Ceiling Vacuums Sydney
Ceiling vacuums in Sydney clear decades of dust, droppings, leaves and tired insulation out of the roof space, giving you a clean base for new insulation. Insulation Extract runs a truck-mounted 25HP vacuum that pulls everything straight into a sealed hopper, well away from your living areas.
Extraction & Batts
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What a ceiling vacuum does
A ceiling vacuum, sometimes called a roof cavity clean, is the step between taking old insulation out and putting new insulation in. It is different from a household vacuum: the suction is strong enough to lift loose-fill, broken batts and heavy dust, and the hose runs back to the truck rather than to a bag inside your house.
For most Sydney jobs, the vacuum does two things at once:
- Extracts the old insulation layer, whether batts, cellulose blow-in or polystyrene beads
- Cleans the top of the ceiling sheets so the new insulation sits on a clean, even surface
Why Sydney roof spaces get so dirty
Roof spaces in Sydney collect more than people expect. Older terracotta tile roofs are not airtight, so fine dust blows in with every southerly and westerly. Homes near main roads, rail lines and flight paths in the Inner West and South West tend to collect more grime, and bushland suburbs on the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire often have leaf litter in the gutters and roof edges.
Pests add to it. Rats, mice and possums are common visitors to Sydney roofs, and they leave droppings, urine and nesting material through the insulation. In humid coastal areas, that mix can hold moisture and smell. A vacuum removes it rather than burying it under new batts.
Signs your roof space needs a clean
- Musty or ammonia smells in rooms below the ceiling
- Scratching or scurrying noises at night
- Dust falling from downlights, manholes or exhaust fans
- Visible droppings or chewed insulation when you look through the manhole
- Upcoming work such as rewiring, solar or a renovation that needs a clear roof space
Older homes and the asbestos check
Before we vacuum any roof space in an older Sydney home, we need to be sure of what is up there. Loose-fill asbestos was installed in some NSW homes between the late 1960s and 1980s, and the NSW Government keeps a Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation Register. If your home was built before 1990, check the register and let us know what you find.
We inspect the material at the free assessment. If anything looks like it could contain asbestos, we stop and recommend testing by a licensed assessor. We do not vacuum asbestos and are not licensed to remove it.
How a Sydney ceiling vacuum job runs
- 1
Assessment and access
We check the roof type, how the crew will get in and what material is there. Most Sydney homes have tiled roofs, so we can lift a few tiles and work from above. Metal roofs and tight terrace ceilings are assessed case by case.
- 2
Preparation
Power to the work area is switched off while the crew is in the roof, and anything stored up there is cleared. We set the truck up as close to the house as access allows, which can take some planning on narrow inner-city streets.
- 3
Vacuuming
The 25HP negative-pressure vacuum pulls material through the hose into the sealed truck hopper. Our crew works across the ceiling in sections so nothing is missed around joists, ceiling edges and hard-to-reach corners near the eaves.
- 4
Final clean
Once the bulk is out, we go back over the ceiling to lift the fine dust, then check the space is ready for new insulation. Because vacuuming stirs up settled dust, we suggest closing windows and switching off exhaust fans and ducted air conditioning on the day.
Ceiling vacuums before solar, rewiring or renovation
Electricians, solar installers and builders all work more safely and quickly in a clean roof space. Old loose-fill and heavy dust hide cables, joists and ceiling edges, and they get stirred up every time someone moves around. Many Sydney homeowners book a ceiling vacuum before rewiring an older home, before adding solar panels or batteries, or before a renovation that opens up ceilings.
Doing the vacuum first also means the new insulation goes in after the trades have finished, rather than being trampled and pushed aside. If you are planning other work, tell us at the assessment and we can help with the order of jobs.
Re-insulating after the vacuum
A clean roof space is the best time to install new insulation. We supply and install Knauf Earthwool® batts, made with up to 80% recycled glass and ECOSE® Technology, a bio-based binder with no added formaldehyde. They carry a 50-year manufacturer warranty and come in a range of R-values to suit coastal Sydney in climate zone 5 or the colder winters of zone 6 in the west.
Ceiling vacuum service areas in Sydney
From our depot at Unit 4/1 Powdrill Rd, Prestons, we provide ceiling vacuums across Greater Sydney: the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Hills District, Western Sydney, South West Sydney including Liverpool and Campbelltown, and the Sutherland Shire. We also travel to the Central Coast and Wollongong.
Insulation Extract has been operating since 2014, is part of the Energy Efficiency Group (EEG) and has retrofitted more than 45,000 Australian homes. To book a free assessment, use the quote form or call (02) 7233 1266.