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When choosing a professional insulation installer, consider asking these questions to determine the best fit.

• Will you address air leaks in my house?

• Can you provide an R-value (heat resistance) fact sheet?

• What kind of insulation will work best for my home?

• How do you handle signs of a water leak?

• Are you licensed and insured?

• Can you provide customer references?

The best type of insulation for your home depends on what you need, so the answer will depend on your specific situation. If you’re building a house, structural panels are easy to install during the building process in addition to being the most energy efficient type. If you live in a warm climate, reflective insulation may benefit you more as it costs less than other insulation types. And for standard attics, loose-fill, spray foam, or blown-in insulation work well.

If you plan to heat or cool your garage, you’ll need to insulate the garage ceiling. Insulating your garage ceiling will make your garage much more energy efficient and save on heating and cooling costs. Not only does insulation make your garage more energy efficient, it helps reduce noise and can extend the life of your garage roof. You can use fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool, or spray foam insulation for this project.

In some cases, you may not have enough insulation to properly regulate your home’s temperature. Watch for a few signs your home needs more insulation, such as:

• High heating and cooling bills

• Uncomfortable room temperatures 

• Ice dams on the edge of your roof 

• Roof leaks

• Cold floors and walls

• Freezing pipes

• Temperature fluctuations

• Visibly low insulation

• Noise problems

• Pest problems

On average, insulating an attic costs about $2,500, ranging from $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the insulation type, amount, and your attic’s accessibility. Additional cost factors include sealing air leaks, removal or replacement of insulation, and inspections. Types of insulation include:

• Blown-in: $1–$4 per square foot

• Spray foam: $2–$5 per square foot

• Batt: $2–$4 per square foot

• Structural insulated panels: $4–$7 per square foot

• Loose-fill: $2–$5 per square foot

• Reflective: $0.50–$1.50 per square foot