Old Attic Insulation Removal

When we seal an attic with spray foam, the old insulation on the attic floor stops doing any real work. If it is clean and dry, it can stay. If it is matted, water-stained, smoky or full of droppings and nesting material, it should come out before the foam goes in. Otherwise you are sealing that mess inside your home.

When removal makes sense

• Rodents have been in the attic. Droppings and urine soak into blown-in insulation. Removing it is the first step to a clean attic.
• There was a roof leak or fire. Wet, moldy or smoke-damaged insulation should go.
• You are encapsulating the attic. A clean attic floor gives you usable, clean storage once the roof deck is sealed.
• It is in the way. Deep blown-in hides wiring, ceiling joists and the drywall below, and it gets kicked around every time someone works up there.

How we do it

We set up a high-powered insulation vacuum outside and run a hose through the house to the attic, with the path protected. The old insulation goes from the attic floor straight into bags or the collection unit outside, and we haul it away. Then we clean the attic floor so it is ready for foam on the roof deck.

What we don’t remove

Vermiculite. If your attic has loose, pebbly insulation that looks gray-brown or gold, it may be vermiculite, which can contain asbestos. We stop and recommend testing. If it tests positive, it has to be removed by a licensed abatement company.

Pests themselves. We remove contaminated insulation, but sealing entry points and dealing with live rodents is a job for your pest control company. Get that done before or alongside the removal so they don’t move back in.

Removal plus foam

Most of our removal jobs are paired with spray foam on the roof deck. Removal happens first, often on the same day, then the attic is sprayed. The calculator can add removal to an attic estimate with one checkbox.

Removal questions

Do I have to remove old insulation before spray foam?

No. Foam goes on the roof deck, not over the old insulation, so clean, dry insulation on the attic floor can stay. We recommend removal when it is contaminated, damaged or in the way.

How long does insulation removal take?

Most attics take half a day to a full day, depending on the size, the depth of the old insulation and how easy the attic is to move around in.

Will removal make a mess in my house?

It shouldn’t. The vacuum unit stays outside and the material travels through a hose. We protect the path from the door to the attic access and clean up before we leave.

Can you remove insulation without adding spray foam?

Yes. Some owners remove contaminated insulation and have new blown-in added by someone else, or are getting ready for a remodel. We will quote removal by itself.