ᐅ Insulating a cold roof with compressed fiberglass insulation, cost
Created on: 15 Feb 2019 17:39
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NordlysHello friends,
We have a bungalow with a slab measuring 13.5 by 10 meters (44 by 33 feet), and a hipped roof with a 30° pitch along the length and 45° on the short sides. So far, the roof is not insulated. The roof area is approximately 160 square meters (1,722 square feet), possibly a bit more. The ceiling between the floors is insulated. We use the attic not as living space but as a cellar substitute. It is accessible by a staircase, not a hatch, since the stairs are easier to use. A patio door separates the living area from the unheated attic well, providing good thermal separation. Unfortunately, this floor gets very cold in winter during frost — I’ve even had paint freeze — and very warm in summer. Now that we have some funds available, we have asked a carpenter to provide a quote for insulating the unheated attic floor (ceiling below the attic).
He is quoting us 8,500 gross for installing 200 mm (8 inches) of cavity insulation between the rafters, along with a vapor barrier and drywall lining, without plastering or painting.
Is this a fair price? Too expensive? Or even a good deal?
Karsten
pffreestyler schrieb:
Some items to be stored don’t tolerate large temperature fluctuations very well. That would never be possible then?!I quite liked the idea from @11ant in post #7. Of course, it only helps to a limited extent.
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Caspar202019 Feb 2019 21:20pffreestyler schrieb:
So, should an uninhabited attic always be left without insulation? I don't think that's ideal either. Some items stored there don't tolerate large temperature fluctuations well. Would that then never be possible?! HmmNo; why? The architect had a specific reason for our house design back then. So, the ratio of ceiling insulation to attic insulation.
We basically store everything there except paint and tools. Those are kept in the basement.
But clothes, books, toys, suitcases—all stored in the attic. Cushions too...
In our old apartment it was the same principle. And there we never had any moisture issues.
We handle it the same way, except that we don’t have a basement, so everything that doesn’t belong in the garage is really stored upstairs. That’s why I wanted the space up there to have more stable conditions regarding upholstery and colors—that is, less extreme temperatures, meaning frost-free in winter and cooler in summer. Well, $8,500 was quite a lot, but postponed doesn’t mean canceled. So far, the damage to the stored items has been minimal—just a bucket of wall paint. Karsten
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pffreestyler20 Feb 2019 07:42We will probably do it ourselves after all, but will keep an eye on the progress.
@Nordlys: Is there any reason not to do it yourself? I am doing it together with my 59-year-old father. That should be about your age. It’s fairly simple work. Only with the drywall sheets and the vapor barrier would a second and maybe third person be helpful. For your reference, since we have roughly the same area to insulate:
We have 162 sq meters (1740 sq ft) of sloped surfaces.
Costs: Knauf compressed insulation WLG 035 €6.21/sq meter (about $6.80/sq yd) = €1,006
Sheathing €0.54/sq meter = €270
Drywall sheets 1250 x 2000 mm (49 x 79 inches) €1.79/sq meter = €290
Vapor barrier €0.49/sq meter = €98 (we need 200 sq meters)
Stapler, nails, tape, and adhesive (I can’t recall the technical term right now) add roughly another €150.
These are material costs just under €1,850. So you can figure out what your quote was worth.
@Nordlys: Is there any reason not to do it yourself? I am doing it together with my 59-year-old father. That should be about your age. It’s fairly simple work. Only with the drywall sheets and the vapor barrier would a second and maybe third person be helpful. For your reference, since we have roughly the same area to insulate:
We have 162 sq meters (1740 sq ft) of sloped surfaces.
Costs: Knauf compressed insulation WLG 035 €6.21/sq meter (about $6.80/sq yd) = €1,006
Sheathing €0.54/sq meter = €270
Drywall sheets 1250 x 2000 mm (49 x 79 inches) €1.79/sq meter = €290
Vapor barrier €0.49/sq meter = €98 (we need 200 sq meters)
Stapler, nails, tape, and adhesive (I can’t recall the technical term right now) add roughly another €150.
These are material costs just under €1,850. So you can figure out what your quote was worth.
Thanks for the prices. That confirms my previous doubts and my question about whether 8500 was okay. No, it’s just way too high, especially since the fairly large carpentry company probably gets better deals than you do. So they wanted 7 for the labor... quite optimistic. That would mean more than 100 hours. Of course, you can do it yourself if you manage the vapor barrier correctly. That’s also my thought now... the summer is long, and the materials are manageable. And there is a young carpenter among my relatives who occasionally needs some extra cash. Karsten
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pffreestyler20 Feb 2019 10:20Better prices from the contractor? Hmm, yes and no, I would say—it depends.
This was our experience: I talked to the carpenter about whether the material could be cheaper if purchased through him. He made some inquiries, and a week later, I checked again. In the end, I saved $1.89 per square meter (approximately $0.18 per square foot) on the insulation because I hinted that I was comparing prices. That actually made the difference. I have a friend who works at the supplier’s office and overheard the salesperson saying, "Oh, he’s building with Company X, and they always buy from Dealer Y, so I’ll have to offer a good price." The carpenter then got upset that I secured significantly better prices. He checked with another company, which said they could match my price.
What did I learn? Either the carpenter wanted to make a good profit on the materials beyond the usual 4% markup he charges for handling, or many companies are just lazy and don’t compare prices—they always buy from their regular dealer and miss out on the best deals (the downside of the higher price is ultimately paid by the customer, or you lose the order because your price is too high). I suspect it’s a combination of both...
Anyway, it’s quite striking to see the flexibility sellers have when it comes to pricing.
This was our experience: I talked to the carpenter about whether the material could be cheaper if purchased through him. He made some inquiries, and a week later, I checked again. In the end, I saved $1.89 per square meter (approximately $0.18 per square foot) on the insulation because I hinted that I was comparing prices. That actually made the difference. I have a friend who works at the supplier’s office and overheard the salesperson saying, "Oh, he’s building with Company X, and they always buy from Dealer Y, so I’ll have to offer a good price." The carpenter then got upset that I secured significantly better prices. He checked with another company, which said they could match my price.
What did I learn? Either the carpenter wanted to make a good profit on the materials beyond the usual 4% markup he charges for handling, or many companies are just lazy and don’t compare prices—they always buy from their regular dealer and miss out on the best deals (the downside of the higher price is ultimately paid by the customer, or you lose the order because your price is too high). I suspect it’s a combination of both...
Anyway, it’s quite striking to see the flexibility sellers have when it comes to pricing.
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