Hiring an insulation contractor

1. Get three (3) bids on the work on your home
   
   
2. Ask for the following information:
1. The number of years in business
2. Do they have a contractor’s license (if necessary) to operate in the state?
3. Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau (Always call the BBB to see if there have been any complaints against the contractor).
4. The number of years the people actually installing the Cellulose insulation have been with the contractor.
5. Does the contractor have insurance to cover any accidents while working on your project?
3. Ask the contractor to provide a list of references and call them
1. Was the contractors on schedule?
2. Did they provide a written estimate of the cost?
3. Did they maintain a clean work environment and clean up afterwards?
4. Did they provide a receipt of for the installation installed?
4. Ask for bids to be submitted in writing containing the following:
1. The coverage area to be insulated
2. The installed R-value (note – this in not the thickness but the actual, final R-value when everything is completed)
3. The total cost (is it an hourly rate, fixed price or based on coverage area)
4. The schedule
5. Expressed Warranties for the work
6. Potential issues the contractor might face during the installation process

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates home insulation through its Home Insulation Rule 460 (see http://www.ftc.gov).  The rule requires that:

• Consumers hiring contractors must receive fact sheets about installed insulation.
• Customers must receive a contract or receipt for the insulation installed.
• The receipt must show the coverage area, thickness, R-value and number of bags of fiber used.
• The receipt must be dated and signed by the installer.
• New home sellers must list the type, thickness, and R-value of each type of insulation installed in each part of the house on every sales contract.