Finally pulled the trigger on the attic insulation and the results are night and day

I had a similar setup done last fall on my 1,500 square foot ranch house, though I ended up paying closer to $2,700. You definately got a solid deal at that price point. I went with the Owens Corning AttiCat fiberglass, and the biggest difference for me wasn't just the temperature, but how much quieter the house got. The air sealing around the chimney chase and the recessed lighting cans is where the real magic happens. I used to see the snow melt in weird patterns on my roof, wich told me exactly where the heat leaks were. After the crew finished foaming the top plates and installing those rigid foam baffles, the snow stays uniform all winter long.

One thing I’d suggest to anyone else looking at these quotes is to check with your local utility provider. I managed to snag a $400 rebate from my energy company because I had a professional auditor come out first. It turned a good investment into an even better one, especially since I no longer have to worry about ice dams forming over the gutters every February.

I tried to go the DIY route on my 1,400 sq ft bungalow using the GreenFiber cellulose from the big box store. I thought I'd save a ton since they give you the blower rental for free if you buy enought bags. I spent about $900 on materials, but man, I completely underestimated the air sealing part.

Crawling around with cans of Great Stuff Pro and fire-rated caulk to hit every wire penetration and top plate is back-breaking. By the time I finished the first half of the attic, my back was shot and I had fiberglass itch through my Tyvek suit. I ended up calling a local crew to finish the rest because I just couldn't deal with the cramped eaves anymore.

That price you got is a total steal. I ended up paying $1,800 just for a crew to finish the back half and blow in the remaining R-49. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't even touch the DIY blower. The mess alone in the garage from the cellulose dust was a nightmare to clean up.

That price is a steal. I did my own air sealing last summer and spent three days just hunting down leaks around the plumbing stacks and top plates before I even touched the insulation. If I coud've paid someone under 2k to handle the dirty work and the baffles, I woud've handed over my credit card in a heartbeat. One thing that made a massive difference for me was the attic hatch—I glued some rigid foam board to the back and added weatherstripping. It stopped that one last cold draft right in the hallway.

Back in my day, we'd just dump bags of rock wool and call it a day, never minding the air leaks. We used to use scraps of plywood or even old cardboard to try and keep the vents clear before those pre-formed baffles were standard. You got a hell of a deal. Most crews today just want to blow the fluff and go, but getting someone to actualy crawl into the tight spots for the top plates is rare at that price. I've seen too many jobs where they skip the sealing and the owner wonders why thier R-49 still feels drafty. Just make sure they didn't bury any old knob and tube wiring under all that new fill.