Blown-in insulation in Missoula MT - an even attic layer out to the edges
Cold upstairs rooms and a climbing power bill usually trace back to a thin attic. We seal it, then blow in an even layer.
Is blown-in insulation right for my Missoula attic?
Blown-in insulation is loose cellulose or fiberglass blown through a hose across the attic floor. For a lot of older Missoula houses it's the simplest way to thicken a thin attic so the house holds its heat. The blowing goes quickly once the attic is ready, so the checking and sealing beforehand set how long we're there.
Most calls start with a cold upstairs, a heating bill that keeps creeping up and an attic with a few inches of old fill that's settled flat. What moves the price is the size of the attic, how much is already up there and what has to happen before new fill goes in, like sealing gaps or pulling out soaked insulation, and that same prep sets the schedule. Inside city limits, the city's permit list names remodeling, siding and roofing rather than blown insulation, so on each job I check with the City of Missoula or the Missoula County Building Division, tell you what they say and take care of any permit before we start. Your written estimate spells out each step and why it's there.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Attic insulation, sealing and the work around it
How we do blown-in insulation
I start in the attic with a flashlight and look for anything that has to be fixed before new fill goes down, like wet insulation, moldy or rotted framing, fans venting into the attic, too little ventilation or old knob and tube wiring, which can be a fire hazard when it's buried in insulation. Then we seal the openings through the attic floor, with solid blocking over big holes and open soffits, metal blocking around hot flues and covers over any can lights that aren't rated to touch insulation. Before the fill goes in, we set baffles, simple chutes at the eaves that keep the vents under the roof edge open and stop insulation from spilling into them. Then we blow in cellulose or fiberglass and work it evenly all the way out to the top plate, the top of the wall framing where the roof comes down low. After years of framing, I know that tight corner is the hardest spot to reach, which is exactly why so many attics end up deep in the middle and thin at the edges. We finish by cleaning up and checking the depth across the whole attic.
Blowing in fill is usually one part of a bigger fix. If the old insulation is soaked, moldy or full of droppings, insulation removal comes first, so the new layer isn't sitting on an old problem. And if the attic is only part of why the house feels drafty, we can look at the walls, floors and crawl space too as part of home insulation.
Why Missoula homeowners call us for blown-in insulation
I come out to every attic
I look at each job myself and work alongside our crew on the install, so the person who climbed into your attic is the one making sure it's done right. Years of framing taught me what sits under the floor and behind the drywall before we open anything up.
Our own company since 2023
I learned insulation working for an established installer before we started our own company in 2023. The habits you'll see on your job, like sealing before anything gets covered, are ones I set and keep an eye on myself.
Licensed and fully insured in Montana
We're licensed and fully insured. Montana requires every construction contractor to be licensed with the state Department of Labor & Industry, so you can look up anyone you're thinking of hiring.
Vent moves cleared with the city
We work both inside and outside Missoula city limits, and inside them, moving a bath fan or dryer vent that dumps into the attic needs a mechanical permit from the city's Building Division. We take care of that before the fill goes down, because damp air blowing into new insulation undoes the job.
On a blown-in job the order matters more than the fill itself, so tell us what you're seeing up there and send us a request or call (406) 317-4027.
Get a written estimate for blown-in attic insulation
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come look at your attic. The estimate is free, done on site, and comes with no obligation.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What happens after you call about blown-in insulation in Missoula?
Call or send a request
Call (406) 317-4027 or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. It helps to have your attic's rough size handy, plus anything you've noticed up there, like gray pebbly fill, damp insulation, fans venting into it or a gas appliance in the house.
Walk the attic with me
I go up with you, measure how many inches you've got now and look over the wiring, vents and framing before anyone talks price. Bring your questions, because I'd rather you understand your own attic than just nod along.
Read your written estimate
You get a written estimate that lists each step and why it's there, so you can see what has to come first and what the price is paying for. If the work needs a permit, that's part of the plan too.
Seal, blow in, walk through
On install day we handle anything that has to come first, seal the gaps, blow in the new layer and clean up. Then we walk through the finished attic together so you can see the depth out at the edges.
Blown-in insulation questions from Missoula homeowners
How much blown-in insulation does my attic need in Missoula?
Montana DEQ says the latest recommendations call for ceilings insulated to R-49, and R-value is simply how well insulation slows heat leaving the house. That gives you one yardstick for comparing bids. On the walkthrough I measure how many inches you already have, so you can see how much each bid actually adds.
How much does blown-in insulation cost in Montana?
Upgrading a typical 1,500 square foot attic from R-30 to R-49 with blown cellulose usually costs about $2,000 to $7,000 per job in Montana. That's what the work generally runs around the state, not our price, and a bigger attic, less insulation to start with or prep like sealing and removal moves your number up. Call (406) 317-4027 and I'll come measure yours.
Why should my attic be air sealed before blown-in insulation goes in?
Sealing every opening through the attic floor first saves energy, lowers fuel bills and helps head off moisture problems in the attic, which is why it belongs in the same job. Warm, damp house air rides up through gaps around pipes, wires, can lights and the hatch, and once a thick layer covers them they're hard to find again.
How do I know if my attic has vermiculite insulation?
Vermiculite looks like lightweight, pea-size, flaky gray pebbles, and if you see it, leave it undisturbed until an approved lab tests it, because it may contain asbestos. The local health department can name a lab, and we hold off on any other attic work until you have the result.
What is the best way to add insulation over old attic insulation?
If the old fill is dry and clean, the usual way is to seal the gaps through it and blow the new layer right on top. If it's been soaked or is full of droppings, it comes out first, because covering it just buries the problem.
Is it safe to air seal an attic in a house with a gas furnace or water heater?
It can be, as long as any oil or gas appliance has its drafting tested by a home performance contractor before and after sealing. In some cases a tighter house can make naturally venting appliances pull exhaust back inside, so I'll ask about yours on the walkthrough.
Insulation work in nearby areas
Work that often goes with blown-in insulation
Home insulation
When cold floors and drafty rooms show up all over the house, a look at walls, crawl space and basement along with the attic gives the full picture.
Insulation removal
Old fill that got wet from a roof leak or turned into a nest for mice needs to come out before anything new goes on top of it.