Insulation Removal Perth
Insulation Extract provides professional insulation removal in Perth, extracting old batts, cellulose fluff, wool and polystyrene beads from your roof space with a 25HP vacuum that feeds straight into a sealed truck hopper. Your home is left clean and ready for new insulation, usually on the same day.
Extraction & Batts
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Professional insulation removal for Perth homes
Insulation is a critical part of keeping your home comfortable and reducing energy costs. Over time, though, insulation materials deteriorate and become ineffective, which means they need to be removed and replaced. That is where we come in.
Removing existing insulation from roofs and ceilings is known as insulation extraction. It becomes necessary for several reasons, including damage to the building, pest infestations, or outdated material that drags down your home's energy efficiency. Many older Perth homes, from the brick and tile houses of the 1960s and 70s to the weatherboard cottages around Fremantle and Guildford, still have their original roof insulation, and much of it is no longer doing its job.
Signs your old insulation needs to come out
When considering insulation removal, think about the risks that come with leaving tired material in place:
- Mould growth caused by moisture build-up.
- A build-up of dust in the roof space.
- Pests such as rats and mice nesting and breeding in it.
- Ceilings cracking or sagging as moisture is held in the insulation over time.
- Not meeting modern building standards, which leads to higher energy bills.
Insulation that is damaged, infested or performing poorly will not insulate the way it should. That increases your daily power costs, increases your carbon footprint as you spend more on heating and cooling than you need to, and can weigh on your home's value when it is time to sell. Removing old blown-in insulation also improves air quality and gives you much better control over indoor temperatures.
Types of old insulation we remove in Perth
Various kinds of insulation may require extraction, including loose-fill, wool, urea-formaldehyde products and old fibreglass batts.
Cellulose and loose-fill blow-in
Old blown-in cellulose is not just paper. It is often recycled newspaper that can carry residues such as lead from printing ink, along with boric acid and other chemicals added during production. It is dusty, settles badly and holds moisture.
Wool insulation
Sheep's wool insulation was common in older homes from the 1940s to the 1960s and was an excellent thermal insulator in its day. It is now well past its useful life and is a fire risk.
Old fibreglass batts
Fibreglass batts became popular in the 1970s, and early products were made with formaldehyde binders. Over time these batts break down and turn to dust in your ceiling space.
Polystyrene beads and unknown materials
We also remove polystyrene beads and other loose materials. Over the years we have found unexpected material, including asbestos, mixed in with insulation in some older homes. If asbestos is suspected, work stops: Insulation Extract is not licensed to handle or remove asbestos, and a licensed asbestos removalist must deal with it first. Homes built before 1990 should always be checked before removal.
How we remove old insulation from your roof space
Preparing your home for removal day
Once you decide to go ahead, a few things happen before and on the day:
- Electricity to the work area is switched off for the safety of the crew working around live wires. This is a regulatory requirement.
- Stored goods and large debris are cleared from the roof space before extraction starts.
- The existing insulation is assessed for type, condition and risks, which guides the removal and helps choose the best replacement product.
- The roof space is confirmed asbestos free before any removal begins.
Industrial vacuum extraction through the roof
To remove cellulose, polystyrene balls and other loose material safely, we use an industrial ceiling vacuum. Our 25HP negative-pressure unit pulls material through a wide hose straight into sealed hoppers on the truck. Wherever possible we access the roof from outside by lifting tiles or sheeting rather than going through the manhole. This keeps the inside of the house clean and stops the hose rubbing against walls and doorframes.
Final vacuum, disposal and clean-up
After the old insulation is extracted, the roof space is vacuumed again to remove loose particles and dust so the new layer goes onto a clean ceiling. All removed material is contained and disposed of through approved waste facilities, so there is nothing left for you to deal with.
When vacuuming a ceiling we are disturbing dust that has settled over 10 to 40 years, so it is common for a little of it to come through bathroom exhaust fans or air-conditioning vents. We will talk you through what to expect before we start.
Replacing removed insulation with Knauf Earthwool
Replacing old insulation with new, energy-efficient batts is the final step. In our experience the best product on the market is Knauf Earthwool® glasswool, which offers:
- A 50-year manufacturer warranty.
- Non-combustible to AS1530.1.
- A choice of R-values to suit your home.
- ECOSE® Technology, a bio-based binder with no added formaldehyde.
- Up to 80% recycled glass content.
Where the home is large enough, we send a bigger crew so the old insulation is removed and the new batts are installed on the same day. That way you never spend a hot afternoon or a cold night without insulation.
Choosing an insulation removal company in Perth
For an effective removal and replacement, choosing the right company is critical. Ask tough questions and compare the services and costs on offer before you decide. When comparing contractors, look into:
- Their experience, qualifications and licences.
- Proof of public liability insurance and how they extract and dispose of material.
- The equipment they use.
- Their Google reviews, which are a good guide to how professional a removalist really is.
- How they handle accidental damage. Working inside older Perth ceilings is challenging, and minor damage occasionally happens. A reputable contractor fixes it promptly; a one-man band may not have the same level of responsibility.
Comparing insulation removal quotes
When you compare quotes, check how many square metres are included for removal and installation, what warranties come with the work, and whether extra areas could be added later as hidden costs. Cash deals may look cheaper, but they leave you with little recourse if there is damage or poor workmanship. Insulation Extract has retrofitted more than 45,000 Australian homes since 2014, and our Perth crews work from our depot in Wangara.
Call (08) 9302 2699 to book a free on-site assessment anywhere in the Perth metro area.
