Blown-in insulation in Roswell NM - an attic covered evenly to the edges
Hot upstairs rooms and a power bill that won't come down often start with a thin attic. We blow it back to full, even depth.
What does blown-in insulation do for a Roswell house?
Blown-in insulation is loose cellulose or fiberglass blown through a hose across your attic floor, or through small holes into closed walls. In Roswell, NM it's the usual way to bring a thin attic back up to depth, so the upstairs holds the cool in summer and the heat in winter.
Most calls start with a hot room upstairs, a cold floor or a power bill that keeps climbing, and the first things I want to know are how many inches are already up there and how old the house is. The price moves with the size of the attic, the material you pick, how much air sealing it needs and whether old insulation has to come out first. The schedule turns on that same list, because wet or dirty material and old wiring have to be dealt with before we blow anything. You'll get your own figure in the estimate after I've been up there with a flashlight. New Mexico's Construction Industries Division licenses contractors for work in its classifications, and we're licensed and fully insured.
What happens after you call about blown-in insulation in Roswell?
Call or send the form
Call (575) 363-2021 and you'll usually get me, since I still answer the phone myself, or send the contact form and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. It helps if you know roughly how old the house is and whether anyone's been in the attic lately.
I look before we price
I come out myself, go up in the attic, take photos and walk you through what I found, from how many inches are up there to any gaps or wet spots. Then I write up an estimate that lists the material, the depth we'll blow to and any removal or sealing that comes first, so you can hold it up against any other bid.
Our crew does the work
Once you say yes, our installers do the work, and they treat your home like somebody lives there, because somebody does. They lay covers along the path to the attic hatch so the dust stays up top.
We walk the finished job
Before we pack up, I go over the finished job with you. Ask me anything you're still wondering about while we're both standing there.
How we do blown-in insulation, and the work that goes with it
I start by looking at what's already up there, because fresh insulation over old material that's been soaked or full of droppings just buries the problem. In an older house I check the wiring next, since the electrical code doesn't allow insulation on or around knob-and-tube wiring, and that decides where we can blow. Then our crew does the air sealing, closing the gaps around can lights, pipes and the hatch, so the new layer isn't fighting a draft. We set baffles, short chutes at the eaves that keep the vents open and stop the fill from spilling into them, and then we blow to the maker's density instead of fluffing it light to save bags. We carry it evenly all the way out to where the walls meet the roof, because deep in the middle and thin at the edges is backward. When we're done, I'll show you the depth so you can see what you paid for. For closed walls we drill and fill, blowing through small holes near the top of each cavity, and I'll tell you up front whether we're opening the inside or the outside of the wall, since in a house built before 1980 how much we disturb the wall decides whether lead safety rules come into play.
Get a blown-in insulation estimate with photos of your attic
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a time for me to come out. The on-site estimate is free and comes with no obligation, and I'll walk you through what I found before you decide anything.
Blown-in insulation questions from Roswell homeowners
How much does blown-in attic insulation cost in Roswell, NM?
Adding blown cellulose to a typical 1,500 square foot attic in New Mexico usually costs about $1,500 to $5,000 for the job. That's the going rate around the state for cellulose, not our price, and fiberglass, old material coming out or a lot of sealing will move yours. I'll put your own figure in writing after I've been up in your attic.
Is cellulose or fiberglass better for blown-in attic insulation?
Cellulose usually costs less and slows air moving through it better, while fiberglass is lighter and isn't ruined if it gets soaked. If your roof has a history of leaks, that matters, because saturated cellulose breaks down. On a mobile home ceiling, cellulose is too heavy and lighter fiberglass is the usual pick.
What causes blown-in insulation to settle, and how much does it lose?
Gravity and the house's everyday vibration pack it down, and loose cellulose settles about 10 to 20 percent over time while loose fiberglass settles about 2 to 4 percent. So when you compare bids, ask whether the depth they promise is the depth on install day, since cellulose gives up more of it over the years.
How do I tell if a blown-in insulation bid is cutting corners?
Ask whether the crew blows to the maker's minimum density, because blowing it light uses fewer bags, lets air pass through and settles more than it should. That's why a bid with fewer bags can look cheaper. Ask whether they're insured too. We are, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Do I need a permit for blown-in insulation in Roswell, NM?
The city's permit list doesn't settle it either way, so we check before we start. Roswell's building permit form covers renovations, remodels, additions and building of any kind, and its list names decks, porches, carports and pools but not insulation. We check with the city about your job, go over what we learn at the estimate and take care of the permit when one's needed, and if you'd like to ask yourself, the city's Building Official is at 575-627-6286.
Does New Mexico have a tax credit for adding insulation?
Yes, New Mexico's Sustainable Building Tax Credit covers part of the product and installation cost for eligible products installed through December 31, 2027, up to $1,000 per product. For affordable housing and low-income taxpayers it goes up to $2,000 per product. Check the state's insulation incentives page to see which products qualify before you count on it.
Other work that often goes with blown-in insulation
Insulation removal
If the old insulation is soaked, matted or full of droppings, clearing it out first keeps the new layer from sitting on the same problem.
Home insulation
When cold floors and a drafty room over the garage stay after the attic's done, it's worth looking at the walls and crawl space too.
Book a look at your attic
When you call (575) 363-2021 or send the form, tell us your home's build year, the rough size of the attic and whether you've spotted old knob-and-tube wiring, so I come out knowing what to look for.