What to Ask an Insulation Contractor Before You Hire Anyone

Hiring someone to work on your crawl space or attic means letting a crew into a part of your house you probably never look at yourself, which makes it hard to judge the work once it is done. The truck wrap and the sales pitch will all sound similar from one contractor to the next. The questions you ask before you sign anything tell you a lot more.

Ask for a written estimate, and read what's actually in it

Start with the estimate itself. Ask whoever you are talking to for a written estimate, not a number over the phone, and ask what is actually in it before you agree to anything. A written estimate should spell out what work is being done, what materials are going in, and what it will cost, so there is something to point back to later if anything comes up. We provide a free inspection for exactly this reason: an inspector comes out, looks at the actual job, and puts together written recommendations and a quote before any work starts, so you are deciding based on what your house actually needs rather than a guess.

Ask what's included, not just the price

Ask what is included in the price, not just what the price is. Some things that sound like extras are actually standard parts of a proper job, and it is worth knowing whether a contractor treats them that way. Insulating the water lines that run through a crawl space is part of our install every time, not something billed separately, because a job that wraps the floor and leaves the pipes bare has not really finished the work.

Ask about rebate programs

Ask about rebate programs. We are partnered with the Cascade Natural Gas contractor rebate program, which means customers working with us may be able to get a rebate through that program on top of the work itself. Not every contractor participates in programs like this, and it is a reasonable thing to ask about directly rather than assume.

Ask who actually inspects the job

Ask who actually inspects the job. Our owner Israel is on site for every job we take on, and between our crew there is over thirty years of combined experience in this specific trade. That matters more in this line of work than in a lot of others, because so much of the actual problem, whether it is a moisture issue, an entry point for pests, or insulation that is simply in the wrong place, only shows up once someone is physically in the crawl space or the attic looking for it. A contractor who never actually gets under the house or up in the attic before quoting the job is guessing, and a guess is not the same thing as an inspection, however confident it sounds over the phone.

Ask about discounts

Ask about discounts if they apply to you. We offer senior and military discounts, and there is no harm in asking any contractor directly whether they offer anything similar. It costs nothing to ask, and a contractor who is upfront about pricing usually will not mind being asked.

Ask what happens if they find evidence of pests

Ask what happens if the job turns out to be bigger than expected, particularly if there has been an animal problem. A crawl space or attic that has had rodents in it needs to be cleaned out and deodorized before new insulation goes in, not insulated over. If a contractor's estimate does not account for that possibility, it is worth asking how they would handle it if it came up.

A few more things worth asking any contractor before you hire them:

• Do they give you something in writing before starting, or only a verbal number.
• Is insulating the water lines included in a crawl space job, or billed as an extra.
• Do they participate in any manufacturer or utility rebate programs you might qualify for.
• Will the same person who quotes the job actually be the one doing it or overseeing it.
• What happens if they find evidence of rodents or other pests once the work starts.
• How quickly do they call you back if you miss each other on the phone.

We are a family owned business working out of Mount Vernon, we speak Spanish as well as English, and if we miss your call you will hear back the same day. No job is too large or too small for us to take a look at. If you want a written estimate on a crawl space or attic project anywhere in Skagit, Whatcom, or Island counties, call 425-319-2029 and we will get an inspector out to you, free of charge.