What an insulation proposal is for
Homeowners asking about insulation usually want lower bills and fewer cold rooms, not a specific product. Three options for the same attic show what each step adds: more depth, sealing the gaps, or starting clean. They pick on comfort and budget, and you avoid a second visit to requote.
What to put on an insulation proposal
- The same attic in every option.
- Target R-value for each.
- Air sealing in or out.
- Removal of old material where offered.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same 1,000 sq ft attic. The blown-in line uses the calculator's typical price.
Option 1: Good: blown-in top-up. Blow to the target depth over what is there.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blown-in (fiberglass or cellulose), attic * | 1,000 | sq ft | $1.66 | $1,660.00 |
| Attic baffles | 24 | each | Your price |
Option 2: Better: air seal and blow in. Seal top plates and penetrations, then blow to depth.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air sealing, top plates and penetrations | 4 | hour | Your price | |
| Blown-in (fiberglass or cellulose), attic * | 1,000 | sq ft | $1.66 | $1,660.00 |
| Attic baffles | 24 | each | Your price | |
| Attic hatch insulation and weatherstrip | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 3: Best: remove, seal and reinsulate. Vacuum out old insulation, seal, then a full new fill.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove old insulation | 1,000 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Air sealing, top plates and penetrations | 6 | hour | Your price | |
| Blown-in (fiberglass or cellulose), attic * | 1,000 | sq ft | $1.66 | $1,660.00 |
| Attic baffles | 24 | each | Your price |
Say in one line per option what the owner should notice: warmer rooms, fewer drafts, a cleaner attic.
* 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
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for insulation
The same proposal 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.