What an insulation estimate is for
Most homeowners cannot see their attic and do not know what they are buying. An estimate that states the area, the target R-value, the settled depth, and the air sealing and baffles that come first makes the work concrete. It also matches what the federal receipt rule says you must hand over when you finish.
What to put on an insulation estimate
- Area and target R-value.
- Installed and settled depth for loose-fill.
- Air sealing as its own line.
- Baffles, hatch and light covers.
- Old insulation removal if needed.
- What stops the job, such as old wiring or mold.
A worked example
A 1,000 sq ft attic with thin old insulation. The blown-in line uses the calculator's typical price.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blown-in (fiberglass or cellulose), attic * | 1,000 | sq ft | $1.66 | $1,660.00 |
| Air sealing, top plates and penetrations | 4 | hour | Your price | |
| Attic baffles | 24 | each | Your price | |
| Attic hatch insulation and weatherstrip | 1 | each | Your price |
Put air sealing on its own line. It is often where the comfort comes from, and owners skip it when it is hidden.
* Typical price from our free insulation cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
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 your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for insulation
The same estimate 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.