement project, if you work with a contractor, make sure to get at least three estimates. This allows you to truly understand the cost of the project and find the best cost for your budget.

Chauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At the age of 18, he traveled the world with a backpack and credit card, and found that the true value of any points or miles lies in the experience it brings. He is most comfortable sitting on a tractor, but he understands that opportunity is where he finds it, and discomfort is more interesting than complacency.

Samantha is an editor, covering all home-related topics, including home improvement and maintenance. She has edited home repair and design content on websites such as The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also hosted videos about DIY home tips and solutions, and launched a number of home improvement review committees equipped with licensed professionals.