Insulation removal in Wichita Falls TX - a clean attic before anything new goes in
If your attic insulation smells musty, looks matted or is full of droppings, we pull it out so the new layer starts clean.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Does your old attic insulation need to come out?
Insulation removal in Wichita Falls means we take the old insulation out of your attic or crawl space. That gets rid of material that's wet, moldy or fouled by pests, and it lets us see and seal the gaps underneath before new insulation goes in.
Most folks call me because a room upstairs won't stay comfortable, or because they just bought an older house and didn't like what they saw when they poked their head through the hatch. The price mostly comes down to how big the attic is, what kind of insulation is up there and how much water or pest mess it holds. The schedule turns on the same things, plus any pest trouble that has to be cleared out before cleanup can start. When I come out, I'll write up what I found and what we'd do in plain words, including whether you need new attic insulation afterward or can keep part of what's there.
How can you tell your old insulation has gone bad?
A musty smell upstairs
If the attic or the rooms under it smell damp or sour, water is usually getting into the insulation from a roof leak or a sweating pipe. Wet insulation stops slowing heat and can grow mold, and the longer it sits, the more of the framing it reaches.
Droppings or tunnels in it
Little trails, nests or droppings mean mice, rats or squirrels have been living in your insulation. Laying new insulation on top just buries the mess and the smell, and the cleanup gets bigger the longer they stay.
Flat or stained patches
Insulation that's packed down, brown-stained or crusty in spots has usually been soaked at some point or crushed underfoot. Those patches let heat straight through, which shows up as a hot room upstairs and a power bill that keeps creeping up.
How we handle insulation removal
Here's how a removal job goes. I look the attic over first for leaks, wet spots and old wiring, because those get fixed before anything else, and when old insulation is wet, moldy or full of critters, it comes out before anything new goes in. We cover the path from the hatch to the door so nothing gets tracked through your house. Loose fill usually comes out through a big vacuum hose, and batts come out by hand, which takes more time. With the attic floor bare, we do the air sealing, closing up the gaps around can lights, pipes and the hatch, so the new insulation isn't fighting a draft. New insulation goes in last, with the eave vents kept clear so the attic can breathe and the edges filled as deep as the middle. If I spot gray or gold pebbly vermiculite, we leave it alone and point you to an asbestos specialist, because that's not work we take on.
The same problems don't always stop at the attic. If water or pests got under the floor, we clean that out too and follow it with crawl space insulation so your floors stop feeling cold. And if opening things up shows the walls below are empty or the old fill has slumped, wall insulation is usually the next thing worth talking about.
Full removal
This suits attics where water, mold, smoke or pests got into most of the insulation. Starting from a bare attic floor is the cleanest way to get rid of the smell and see every gap.
Partial removal
This suits an attic where one corner took a roof leak or a nest and the rest is still dry and fluffy. We pull the damaged section, clean that spot and top it up to match, which keeps the cost down.
Find out what should come out of your attic
We reply to every message within one business day to set up a time. I come out myself, look the job over in person and write up what I found and what we'd do, in plain words. The estimate is free and on-site, with no pressure to book.
(940) 298-1123Insulation removal in Wichita Falls homes
The City of Wichita Falls requires construction work in the city to follow its codes and carry the right permits and licenses. Whether a removal job needs a permit on its own isn't something I'll guess at, so I check with the city before we start, and when a job does call for one, we handle the paperwork and the inspections for you.
A lot of the attics I see here belong to older houses, and they've usually collected a few layers over the years, some of it soaked by an old roof leak and some of it home to mice at one point or another. Our long, hot summers make a bad attic easy to feel in the rooms below, so we take our time sorting the good material from the bad instead of hauling out everything by default. We see the same mix of older attics on jobs in Burkburnett and Iowa Park.
What happens when you call us about old insulation?
Call or send a message
Call (940) 298-1123 or use the form and tell us what's going on up there. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come look.
I look it over myself
I come out and look over the attic, walls or crawl space, then walk you through what I found and what I'd take care of first. You get it written up in plain words, so you know what's driving the price before you decide anything.
We prep, remove and seal
Once you say go, I check with the city on permits, and then we cover and protect your house. We take out the old insulation and do the sealing and repairs before anything new goes in.
Insulate and walk the job
The new insulation goes in, and then we walk the finished job with you. I'll point out what we fixed so you understand your own house a little better.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to remove old insulation before adding new insulation?
Not always. Old insulation should come out if water, mold, fire or pests have damaged it, but insulation that's still in good shape can stay, and new insulation can go right over it. Sometimes only part of it needs to go, and I'll show you which part when I'm up there.
How much does insulation removal cost in Wichita Falls?
Across the US, taking out old attic insulation usually runs about $600 to $3,600 per job, according to national cost guides. Where your attic lands in that range depends on its size, the type of insulation and how much water or pest damage there is. The estimate is where you get the number for your house.
What should I do if my attic has vermiculite insulation?
Leave it alone, because the EPA advises treating vermiculite as if it contains asbestos, which means not disturbing it or having a trained professional take it out if it has to go. It looks like small pebbles, usually gray-brown or silver-gold. The EPA also says removal should go to a trained, accredited asbestos abatement firm that's separate from the company that inspected it, so one firm checks and a different one removes. For a public building, Texas requires anyone doing asbestos work to be licensed or registered with the Department of State Health Services.
How long does attic insulation removal take?
Removing attic insulation takes anywhere from about 4 hours to 2 days or more, depending on how big the attic is and how complicated the job gets. A cramped attic, heavy pest mess or repairs we find once it's open all add time. I'll tell you what to expect for yours after I've been up there.
How do I get rid of mice in my attic insulation before it's removed?
Get them trapped out completely first, because rodent cleanup guidance says not to start cleaning an attic until the infestation is gone. Once there's no sign of them, that same guidance says to wait about 5 days before cleanup starts. When I come out, I'll tell you what I'm seeing up there and when it's ready for us.
What is the best way to insulate an attic after old insulation is removed?
For most attics, the best way is to seal the gaps first and then blow in fresh loose fill, because it costs less and works well once the air leaks are closed. Spray foam costs more but seals air while it insulates, so I'd only lean that way when your ductwork runs through the attic.
Wichita Falls, TX
Get your old insulation looked at
Call (940) 298-1123 or use the form, and if you can, tell us roughly how big the attic is, what kind of insulation is up there and whether you've seen water stains or droppings.