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LSI Lake State Insulation home

Insulation removal

Old & contaminated insulation removal

Old insulation that is wet, compacted, smoke-damaged or full of rodent droppings can't do its job and shouldn't stay in your home. We vacuum it out with a high-powered insulation removal vacuum, bag it and haul it away, leaving the attic clean and ready to be sealed and reinsulated.

  • Rodent, water and smoke damage
  • High-powered removal vacuum
  • Bagged and hauled away
  • Seal and reinsulate in one project
Contact UsCall (763) 220-2389
Insulation removal vacuum hose running from a work trailer to an attic, with full collection bags on the driveway

When old insulation should come out

Not every attic needs a removal. Dry, clean insulation can usually stay, with new insulation added on top. Removal makes sense when the old material is damaged or in the way:

  • Mice, squirrels or bats have nested in it or left droppings and urine
  • It has been soaked by a roof leak or ice dam
  • It carries smoke or soot from a fire
  • Mold is growing in or under it
  • It has compacted to a fraction of its original depth
  • Major air sealing or remodeling needs access to the attic floor

How removal works

Our removal vacuum stays outside in the trailer, and a large hose runs up to the attic. Old insulation is pulled straight out of the house into heavy collection bags, so very little dust travels through your living space. When the attic floor is clear, we haul the bags away for disposal.

With the attic empty, it is the best time to inspect the roof deck, seal every bypass and install baffles before new insulation goes in.

A note on vermiculite

If your attic has loose, pebbly insulation that is gray-brown or gold, it may be vermiculite, and much of the vermiculite sold in the U.S. was contaminated with asbestos. Don't disturb it. Have it tested, and if it contains asbestos, it has to be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. We won't vacuum vermiculite, but we can reinsulate once it is safely gone.

Remove and replace in one project

Most removal jobs end with a better attic than the house started with: the old material out, the bypasses sealed, baffles installed and new blown-in insulation to R-49 or more. One crew, one schedule, and no gap between the steps where the attic sits empty.

FAQ

Insulation removal questions

Do I have to remove old insulation before adding new?

Not always. If the existing insulation is dry and clean, new insulation can usually be blown right over it. Removal is worth it when the old material is wet, moldy, smoke-damaged, contaminated by rodents, or blocking air sealing that needs to happen.

Is rodent-contaminated insulation dangerous?

It can be. Droppings and nesting material from deer mice can carry diseases such as hantavirus, so don't sweep or stir it up yourself. Removal crews work in respirators and protective suits, and the vacuum pulls the material straight out of the house.

How long does insulation removal take?

Most attic removals take about a day. Large attics, heavy contamination or tight access can take longer, and reinsulating usually follows right after.

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Tell us about your project

Building a barndo, a custom home or a shop? Reach out and we'll set up a time to see it. No pressure, no guesswork pricing.

Contact UsCall (763) 220-2389