Adding loose-fill insulation to an unfinished attic is a gotta-do-it project for even the unhandiest homeowner. Blow-in insulation will create a sound barrier and add insulating power to your home, and installing it an ideal job for a wannabe DIYer. The job requires no-brainer skills, with a nice payback in a quieter and better insulated home that’s cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
An insulation contractor will charge $4,500, which includes labor and material, to blow-in enough insulation to cover 1,500 square feet of attic area at least eight inches deep. To install the insulation by hand, you’ll spend $3,400 for the insulation. For a larger area consider renting a blower machine, which can cost $150 a day. Some of the big box retailers who sell the material offer use of the machine free for a day. Doing this job will save you 24% and lower heating and cooling costs.