Insulation removal in Midland TX - only the insulation that needs to come out
Water stains, droppings or a musty smell in the attic? We pull out what's ruined, seal the gaps and leave it ready for new insulation.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Does the old insulation in your attic need to come out?
At DraftWise Midland Insulation Solutions, insulation removal in Midland means vacuuming out old attic insulation that's been soaked, moldy, burned or fouled by rodents. That clears the attic floor so we can see what's been hiding underneath and seal the gaps before new insulation goes in.
A lot of the time old insulation doesn't need to come out at all, and I'd rather tell you that than charge you to empty a good attic. When it does, the price turns on how much of the attic floor has to be cleared, how messy the old material is and how easy the attic is to get around in. The schedule turns on the same things, plus whether a vermiculite attic needs an asbestos contractor before we can start. I write up the estimate after I've been up there, so you see what comes out, what stays and what it costs before anything moves.
How can you tell old attic insulation has gone bad?
Water stains or a musty smell
Brown rings on a ceiling or a damp, musty smell up in the attic usually mean a roof leak has soaked the insulation underneath. Wet insulation quits slowing heat, and the longer it sits, the better the odds of mold getting into it and the framing around it.
Droppings, trails or chewed spots
Little tunnels through the fill, droppings along the edges or nesting by the hatch mean rodents have been living up there. That insulation has to come out, because blowing a fresh layer over it just buries the mess and the smell right over your bedrooms.
Pebbly gray or gold fill
Loose, pebble-like insulation that's gray-brown or silver-gold is usually vermiculite, an older product that may contain asbestos. Don't dig through it or stir it up, and have it looked at before anybody plans work in that attic.
Work that often comes after removal
Crawl space insulation
If the floors stay cold after the attic's done, the crawl space under the house is usually where that heat is getting out.
Wall insulation
Outside walls that feel cold or let drafts in need their own insulation, since nothing we add in the attic ever reaches them.
How we handle insulation removal
A lot of old insulation can stay right where it is, and if yours is dry and clean, I'll tell you so. If it's wet, chewed up or smells of rodents, our crew vacuums it out, bags it and cleans the attic floor, and then we seal the gaps around can lights, pipes, wires and the hatch while they're finally easy to reach. The new layer goes in even from the middle out to the edges, with the eave vents kept clear so the attic can still breathe. If it's that pebbly vermiculite, it goes to an asbestos outfit, not us, and we pick the job back up once they're done.
Clearing an attic often shows that a cold room was never an attic problem in the first place. Floors that stay chilly over a crawl space usually need crawl space insulation, and outside walls that feel cold to the touch may need wall insulation, so I'll point those out while I'm there instead of piling more into the attic.
Spot removal
This fits an attic where one leak or one corner of droppings ruined a patch and the rest is still dry and clean. We take out the bad section, seal what's underneath and blend new insulation in, so you're not paying to clear the whole floor.
Full clean-out
This fits an attic where rodents have been all through it, smoke got in, or the old material is wet or flattened across the board. Everything comes out, which also gives us the best shot at sealing every opening before new insulation goes in.
Get a written answer on what comes out and what stays
We reply within 1 business day to set up a free visit at your house, with no pressure to book. I'll look the attic over and write it up. Calling (432) 218-4671 works too.
Call (432) 218-4671Service areas
Why Midland homeowners call DraftWise to clear out old insulation
Told plainly when it can stay
I used to sell insulation jobs for another company and got tired of watching attics get oversold. If your old insulation is dry and clean, I'll tell you to keep it, so you pay for what your house needs and nothing past that.
Sealing gaps first since 2013
We've been at this since 2013, and we're best known for sealing the leaks in an attic before adding anything on top. After a removal the attic floor is wide open, which makes it the easiest chance you'll get to do that right.
Licensed and fully insured, every job
We're licensed and fully insured, so you're not the one carrying the risk of a crew working over your ceilings. Before anybody seals or sprays, we also look hard at old wiring and gas appliances up there, because a tighter attic has to be a safe one.
Permits checked with the city
The City of Midland's building permit list names new construction, additions, remodeling, repairs and detached accessory buildings, not insulation removal, so it's worth asking the city about your job. If your job calls for a permit, we pull it as your contractor and wait for it to be issued before we start.
On a removal job, what matters is getting the bad insulation out and leaving the good where it is. Send us your details or call (432) 218-4671, and I'll come take a look.
What happens when you call about insulation removal in Midland?
Call or send the form
Call (432) 218-4671 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing up there. We set a time for me to come out to your house.
I check the attic myself
I get up in the attic, see what's wet, chewed or pebbly, and look over the wiring and any gas appliances before anything gets sealed. You get a written estimate that says what comes out, what can stay and why, so you're only paying for what your house needs.
Our installers clear it out
Once you say go, our installers vacuum out the bad material, keep the dust in the attic and seal the openings before new insulation goes in. If there's vermiculite, an asbestos contractor handles that part first, and that's usually what moves the schedule.
I check it before we finish
I go back up and look the job over before we call it done. You end up with a clean, even layer, the gaps sealed and the vents open.
Common questions
Can I add new insulation over the old insulation in my attic?
Yes, if the old insulation is dry, clean and free of mold and pests, a new layer can go right on top and you skip the cost of removal. One cost guide says removal is only needed when it's wet, moldy, fouled by rodents, contains asbestos or vermiculite, or has packed down to less than half its original thickness. I'll tell you which side of that line yours is on once I've been up there.
How much does insulation removal cost in Midland?
Removing old attic insulation usually costs about $1 to $2 per square foot across the US, and that covers taking the old material out, not putting new insulation in. Where your job lands depends mostly on how much of the attic has to be cleared and how hard it is to work in. Vermiculite is priced separately by the asbestos contractor, and that price depends on how much there is and how easy it is to reach.
What should I do if my attic has vermiculite insulation?
Leave it undisturbed and have a trained professional handle it, because the EPA says to treat vermiculite as if it contains asbestos. The EPA also says removal should be done by a trained and accredited asbestos abatement contractor who is separate from the company that looked at the insulation, so nobody profits from telling you it has to go. We don't remove it ourselves, and I'll tell you that up front. In a public building, Texas also requires anyone doing asbestos work to be licensed or registered with the state health department.
How long does attic insulation removal take?
Attic insulation removal usually takes anywhere from about 4 hours to 2 days or more, depending on how big the attic is and how complicated the job is. A large attic, or one that's tight and hard to move around in, lands at the longer end. If there's vermiculite, plan extra time for the asbestos contractor's part before ours starts.
How do I get my house ready for insulation removal?
The main thing is keeping attic dust out of your rooms. One insulation supplier's checklist says to put plastic sheeting over attic hatches, HVAC returns and other openings into the house before work starts, since fiberglass travels easily through the duct system. When I come out for the estimate, I'll show you which openings matter in your house and what to move out of the way.
What is the best way to re-insulate an attic after old insulation is removed?
For most attics, the best way is to seal the gaps in the attic floor and then top up with loose fill blown in through a hose. Foam costs more and seals air while it insulates, so I'd only point you toward it if your ductwork runs through the attic. Either way, I'll lay out both choices on the estimate so you can see the difference.
Find out what your attic actually needs
Have the attic's rough size in square feet handy, and tell us whether the insulation looks wet, moldy or pebbly when you call (432) 218-4671 or send the form, so I know what I'm walking into.