It is nice to live in a house where it’s neither too hot nor too cold. For this reason, a lot of homeowners spend on insulating their homes for better comfort, especially during extreme weather conditions. Apparently, there are many types of insulations, but the most common preference is the fiberglass insulation (or fiberglass batt insulation), which is primarily made of glass fibers and has a similar texture with wool.
Average Cost of Fiberglass Insulation
Aside from being a popular insulation choice, fiberglass batts are also friendly to your budget. But how much does fiberglass cost?
On average, the fiberglass insulation prices (the price of the materials) range from $0.25 to $1.19 per square foot. For instance, if you want to insulate a 100-square-foot attic, then the batt insulation cost is around $25 to $119. The expenses will increase if you want to hire someone to do the fiberglass installation for you. However, there are many factors that affect the pricing, including:
– the type of fiberglass batt you choose
– the color and thickness of the batt
– the area that needs to be insulated
– your location
– R-Value, which refers to the material’s thermal performance. The R-Value is indicated on each batt or roll. The value for a fiberglass insulation is from R-0 to R-49. The higher value, the better the insulating power.
More on the R-Value, below is a table that shows the insulation R-Values in all eight climate zones in the United States. Take note that the values are for different heating types such as electric baseboard, electric furnace, heat pump, LPG furnace, natural gas, and oil furnace.
Cost Breakdown
Let’s say you want to insulate your 150-square-foot basement, here are approximate costs that you can expect for the said project.
According to RemodelingExpense, the price of a basic fiberglass batt is about $0.4 to $0.45 per square foot, so that means you spend $60 to $67.50 for the cost of materials alone. The installation cost depends on the professional’s rate and the number of hours to get the job done, but the typical labor rate ranges from $150 to $300 for a 6-hour work ($20 to $50 per hour). This gives you a total of $210 to $367.50.
For a mid-range fiberglass insulation, the cost of the insulation materials ranges from $0.5 to $0.55 per square foot, giving you a total cost of $75 to $82.50 for the needed materials. Adding the typical labor fees gives you an overall expense of $225 to $382.50.
If you choose to have the best kind of fiberglass insulation, then expect to pay higher prices than the first two types. With that said, the materials cost runs from $0.6 to $0.75 per square foot. For a 150-square-foot area, you will spend anywhere between $90 to $112.50. Combining the labor rates gives a total price of $240 to $412.50.
Notes to Remember in a Fiberglass Insulation
- Before hiring a contractor, get three to five quotes or estimates within your locality so that you can properly budget for the fiberglass insulation project. It’s free to get estimates from the contractors unless you need them for a repair service. But do expect to get different prices from companies you go to.
- If possible, search for prices in late fall and early winter. During these times, you can get discounted costs for the materials, and probably, for the installation services.
- If you have the time, try to visit every fiberglass batt supplier in your area and look at the prices of the materials with the highest quality. Use your persuasive skills and negotiate a better and more reasonable price with the provider. You’ll definitely save something from making a good business deal.
- In addition to the typical costs, that is materials and labor fees, you should also set aside a substantial amount (say seven to 15 percent of the total costs) for complexities such as configurations and patterns on the insulation.
- There are many styles of houses in the U.S. today, including bungalow, cape-cod, colonial, contemporary, duplex, ranch, victorian, and many more, and each style has a different batt insulation cost. Keep this in mind and make sure that you get the right price for the kind of home you have.
Do-It-Yourself Fiberglass Insulation
But if you feel like the costs are too high for your budget, you have the option to do the installation yourself. That way, you’ll spend less since you only need to purchase the materials, tools, and equipment. You already have a rough estimation of the fiberglass batts, so you have to secure the necessary supplies, which cost around $47 to $54.
The good news is, a DIY fiberglass insulation is a doable task. You just have to make sure to do the following before starting the project. These are provided by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
– Determine the accurate R-Value for your house.
– Know if you need to have vapor retarders. These are materials that delay the water vapor transmission under a specific condition.
– Make sure you have the right insulation materials and the appropriate tools:
1. Bucket where you place the tools. It makes it easier for you to bring the equipment to the working site.
2. Hammer stapler
3. Cutting tool. A serrated blade is the proper knife for a DIY insulation project.
4. Tape measure
– Wear your personal protective equipment, which constitutes the following:
1. A hat to protect your head
2. A pair of safety glasses for your eye protection.
3. An N95 dusk mask to protect you from inhaling chemicals.
4. Long sleeves and long pants to protect your arms and legs, respectively.
5. A pair of gloves for your hand protection.