What an insulation change order is for
Once the crew is in the attic, the real job shows itself: wet insulation that has to go, more gaps than expected, a bath fan venting into the attic. A signed change order with photos, before the extra work, keeps the owner informed and keeps the receipt accurate to what was actually installed.
What to put on an insulation change order
- What the crew found, with photos.
- Added areas or depth.
- Extra air sealing hours.
- Credits.
- New total and signature.
A worked example
The crew finds wet insulation over the bathroom that must come out, adds two hours of sealing, and the owner adds the garage ceiling.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove wet insulation over bathroom | 80 | sq ft | Your price |
| Additional air sealing | 2 | hour | Your price |
| Garage ceiling, blown-in | 400 | sq ft | Your price |
Note the cause of the wet insulation, often a bath fan venting into the attic. Fixing the cause belongs on the change order too.
Line items insulation contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Blown-in attic insulation | sq ft | Material, target R-value and settled depth. |
| Dense-pack wall insulation | sq ft | Drill and fill; how holes are patched. |
| Fiberglass batts | sq ft | R-value and where they go. |
| Open-cell spray foam | sq ft | Thickness and R-value. |
| Closed-cell spray foam | sq ft | Thickness and R-value. |
| Air sealing, top plates and penetrations | hour | Foam and caulk at the gaps. |
| Attic baffles | each | At each rafter bay at the eaves. |
| Attic hatch insulation and weatherstrip | each | Insulated cover and seal. |
| Remove old insulation | sq ft | Vacuum out and disposal. |
| Crawl space vapor barrier | sq ft | Thickness and how seams are taped. |
| Recessed light covers | each | Where old fixtures need a cover before blowing. |
| Attic ruler and receipt card | each | Depth markers and the installer's card. |
Terms and deposit language for insulation
- Deposit. On larger jobs a deposit is due at signing for spray foam or a large bag order. Each state sets home improvement deposit rules, so look up yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the work is done and the receipt with coverage, depth and R-value is handed over.
- Warranty. You warrant coverage and depth as recorded on the receipt. Settling is accounted for in the installed depth. Damage from roof leaks or pests is not covered.
- The receipt shows coverage area, thickness and R-value, and for loose-fill the settled thickness and bag count.
- Attic access, storage and anything in the way are the owner's to clear unless listed here.
- Knob and tube wiring or signs of mold found in the attic stop the job until it is addressed.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for insulation
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for insulation contractors: how insulation contractors run on Koira.