Why does air sealing come before insulation?

Because insulation slows heat transfer but does nothing about air moving through gaps — and once the insulation is down, the penetrations underneath are unreachable. Sealing first is the correct sequence, and stating it on the estimate explains a line customers otherwise question.

Should I state the R-value and the depth?

Both. R-value is the performance figure a rebate program and a home buyer care about; depth in inches is what the homeowner can actually verify with a ruler. Printing both makes the job checkable, which is exactly what a confident contractor wants.

How do I price removal of contaminated insulation?

As its own line, well above clean removal, quoted after inspection. Rodent contamination or water damage means PPE, containment, and careful disposal — pricing it at standard removal rates is how a two-day job becomes a loss.

Attic Insulation Estimate Template (Free)

What belongs on the estimate

Business name, license number, contact info
Customer name, property address, phone
Attic square footage and access description
Existing insulation — type, depth, condition
Removal and disposal, contamination noted
Air sealing — itemized
New insulation — material, depth, R-value achieved
Ventilation — baffles, soffit, exhaust terminations
Attic hatch cover and weatherstripping
Rebate documentation and exclusions

The template

[Your Business Name] · License #________
[Phone] · [Email]

Estimate #____        Date: __________
Prepared For: [Customer Name]   Phone: __________
Property: _____________________________________
Attic area: ______ sq ft   Access: [hatch/stairs]
Existing: [type] ___ in deep, approx R-___
Condition: [dry / damp / rodent contamination]

--------------------------------------------------
Description                              Amount
--------------------------------------------------
Removal — ___ sq ft @ $___               $______
Contaminated removal surcharge           $______
Disposal — ___ bags/loads                $______
Sanitizing / deodorizing                 $______
AIR SEALING:
   Top plates + penetrations             $______
   Can lights (IC-rated covers) x___     $______
   Bath fan + duct terminations x___     $______
   Chimney chase / flue dam              $______
   Attic hatch seal + insulated cover    $______
VENTILATION:
   Baffles x___                          $______
   Soffit vent correction                $______
   Exhaust vented to exterior x___       $______
INSULATION:
   [cellulose/fiberglass] ___ in         $______
   ___ sq ft to R-___                    $______
   Spray foam — ___ board ft [open/closed]$_____
Depth markers + jobsite protection       $______
Rebate documentation package             $______
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                 $______
Tax (if applicable)                      $______
Estimate Total                           $______

NOT INCLUDED: electrical repair, roof leak repair,
structural work, HVAC duct replacement, drywall or
ceiling repair, knob-and-tube remediation.

Install depth markers

A ruler card stapled to a truss lets the homeowner verify the depth themselves, forever. It costs almost nothing, rebate programs often require it anyway, and it’s about the strongest statement you can make that you installed exactly what you quoted.

Vent the bath fans to the outside

Fans terminating right into the attic are more common than you’d think, and they push moisture straight into the insulation you’re about to lay down. Quote the correction — it’s cheap while you’re already up there, and a lot more expensive as a mold callback later.

Skipping the copy-paste

Software with your removal, air-sealing, and per-square-foot insulation rates already saved builds this estimate fast and produces the itemization a rebate program actually needs.