Australia's National Retrofit Insulation Provider

Can You Stay Home During Insulation Removal?

Yes, most people can stay home. On removal day the vacuum hose runs into the roof through a few lifted tiles or roof sheets, and the old insulation goes straight into a sealed hopper on our truck, so nothing is carried through your rooms. Power to the work area is switched off while the crew works, and a little dust can come through exhaust fans or air-conditioning vents, so it helps to plan around that.

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Tile Roof Retrofit

Extraction & Batts

1. Old blown-in removal via vacuum
2. Earthwool® batts install
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What happens on the day

  • Before the day: stored goods and large debris are cleared from the roof space.
  • Power: electricity to the work area is switched off while the crew works around the wiring. This is a regulatory requirement.
  • Access: wherever possible we enter the roof from outside by lifting tiles or sheeting, which keeps the inside of the house clean.
  • Extraction: a 25HP vacuum pulls the old insulation through a wide hose into sealed hoppers on the truck.
  • Clean-up: the roof space is vacuumed again so the new insulation goes onto a clean ceiling, and the removed material goes to approved waste facilities.

How long it takes

We commit a full day to each job, or half a day for areas under 50 m². For homes over 150 m² we send a crew of three to four, so the new insulation can be installed the same day.

Tips if you are home

  • Keep children and pets away from the truck and the hose.
  • Close internal doors, and expect a little dust through exhaust fans or air-conditioning vents; dust that has settled for 10 to 40 years gets disturbed.
  • If someone in the home has asthma or another breathing condition, consider planning to be out during the extraction.

If we find asbestos

Insulation Extract does not handle or remove asbestos. If it is suspected during the job, work stops and the roof is left undisturbed until a licensed assessor has checked it.

Two technicians in masks feeding a vacuum hose through a tiled roof space
Two technicians in masks feeding a vacuum hose through a tiled roof space
Bagged old insulation and vacuum extraction equipment beside a house
Bagged old insulation and vacuum extraction equipment beside a house

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to leave the house during insulation removal?

No. The hose enters the roof from outside and the old insulation goes into a sealed truck, so most people stay home. If someone has asthma or another breathing condition, it can be worth being out during the extraction.

Will my power be off during insulation removal?

Electricity to the work area is switched off while the crew works in the roof, as regulations require. We explain which circuits are affected before we start.

Will there be dust in the house?

Very little. Because the roof is accessed from outside and the material goes straight into the truck, nothing is carried through your rooms, but some fine dust can come through exhaust fans or air-conditioning vents.

How long does insulation removal take?

Usually a full day, or half a day for areas under 50 m². Larger homes get a bigger crew so the new insulation goes in the same day.

What happens to the old insulation?

It is vacuumed into sealed hoppers on the truck and disposed of through approved waste facilities, so there is nothing left for you to deal with.

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