Old or dirty attic insulation costs you money and hurts your air quality. Green Attics removes blown-in fiberglass, cellulose, batt, and other types from homes across Dallas-Fort Worth. We use a high-powered vacuum that stays outside your home, so dust and debris never enter your living space. Call us now for a free estimate. Or read on to learn how the job works and what it costs.
Not every attic needs a full removal. But these signs mean it is time to call a pro.
Energy bills keep going up
Insulation that has settled or gotten wet loses its ability to block heat. Your AC and heater work harder, and your bills climb. Many DFW homes have insulation from 15 or 20 years ago that now works at half its original level.
Dust that never goes away
Old insulation traps years of dust, pollen, and dander. That grime gets pulled into your return ducts and pushed into every room. If your home feels dusty a day after cleaning, the attic is likely the cause. Duct cleaning helps, but if the insulation is the root problem, clean ducts alone will not fix it.
Rodent droppings or animal smells
Rats, mice, and squirrels nest in attic insulation all over North Texas. Their waste breeds bacteria. Once pests have soiled the material, removal is the only safe fix. No spray or treatment can fully clean fiberglass or cellulose soaked with urine.
Mold or a musty smell when the AC turns on
Roof leaks and poor venting can soak insulation. Wet insulation does not dry in a sealed attic. Mold grows, and the spores travel through your ducts into every room.
Your home was built before 1980
Older DFW homes may have vermiculite insulation. It looks like small gray-brown pebbles and may contain asbestos. If you see it in your attic, do not touch it. Call us for testing first.
Insulation barely covers the ceiling joists
In DFW’s climate zone, the minimum R-value for attics is R-38, about 10 to 14 inches of blown-in fiberglass. For best results, aim for R-49, about 17 inches. If your insulation barely reaches the joist tops, you are well below code.
Each type calls for a different method. Green Attics handles all of them.
Blown-in fiberglass. The most common type in DFW attics. It is loose, pink or white, and gets sucked out with our vacuum. When dry and clean, this is a fast removal.
Blown-in cellulose. Made from shredded, treated newspaper. Cellulose is heavier than fiberglass. It settles more over time and holds moisture longer. That raises the mold risk in humid North Texas summers. Removal creates more dust, so we use extra steps to contain it.
Batt insulation (fiberglass rolls). Pre-cut rolls found in many older homes. Batts cannot be vacuumed. Our crew pulls them out by hand, rolls them up, and seals them in heavy bags while still in the attic. This keeps fibers from spreading.
Vermiculite. A pebble-like mineral used before 1980. Some of it contains asbestos from the Libby, Montana mine. We test it before removal. If asbestos is found, a certified crew handles the job.
Spray foam. Spray foam bonds to wood and must be scraped off by hand. It takes more time and costs more to remove. If your foam was poorly applied or you want a different system, we can take it out. Learn more about spray foam options for DFW homes.
Here is what happens when you book a removal with Green Attics.
Step 1
Inspection
A comfort advisor checks your attic in person. We note the insulation type, depth, and condition. We look for moisture, pests, mold, and venting issues. If we suspect vermiculite, we take a sample for lab testing before any work starts. Want a full picture of your home’s energy use? We can also run a home energy audit at the same time.
Step 2
Setup
Our crew seals the attic hatch from your living space and lays plastic sheeting to block dust. Every tech wears a respirator, goggles, gloves, and a full suit.
Step 3
Vacuum extraction
We park our insulation vacuum outside your home and run a long hose into the attic. For blown-in material, the crew feeds it into the hose. The vacuum pulls it outside into a large filter bag. Nothing vents into your home.
Step 4
Hand removal
If your attic has batt or rolled insulation, the crew pulls it out by hand. Each section gets rolled, bagged, and sealed in the attic before being carried down.
Step 5
Cleanout
With all insulation gone, we vacuum the attic floor and joists. A bare attic lets us spot what the old insulation was hiding: roof leaks, damaged wood, pest entry holes, and gaps around pipes and wires.
Step 6
Hauling
We bag and haul every bit of old insulation off your property. You do not need to hire a hauler or make dump runs.
