I'm thinking about insulating my house because it gets super hot in the summer and my air conditioning bill is insane. I saw that polyurethane foam is effective but I have no idea how much the installation costs. Has anyone done this at their house and can tell me how much they spent?
Polyurethane foam is pretty expensive because the price depends a lot on the area, how thick you want it, and whether it's spray or rigid boards. What I've seen is that it runs between $800 to $2000 per square meter or so, though in some places it's cheaper if you have a small house or if you negotiate with local contractors. The best thing is to get quotes from several guys because prices vary a lot, and some include removing the old stuff while others don't. Apart from the initial cost, keep in mind that afterward you have to paint or cover the foam so that adds extra expenses too.
The final budget is also going to depend a lot on whether you do it just on the façades (which is the most common for summer heat) or if you also put it in interior walls. In my building there are people who did it only on the south-facing side and it changed their life with the air conditioning, but of course, they spent less than the ones who insulated the whole house.
Another factor that not always gets mentioned is whether you need to remove the current cladding or if they can apply the foam directly on top. If your house has a finish that needs to be demolished first, that adds labor and debris removal, which can be as expensive or more expensive than the material itself. That's why I'd recommend you call three or four local companies and ask them to come see the space - they all give free quotes with no obligation and that way you see the difference depending on exactly where you live. It's not the same in a central area as on the outskirts, and that detail changes the numbers a lot.
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