Insulation Removal & Replacement in Yonkers, NY

Insulation removal and replacement is for attics, basements and crawl spaces where the existing material is doing more harm than good. In older southern Westchester houses that usually means fiberglass batts compressed flat under decades of storage, loose fill soaked by an old roof leak, insulation fouled by squirrels or mice, or a crawl space where batts have fallen from the joists and lie on the ground. Insulation in that condition loses most of its value, and it hides the air leaks that need sealing.

Signs it is time

Musty smells in the top floor or the basement, droppings or nesting in the attic, dark streaks on the insulation where air has been filtering through it for years, sagging or fallen batts, water stains on the ceiling below, or insulation that looks thin and gray. A home inspection report that flags rodent activity or past leaks is another common reason we get called.

How removal works

For loose fill we use a high-powered vacuum that pulls the material through a hose to a collection bag outside, so it never comes down through the living space. Batts are bagged by hand. We protect the path through the house, wear respirators and dispose of the material. Once the attic is clear, we can see and seal every top plate, chase and penetration, which is the main reason removal pays off.

Materials that need special handling

Vermiculite, a pebbly gray-brown or gold loose fill found in some older attics, may contain asbestos. If we see it, we stop and recommend testing; if it is positive, a licensed abatement contractor removes it before we do anything. HomeAdvisor lists asbestos removal at $1,190 to $3,255. Old spray foam that must come out is chipped or cut away by hand, which takes longer and costs more than loose fill.

Replacement

After removal and sealing, we replace the insulation with whatever suits the space: blown-in cellulose or fiberglass on the attic floor, closed-cell foam on the rim joist and crawl walls, or foam on the roof deck if the attic is being brought inside. Removal and replacement are priced on separate lines so you can see both.