Insulation prices

[Krfjkm]

Getting ready for insulation on my attached garage. I just recently finished up my detached shop and wanted a nice spot for my daily drivers.

Took it down to the studs and added outlets and fixed some plumbing.

I priced out the purchase of the insulation at Lowe’s and Home Depot and it was going to cost me ~$1,000 to just buy the insulation.

I called the local insulation contractor and he is coming out at 8 am to install it for me— his price was $1,000.

The big boxes are making some $’s on the insulation they sell!

 

[Tracs]

In my area big box stores are usually higher priced than local lumber yards. So it's not really surprising.

 

[PCustoms]

The big boxes are making some $’s on the insulation they sell!

It's almost like they have this as part of their business model!

 

[Yankeefarmer]

A local insulation contractor told me he has a big price advantage over retail outlets just because he buys in such large quantities. Drywall contractors have a similar situation. For all but the smallest jobs, I have found you can get both supplied/installed for prices comparable to just buying the material retail.

 

[ripperd]

Yeah, I bought from a insulation distributor when I was doing it and if I recall correctly it was about 30% cheaper (materials only, I pick up from their warehouse) than HD/Menards. This was around 2014 though.

 

[adsinnott1]

Just bought 720 SQFT of 24" OC R30 Faced batts for my shop ceiling. Was around $700 at Menards. I probably should have checked with an installer to see his price installed because I am tired of hanging/ stapling this stuff. I am a bit of a perfectionist though. Staples every couple inches, and supported with string until I put up the steel panel ceiling.

 

[metlmunchr]

I've been of the opinion for years that the box store home improvement centers have been very successful in creating an illusion of low prices that doesn't match the reality.

I built a new deck about 15 years ago. Got quotes from HD and Lowe's on the same list of materials, all #2 treated wet stuff they typically stock. Both were right at $1600 plus $50-$75 for delivery. Figured I'd check with a local building supply a couple miles away before buying. First thing the counter guy says is they don't handle #2 treated due to too many quality complaints from customers. Only #1 dried after treatment. Told him to quote that way, thinking if it was only a couple hundred more than #2 it'd be worthwhile to spend the extra money for better quality stuff.

The guy takes the list and says he'll go check with the manager to get the best pricing. Comes back in about 5 minutes with the price. $1300 delivered. Uhhh.. how about I write a check and let you get back to helping other customers?

Talking later with my brother in law who's built 3 houses in the 2000 sq ft range over the years, he said he'd always found the same building supply place would beat the box stores on whole house material packages by about 10% and furnish better quality materials particularly in the framing lumber.

 

[Jeff C]

Unfortunately you miss out on all the joys of insulation work... like the itching, scratching and coughing that seems to last days.

I had a vinyl siding installer tell me basically the same thing as you describe. As his business grew and he bought more and more siding directly from the manufacturers his unit cost on it kept getting exponentially cheaper and cheaper.

 

[rustyjames]

I can't stand the sight of fiberglass insulation, or even thinking about installing it. I use Roxul for everything I insulate, or board insulation.

 

[dcg9381]

It may be over budget, but I absolutely love spray foam insulation and exclusively use it for any space where I'm going to be spending time. The value isn't just in the "R" factor, it's just a much better seal and handles all the imperfections so much better than any non-expanding product...

 

[Krfjkm]

Yep—- I did spray foam in my shop. This was just for my daily drivers.

 

[The Cobbler]

when I upgraded insulation in my house, I could have had the attic blown in for less than I could have bought the bats for but I went with bats since I have storage uo there and it was easier int he long run to DIY.
When I built my shop I had the ceiling blown in .I bought the bats from them for the walls for substantially less than anywhere I priced it at retail . and yes, they buy in huge quantities and don't have the same overhead as big retail outlets do

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not sure where the price break is but usually, the big box stores will offer bulk pricing. I used it when I bought my insulation from Menard's and actually returned a few bundles. Bulk discount plus 11% rebate.

Could a insulation contractor been cheaper, yes but then there is two issues, working on "his" schedule. Then having him and his crew being in my garage. I'll pass on that.