Batt and Roll Insulation
Fiberglass and mineral wool batts for wall cavities, floors, and ceilings, taken off by area and thickness for each cavity depth and stud spacing.
Division 07, Insulation
Insulation Estimating Services for Building & Mechanical Insulation
Insulation looks simple on a drawing: a squiggly line in a wall section. In the estimate, it's several materials measured in different units, each with its own labor rate, and each driven by code requirements that may not be on the plans at all.
Our insulation estimating services price building insulation for walls, roofs, floors, and foundations, and mechanical insulation for piping, ductwork, and equipment.
07 20 00Thermal and acoustic
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
ZIP-code pricedLocal material and labor rates
24 to 48 hoursTypical turnaround
Building Insulation by Type
Blown-In Insulation
Loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose in attics and dense-pack in walls, priced by coverage at the required depth.
Spray Foam
Open-cell and closed-cell spray polyurethane foam, priced by board feet (area multiplied by thickness) because foam is bought and applied by volume.
Rigid Board and Continuous Insulation
Polyiso, XPS, EPS, and mineral wool boards on exterior walls, under slabs, and at foundations, with fasteners, tape, and adhesives. Thermal and moisture protection →
Acoustic Insulation
Sound attenuation batts in interior partitions and floor-ceiling assemblies: usually installed by the drywall contractor, so we flag the scope split. Drywall estimating →
Roof insulation is included in our roofing estimates as part of the roof assembly. Roofing estimating →
Different Insulation, Different Units
A common estimating mistake is measuring all insulation by area. In practice:
Batts
square feet by thickness and width
Blown-in
square feet at a depth, converted to bags using coverage charts
Spray foam
board feet (square feet × inches)
Rigid board
square feet by thickness, counted in sheets
Mechanical insulation
linear feet of pipe by size and thickness, plus fittings, valves, and jacketing
We report each type in the unit you price it in.
R-Values and Energy Code Requirements
Required R-values come from the energy code adopted in the project's jurisdiction and the climate zone, and the drawings don't always state them. Code may also require continuous insulation on exterior walls, which changes the wall assembly and adds material and labor.
When the drawings and specs give R-values, we price them. When they don't, we note the assumption so you can confirm before bidding.
Mechanical Insulation
Pipe insulation
by pipe size, insulation thickness, and system (hot water, chilled water, steam, refrigerant, domestic water)
Fittings and valves
counted separately, as they take more labor than straight pipe
Duct wrap and liner
by area Duct takeoff →
Equipment insulation
tanks, heat exchangers, and vessels
Jacketing
PVC, aluminum, or stainless jacketing where exposed
Who Uses Insulation Estimating
- Insulation contractors (building and mechanical)
- Spray foam contractors
- General contractors and builders
- Mechanical contractors pricing insulation sub scope
Checklist
What to Send
- Architectural drawings with wall, roof, and floor sections
- Mechanical drawings (for mechanical insulation)
- Specifications for insulation types and thicknesses
- Project location (for energy code climate zone)
Send Your Files
Upload the drawings through our quote form, share a Google Drive or plan-room link, or email them. Large sets travel best as a shared folder.
Upload Your Plans →Or email info@primeestimation.com.
Excel + PDFWith marked-up drawings
Deliverables
What You Receive
- Quantities by insulation type, location, and thickness or R-value
- Board feet for spray foam
- Linear feet and fitting counts for mechanical insulation
- Labor and material pricing
- Clarifications on code assumptions and scope splits
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you estimate spray foam?
By board feet (the area multiplied by the thickness in inches) separately for open-cell and closed-cell.
Do you check energy code requirements?
We price what the drawings specify and flag where R-values are missing so you can confirm with the designer.
Do you estimate pipe insulation?
Yes: by pipe size, thickness, and system, with fittings and jacketing.
Is acoustic insulation included?
Yes, with a note on whether it belongs to the insulation or drywall contractor.
Ready to Get Started?
Get Insulation Priced in the Right Units
Send your drawings and specs. We'll quote the takeoff and delivery date.