Can I DIY my home insulation without a contractors license?
In this blog post, we will discuss whether it is legal to do your own home insulation without a contractors license. We will cover the basics of hiring an insulation contractor and going through the process of installing new insulation in your home or rental properties. If you want to find Home Insulation Companies near me Maple Grove MN, then reach out to Century Insulation today!
You can do your own home insulation without a state contractors license. If you want to save money and have time on your hands, we recommend doing it yourself. You can also hire an insulation company in your area to come and do the work for you. We recommend using local companies because they will be cheaper and more reliable than large franchise chains or national companies.
The answer is yes
If you are doing work on your own home, or your rental properties, you are not required to have a contractor’s license for the materials and labor.
If you are doing work on commercial properties such as apartment buildings or schools then yes it’s different because those buildings require more than just regular insulation so they will fall under commercial guidelines where every step must be done by a certified contractor approved by OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration)
Contractors are required to carry insurance when their billings exceed $10,000
When you hire a contractor, it’s in your best interest to ensure they carry insurance. The reason for this is that if anything goes wrong with the job or if any damage is done to your home, their insurance will protect both of you from financial loss and legal action.
Contractors are required to carry insurance when their billings exceed $10,000. For example: If you have an insulation project that costs $15,000 (including materials and labor), then your contractor should have at least $5k worth of general liability coverage or equivalent protection for subcontractor work performed on site.
Attic Insulation Projects
It is easy to take out an existing attic insulation and install new insulation in a crawlspace or basement if there is one. The process can be done by yourself, but you should make sure that the materials you use are of good quality. It is better to hire a contractor for this job so that they will do it correctly and give you the best results.
What does a Contractor need to do before working on my home?
An insulation contractor that is licensed will use certified employees to provide service. They must also provide a contract with terms and conditions of purchase before work begins. A local insulation company contractor must also obtain written authorization before they may proceed with work after the signed contract has been delivered.
There are several steps that must be followed before an insulation contractor may begin work on your home. They must first obtain approval from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and/or a Residential Energy Efficiency Labeling Network (REELN). This authorization allows them to proceed with any necessary inspections and project planning. Depending on the type of service you choose, a local insulation company contractor must also obtain written authorization before they may proceed with work after the signed contract has been delivered.
Make sure you get at least three bids from reputable insulation companies so they can review your home with you and provide a bid based on their findings
Before you begin to insulate, you should get at least three bids from reputable residential insulation companies. Each company’s inspector will review your home with you and provide a bid based on their findings. The inspector should be licensed by the state and come prepared to do an inspection, which may include but is not limited to:
- A visual inspection of all accessible areas where insulation will be installed (ceilings, walls, & attic).
- An assessment of the existing structure within your home including framing materials used in construction as well as condition of these materials (if applicable).
- Documentation regarding air leakage into and out from the attic space using blower door equipment or other approved methods for measuring air infiltration/exfiltration rates throughout a home’s envelope (you may need help finding an inspector who can perform this part).
As long as you stay within the guidelines of the state law on insulating your own home, you can save money by doing it yourself!
If you’re interested in insulating your own home, the Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 326E is the law that governs these practices. The purpose of this law is to protect consumers from fraud and ensure proper installation. Below are some guidelines for insulating your own home:
- If you have a contractor’s license or other professional designation, you can proceed with insulation without any restrictions. In order to get a contractor’s license in Minnesota, there are certain prerequisites that must be met such as education requirements and passing an exam on business practices.
- You must be at least 18 years old to qualify as an installer of insulation materials yourself (this includes both batt-type and blown-in insulation).
- For single-family homes less than 2 stories tall, which have R38 or more surface area per square foot on exterior walls (i.e., including windows), it may be acceptable to only use batt type material instead of blown-in type material if all of the following conditions are met: 1) The homeowner has obtained approval from their homeowners association before beginning any insulation work; 2) They’ve notified the HOA about their plans for energy efficiency improvements within 30 days prior to starting work; 3) They’ve put up signs at all entrances stating “Do not enter – Homeowner under construction”.
I hope this article helped you understand how easy it is to do your own home insulation without a contractors license. If you are looking for information on other DIY projects, check out our blog! At Century Insulation, we’d be happy to help you with any of your home insulation projects. Our services include fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation, spray foam insulation, attic insulation, waterproofing, and more– including energy insulation rebates! Protecting you and your home is what we do best, call us today if you have any questions.