Insulation is an important and necessary addition to any home. An insulation upgrade proves itself to be one of the best improvements homeowners can make because of the return on investment it provides. Fiberglass insulation prices are low compared to other insulation types. For homeowners looking for a relatively inexpensive home renovation project that will increase their comfort and reduce energy costs, installing fiberglass insulation offers quite a compelling argument.
Fiberglass Insulation’s Return on Investment
For two years in a row, Remodeling Magazine and their Cost vs. Value Report has said that fiberglass attic insulation cost is the home remodeling upgrade project that provides the most substantial return on investment for homeowners looking to make some changes. Of all the types of insulation, the average cost of fiberglass insulation is one of the lowest. This trend is becoming well known among homeowners looking for new ways to make small, incremental improvements to their homes while also adding value.
Cost vs. Value Report
In an annual survey sent to real estate professionals across the U.S., realtors estimated that one year after a fiberglass insulation upgrade, homeowners would potentially increase the return on investment of the value of their home by $1,446 at resale. The ‘Cost vs. Value Report’ estimated the average nationwide upgrade cost for adding blown-in loose-fill fiberglass insulation into an attic (35×30) to reach an R-30 insulation value is $1,343. Fiberglass insulation energy cost savings are a hidden gem in home renovation.
Fiberglass Insulation has an Average National Return of Over 100 Percent
Remodeling Magazine compared the average cost for 29 of the most popular home renovation projects in 99 U.S. markets on both a national and regional outlook. The report states that fiberglass insulation upgrades add the most value to a home, coming in at 108 percent of the cost of the project.
The average cost and return at resale for the other 29 projects that were included in this year’s report amounted to a 64.3 percent return. Those numbers were counted as long as the home was sold within one year of completing the renovation. Fiberglass insulation was the only project that had an average national return of more than 100 percent.
When to install new insulation
If you can already tell that your insulation is not keeping up with the changes in temperature outside, you probably need to replace your insulation. If you know what kind of insulation you have, you can use the average lifespan to figure out if it’s time to switch. Each type of insulation lasts for different amounts of time, and they can all be damaged by leaky roofs or animals and critters.
If you do not know what kind of insulation you have or when it was replaced, it is in your best interest to get a professional to check your insulation and see if it is still capable of doing its job. The labor costs you can expect to pay will be a lot less than having to get a mold specialist if you leave old insulation for too long.
Professional Installation vs. DIY Costs
Is fiberglass insulation safe to install on your own? A lot of people believe that they can save even more money by installing their insulation themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
DIY insulation installers will need the ability to make extremely accurate notes on where heat is lost and purchase the exact amount of insulation you need. You may end up spending more than the entire cost of having a professional contractor install the insulation for you.
A few other issues DIYers could run into are the need to make changes to their HVAC while putting in their insulation, not having the correct permits, and risky health hazards if they do not have the right equipment to remove their existing insulation.
If you want to reap the rewards and see a return on your investment, have your insulation installed by a professional. It will be much more cost-effective to have it done correctly, and you will avoid potentially expensive mistakes.
Insulation replacement is great for any homeowner looking for an end-of-summer home improvement project that they can have completed. It can be done relatively quickly and not go over their home renovation budget. Installing fiberglass insulation material has proven itself to be one of the best choices you can make.
With our experience in the insulation industry, we can help you save energy and get you the most for your money.