Start clean, then insulate
Insulation Removal
Old insulation that is contaminated, wet or flattened is not a base to build on. We vacuum it out, disinfect, correct the underlying problem and re-insulate to current code.
What it is
There is a point where adding insulation on top of what is already there is throwing money away. Insulation that is soaked, mouse-infested, smoke-damaged or compressed flat after forty years has lost most of its R-value, and burying it hides the real problem instead of fixing it — the roof leak, the bathroom fan venting into the attic, the blocked soffits, the rodent entry point.
Vacuum removal clears the space back to the deck so the deficiencies can be found and corrected, the surfaces cleaned and treated, and a fresh, full-depth insulation system installed that will actually perform.
It is also the least glamorous work we do, and the part where a careful contractor is worth the most. Old insulation is dusty, contaminated material that has to come out through your house. We contain the route, run the hose to a sealed collection unit outside, and leave the living space clean.
When removal is the right call
- Rodent, bat or bird contamination — droppings, nesting and urine-saturated material, which is a health issue as well as an insulation one.
- Water damage from a roof leak, ice damming or a plumbing failure — wet insulation stays wet, loses its R-value and grows mould.
- Fire or smoke damage, where the odour lives in the insulation.
- Decades-old material that has settled, compacted or been disturbed by repeated work in the attic.
- Before a major upgrade, where you want a clean substrate for spray foam or a properly measured full-depth blow.
- Vermiculite is a special case: older vermiculite may contain asbestos and must be tested before anything disturbs it. NEEDS: confirm whether you handle vermiculite, or the abatement partner you refer these jobs to
In detail
Everything else worth knowing
Old insulation? Water damage? Pest damage?
A hassle-free way of getting rid of old insulation. We remove insulation with a high-volume vacuum, and we take care of the disposal as well.
As a home gets older you can keep adding insulation, but eventually it reaches the point where the old material needs to come out instead.
Pests: mice, bats and raccoons
Over time there may have been pests in your attic — mice, bats and raccoons — that have left unwanted substances behind, and those can be quite toxic.
It is in your best interest to have that material removed once the entry points have been sealed against future pests. Removing it while the way in is still open just resets the clock.
Water damage and roof leaks
If you have ever had a roof leak, it is highly advisable to remove the water-logged insulation, because it has lost all of its R-value.
The other reason to take it out is to avoid the mould and mildew that follow trapped moisture.
Then we re-insulate to code
On completion of the removal we can re-insulate your attic to new code standards, so the job finishes with an envelope that performs rather than a hole in the ceiling.
Benefits
Why homeowners choose it
Removes the contamination, not just the smell
Droppings, nesting material and the odour that comes with them leave with the insulation.
Exposes the real problem
Leaks, disconnected bath fans, blocked soffit vents and rodent entry points are only findable with the insulation out.
Restores full R-value
New insulation installed at a measured, even depth performs to its rating — settled old material does not.
Protects your indoor air
Attic air finds its way into the house. Clean attic, cleaner air.
A proper base for spray foam
Foam needs to bond to a clean, sound substrate.
Contained, tidy work
Sealed hose runs, protected floors, and the debris hauled away.
Where we apply it
Where removal goes to work
Attics
The most common removal we do, by a wide margin.
Wall cavities
Where insulation is water-damaged or contaminated behind the finish.
Crawl spaces
Damp, fallen or rodent-damaged material under the floor.
Floors over garages
Sagging or contaminated joist bays.
Post-flood and post-leak restoration
Clearing wet material before it turns into a mould problem.
Pre-renovation
Clean-out ahead of an addition, re-roof or attic conversion.
Our process
How the job runs
- 1
Inspection and scope
We get into the space, identify the contamination and its cause, and quote the removal and the re-insulation together so you see the full picture.
- 2
Containment
Work areas and the hose route through the house are protected and sealed.
- 3
Vacuum removal
Material is vacuumed through a hose to a sealed collection unit outside — it does not get carried through your hallway in bags.
- 4
Clean and treat
Surfaces are cleaned and treated. NEEDS: confirm the sanitizing/disinfectant product and any pest-exclusion work you include or subcontract
- 5
Correct the deficiencies
Baffles, bath and range fans ducted properly outside, and entry points identified so the problem does not come straight back.
- 6
Re-insulate to code
Fresh insulation — blown, batt or spray foam — installed to current Ontario Building Code requirements, with depth markers where applicable.
Why us
Why choose Barrie Insulation Systems
Straight recommendations
If a cheaper product will do the same job in your house, we will tell you. We would rather have the referral than the upsell.
Certified applicators
Spray foam is installed under CAN/ULC-S705.2 by certified applicators — not by whoever was available that morning.
Clean, tidy work sites
The thing our customers mention most in their reviews. Floors protected, debris hauled out, space left ready for the next trade.
Four systems, one contractor
Spray foam, BIBS, batt and removal under one roof, so the quote is for the right product in each area of your house.
Local and accountable
Based in Barrie, working across Simcoe County and the Kawartha Lakes area for more than 15 years.
Free, no-obligation quotes
We come out, look at the actual building, and give you a written price.
What customers say
Removal customers most often mention that the house was left cleaner than they expected. 15 five-star reviews on Google.
Just finished a project with Peter and team on our home. An area of our home was discovered to be un-insulated. Peter consulted with us and in a very timing manner solved our issue. The team did a great job, very personable and a pleasure to work with. Spray foam can be messy, not for the team at Barrie Insulation. Arrived, completed the job and even scraped the area's where over spray occurred. Highly recommend this team - True professionals.
These guys provided a very reasonable quote for some spray foam and blown in insulation, went above and beyond to get it done on our timeline (including working on a Saturday), billed according to the estimate and were great throughout the process. Very happy with their work and would definitely recommend them to others.
Insulation Removal — frequently asked questions
How do I know if my insulation needs to be removed?
The usual signs are a musty or ammonia smell, visible droppings, staining on the ceiling below, ice damming, uneven heating and a heating bill that keeps climbing. If you have had a roof leak or a rodent problem, assume the insulation is affected until someone has actually looked at it.
Is the removal messy?
It is dusty work, but it should not be messy for you. The material goes out through a sealed hose to a collection unit outside, floors and the hose route are protected, and the space is cleaned when we are done.
How long does an attic removal take?
Most residential attic removals are a one-day job, with the re-insulation following immediately after or the next day. Size, access and the amount of deficiency repair drive the schedule, and we give you a realistic window in the quote — not an optimistic one.
Do I need to leave my house?
Usually not for removal. If we are following up with spray foam, that portion has its own re-entry period, which we go over with you before we start.
What about vermiculite?
Vermiculite from certain historic sources can contain asbestos, and it must be tested before it is disturbed — not vacuumed on a hunch. If you have loose, pebbly, greyish-brown insulation in your attic, do not touch it and call us to talk about testing first. NEEDS: confirm your policy — test-and-refer, or do you handle abatement?
Will you re-insulate after the removal?
Yes, and we quote it as one job. Removal without re-insulation leaves your house worse than it started, so we plan both together — including which product makes sense for each area of the attic.
Other services
Spray Today, Save Tomorrow
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us what the building is doing and we will come out, get into the space and give you a straight answer in writing.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- Straight answers on what your home actually needs
- Licensed, insured and certified applicators