Attic insulation that's soaked, moldy, burned or full of droppings won't do its job. We pull it out, seal the gaps and leave the attic clean.
Insulation removal in Merced means taking the old insulation out of your attic so the space is bare, any problem underneath it shows, and the gaps can be sealed before new insulation goes in. It makes sense when the old material has been damaged by moisture, mold, fire or pests, and in that case removal comes first, before anything new is added.
Most people call us because the upstairs stays hot, there's a stain on the ceiling, or they've found droppings near the hatch. If what's up there is just thin or packed down but dry and clean, pulling it out usually isn't worth your money, and I'll tell you that and suggest topping it up instead.
The price moves with the size of the attic, how easy it is to get into, and whether the old material is clean blown-in, meaning loose fill blown through a hose, or soaked and fouled. Hauling, air sealing and treating a dirty attic floor add to it too. The schedule turns on the same size and access, plus whether vermiculite turns up, because that changes who does the job. Your own numbers come in the written estimate after I've seen the attic.
You deal with me from the first look to the final check, and our own crew does the work in between.
I come out to every job myself and go up in the attic, because a roof leak or a rodent problem has to be dealt with before removal or it ruins the new insulation too. I started this business in 2017 after learning the trade on another crew.
Quotes for removal often differ because they cover different work, so ours lists hauling and air sealing on their own lines. That way you can set it beside anyone else's and see what each one actually includes.
Our own crew does the removal in the order it needs to go, and I check it over before we call it finished. We're licensed and insured, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Once the leak is fixed or the pests are out, our crew pulls the old insulation, bags it and hauls it off, because new material laid over soaked or dirty insulation just keeps the problem in your attic. With the floor bare we do air sealing, which means closing the gaps around can lights, pipes and the hatch, since this is the one time you can reach them easily. New insulation then goes in even all the way to the edges with the eave vents left clear, because thin edges and buried vents are where these jobs usually go wrong. Foam costs more and seals air while it insulates, but sealing the gaps and putting loose fill back usually wins unless your ductwork runs through the attic.
The attic isn't always the whole story. If the floors are cold or the crawl space is damp, crawl space insulation is often the next job, and rooms that stay off after the attic is done usually point to wall insulation. Vermiculite is a separate case, covered in the questions below.
We work in this order because each step sets up the next one.
We lay covers from the door to the attic hatch and seal around the opening, so the dust from up there stays up there.
Our crew works from the far corners back toward the hatch, so nobody walks across what's already been cleared. Everything goes into bags before it comes down through the house.
With the floor empty we check the framing and the drywall for stains or damage the old insulation was hiding. If we find something new, you hear about it before we go any further.
We carry out the last bags, vacuum the path and the rooms under the hatch, and pull up the covers. You shouldn't have to clean up after us.
Tell us roughly how big your attic is and what you've noticed, whether that's water stains, mold, smoke damage or droppings, or call (209) 308-1021. We get back to you within one business day to set up a visit, and I come out, look at the attic and give you a free written estimate. There's no obligation to go ahead.
(209) 308-1021Attic insulation removal across the US usually costs about $1 to $2 per square foot to take the old material out, and that's a national figure, not a Merced price or ours. Insulation fouled by droppings or water costs more per square foot than clean blown-in from an attic that's easy to get into, and hauling, air sealing and floor treatment are where quotes split apart. Your own figure comes from the written estimate once I've seen the attic.
Nationally, removal takes anywhere from about 4 hours to 2 days or more, depending on how big the attic is and how complicated the job is. If your attic is large, tight to move around in or badly fouled, plan for the longer end.
It can often stay, because the EPA says removal may not be necessary if vermiculite is confined and left undisturbed. It's a pebble-like pour-in insulation, usually gray-brown or silver-gold, and the EPA's vermiculite guidance advises homeowners not to remove it themselves. If you want it out, the EPA recommends a trained and accredited asbestos contractor separate from whoever assessed it, and since that isn't our job, we'll tell you who handles it.
For 100 square feet or more of material containing asbestos, a California contractor needs the state's C-22 Asbestos Abatement classification or a license qualifier who has passed the asbestos certification exam. The contractor also has to be registered with Cal/OSHA for asbestos work, and you can check a contractor's Cal/OSHA registration before you hire. During the work, EPA guidance says the area gets sealed off with plastic, the heating and air conditioning are shut off, and your family and pets stay out until it's finished.
We're based in Merced and work in many cities around it, north toward Modesto and south toward Madera. Around here we mostly see older houses with insulation flattened by an old roof leak, or attics where rodents moved in and left a mess, and the job runs the same way whichever city it's in.
When a job needs a roll-off bin at the house, Merced County gives one waste hauler the right to that service in each area, and the county's hauler service area map shows who covers your address. On an asbestos job, the registered contractor has to send notice to the nearest Cal/OSHA office 24 hours before work starts, so the start date has to allow for that day.
I'll show you what's up there with a flashlight or a photo, so you decide from what you see, then call (209) 308-1021 or send the form.
If you're not sure your insulation needs to come out at all, call and ask, and I'll give you a straight answer.
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