Insulation removal in Odessa TX - a clean attic, ready for new insulation
Attic insulation stained, musty or smoke-damaged? We pull out what's ruined, keep what's still good and leave the attic ready for new insulation.
- Service
- Insulation removal
- Call
- (432) 280-0033
How can you tell old insulation has to go?
Water stains on the ceiling
A brown ring on a ceiling under the attic usually means a roof or pipe leak soaked the insulation right above it. Wet insulation stops slowing heat and holds moisture against the drywall and framing, so the longer it sits, the more there is to repair.
A musty smell upstairs
When the hallway or the room over the garage smells like a damp basement, mold is often growing in insulation that got wet and never dried out. New insulation laid over it only hides the smell for a while, and the mold keeps going underneath.
Smoke or soot after a fire
Even a small fire can leave the attic insulation gray, sooty and smelling of smoke long after the room below has been cleaned. That smell keeps drifting back into the house until the damaged material is out.
What's involved in taking old insulation out of an attic?
Insulation removal in Odessa means taking old, damaged insulation out of your attic so the new insulation goes in over clean, dry framing instead of over the problem. Blown-in insulation, the loose fill that's blown through a hose, comes out with a large vacuum when it's in decent shape, while batts and rolls come out by hand, which takes more labor.
Most people call after a roof leak or a fire, or after they open the hatch and find insulation that's stained, matted or smells musty. The price mostly moves with how much has to come out, whether it's loose fill or batts, and how big and easy to work in the attic is. The schedule turns on whether a leak or a wiring problem has to be fixed first, because I won't cover either one with new attic insulation. Your written estimate spells out what comes out, what stays and what it costs, and we do this work in Odessa and across West Odessa, Midland, Andrews, Monahans and the cities around them.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough size of your attic
- Loose fill or batts up there
- Stains, damp spots or musty smell
- Any past roof leak or fire
How we do insulation removal
I check the attic before anything is scheduled, looking for roof leaks, damaged wiring or wet framing, because pulling insulation and then covering the same problem with new insulation wastes your money. On removal day our crew covers the path from your door to the hatch, then vacuums out loose fill and pulls batts by hand, working the edges as carefully as the middle so the eaves get cleared too. With the joists bare, we look over the framing for damp or damage, clear any eave vents that were buried so the attic can breathe again, and clean up before we leave. For what goes back in, I'll usually suggest sealing the gaps and topping up with loose fill, because foam costs more, and it only earns that extra when your ductwork runs through the attic and the foam is sealing air while it insulates.
The water or smoke that ruined the attic insulation doesn't always stop at the attic. If your floors feel cold or the crawl space smells damp, we can look at crawl space insulation on the same visit, and if a leak ran down an outside wall or a remodel has the walls open, wall insulation can go in once everything is dry.
Other work that often comes with removal
Crawl space insulation
Damp or sagging insulation under the floor is a common reason the rooms above stay cold, and it's easier to sort out while we're already going over the house.
Wall insulation
If some rooms still run hot upstairs after the attic is done, the walls may be where the heat gets in, and we can talk through ways to fill them.
What happens after you call about insulation removal in Odessa?
Call or send the form
I'm glad to talk it through on the phone first, so you know whether it's worth having me out. If it is, we pick a time for me to come look.
I inspect and write it up
I look at the attic, and the walls or crawl space if they're part of it, check for anything that should be fixed before we insulate, and go over your options with you. You get a written estimate showing what comes out, what stays and what it costs, so you know what you're paying for before you sign anything.
Our crew does the work
Our crew lead runs the job with the crew from start to finish. When we're done, we walk the job with you so you can see what came out and what's ready for new insulation.
What people ask about insulation removal
How do I know if my old attic insulation needs to come out?
Insulation that's been damaged by water, mold or fire should come out, while insulation in good condition can usually stay under the new layer. That difference decides whether you pay for removal plus new insulation or only for new insulation on top. I only pull out what's damaged, and often that's one section over a leak rather than the whole attic.
How much does insulation removal cost in Odessa TX?
Across the US, taking old insulation out of an attic usually costs about $600 to $3,600 per job. That's a national range for the removal itself, so it gives you the ballpark, not what your attic will run. Your number depends mostly on how much comes out and what kind it is, and I'll put it in writing after I've seen the space.
What should I do if I find vermiculite insulation in my attic?
Leave it alone, because the EPA says to treat vermiculite as if it contains asbestos and to leave it undisturbed or have a trained professional remove it. It's a loose, pebble-like fill poured between the joists, usually gray-brown or silver-gold. If I see what looks like vermiculite, our crew doesn't touch it, and I'll point you to a trained asbestos contractor.
What is the best way to choose a contractor to remove vermiculite insulation?
The EPA recommends a trained and accredited asbestos abatement contractor for the removal, and one that's a different company from whoever assessed it, so nobody profits from the answer they gave you. We're fully licensed and insured for insulation work, but we're not that contractor, which is why I tell you what I see and step back. The EPA also says the abatement contractor seals the work area off from the house with plastic sheeting and tape, shuts off the heating and air, and keeps your family and pets out of the marked area until the work is done.
Do Texas asbestos rules apply to removing insulation from my house?
The Texas asbestos rules leave out a single private home or an apartment building with four or fewer units, except a residential building that falls under the federal asbestos rules known as NESHAP. Separately, the state requires notice to the Texas Department of State Health Services before a renovation that disturbs asbestos-containing material in a building or facility. That's ground for the asbestos contractor to sort out with you, since we leave suspected vermiculite where it is.
Do I need a permit to remove insulation in Odessa?
The City of Odessa's Building Inspections Division issues permits and inspects construction projects in the city, so it's the office to ask about your job. When a job does need a permit, we handle it with the right office, whether that's the city or the county, and we tell you up front.
Get a written estimate for removing your old insulation
We respond within 1 business day, and the estimate is free and done in person, with no pressure and no obligation. After you send this, I'll call to talk it through, then come out to look at the attic myself and write up what should come out and what can stay. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Explore our services and areas
Services
- Spray foam insulation
- Attic insulation
- Blown-in insulation
- Home insulation
- Crawl space insulation
- Wall insulation
- Air sealing services
- Basement insulation
- Closed-cell foam insulation
- Open-cell foam insulation
- Commercial insulation
- Crawl space vapor barrier
- Vapor barrier installation
- Attic air sealing
- Retrofit insulation
Book a look at your old insulation
Clearing stored boxes out of an attic without vermiculite cuts the hours spent getting it ready, so call B&R Odessa Insulation Company at (432) 280-0033 or use the form to get on the schedule.