Most jobs take 4 to 8 hours for a standard DFW home (1,200 to 2,500 sq ft of attic). Larger homes or heavy pest damage may take a full day.
Taking out old insulation is step one. What you do next is what saves you money.
Homeowners who do a full remove-and-replace usually see energy bills drop 15% to 30%.
Price depends on three things: attic size, insulation type, and how dirty the material is.
For blown-in fiberglass or cellulose in decent shape (no mold, no pests), most DFW homes fall in the $1 to $2 per sq ft range for removal only. A 1,500 sq ft attic runs about $1,500 to $3,000.
What pushes the price up: Pest waste calls for extra cleanup and safety steps. Mold means added containment work. Spray foam costs more to remove ($3 to $5 per sq ft) because it has to be scraped. Low ceilings, tight hatches, or split attic spaces add labor time.
Remove-and-replace bundles. Most homeowners pull old insulation and put in new in one project. Bundling removal with new blown-in insulation costs less than doing them in two trips. A typical remove-and-replace in DFW runs $3,000 to $7,000 total, based on attic size and R-value target.
We give you a written quote before work starts. No hidden fees. We walk through every line item so you know what you are paying for. Call (214) 305-5449 for a free in-home estimate.
Success Stories
Green Attics has been pulling and replacing attic insulation for Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners for years. Our crew knows the common attic layouts across North Texas, from 1960s ranch homes in Richardson and Garland to new builds in Prosper, Celina, and Frisco.
Every tech is trained in safe removal, HVAC protection, and proper disposal. They know how to work around ducts, wiring, and can lights without causing damage. Full PPE on every job.
Our insulation vacuum stays outside during the entire job. Dust, fibers, and waste go straight into the outdoor filter bag. Your living space stays clean.
You get a written estimate before we start. The quote breaks down removal, disposal, and any add-ons like air sealing or new insulation. No surprises.
We do not just rip out insulation and leave. Green Attics handles removal, air sealing, new insulation, radiant barriers, and venting. We also do air quality upgrades. One crew. One project. One contact.
Green Attics removes attic insulation across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. We work in Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Prosper, and Celina. We also serve Little Elm, Gunter, Anna, Melissa, Van Alstyne, and other towns in Collin and Denton counties.
Whether your home is a new build north of Highway 380 or a 1970s ranch near the Richardson-Plano line, we have worked in attics like yours. Call (214) 305-5449 or request an appointment online.
Most jobs take 4 to 8 hours for homes with 1,200 to 2,500 sq ft of attic space. Bigger attics, heavy pest damage, or tight access can push it to a full day. We give you a time estimate during the inspection.
You can, but we do not suggest it. The vacuum gear costs thousands to rent. Without the right mask, you risk breathing in fiberglass dust, mold, or bacteria from animal waste. Walking in an attic full of insulation is risky when you cannot see the joists. Our full guide to insulation removal covers what the job involves.
Not always. If the old material is dry, pest-free, and mold-free, new insulation can go on top. But if it is dirty, wet, or full of animal waste, adding more on top just traps the problem. We check your attic and only suggest removal when it is truly needed.
The minimum for our climate zone (Zone 3) is R-38, about 10 to 14 inches of blown-in fiberglass. For better results, aim for R-49, about 17 inches.
Removing blown-in fiberglass or cellulose runs $1 to $2 per sq ft. A full remove-and-replace, including new insulation, usually costs $3,000 to $7,000 based on attic size and insulation type. We give a written quote before any work starts.
Removal alone does not cut bills. The savings come from replacing old material with new insulation at the right R-value. A full remove-and-replace usually lowers heating and cooling costs by 15% to 30%.
If your home was built before 1980 and you see small gray-brown pebbles in the attic, that may be vermiculite with asbestos. Do not touch it. Green Attics can arrange testing before any removal begins. Standard fiberglass and cellulose do not contain asbestos.
We bag it on-site and haul it away. Materials go to the proper disposal site. You do not need to hire a hauler or make dump runs.
Step 1 to a more energy efficient home.
Call Green Attics at (214) 305-5449 for a free attic inspection. We check your insulation, explain what needs to happen, and give you a written quote the same visit. No pressure. No hidden fees.
Request an appointment online at a time that works for you.
