Good time to be in the insulation business. I did blown in cellulose in the 80’s when it was a really hot item. In the 90’s I did the occasional rental house or houses of my own I was fixing up.
When I went into business I had an oppurtunity to blow the sidewalls of a house. I went to rent a machine and the only machine available was a low volume “consumer” unit from Lowes. Terribly slow and inefficent. No rental shop or other yard had one at all as the demand had died.
I was talking with a customer one day and the subject came up. Her father in law used to be in the insulation business when he taught school. He would use it as a summer job. Now he is a principle and works year round. I called him, we struck a deal and I bought all his equipment. Older but really high volume unit for residential.
So since then we have done one or two houses a year plus our own stuff as needed.
But then…………..the energy prices went up. Wheeee haaaa!!!!! Have 5 on the books right now and two more calls to go. Upped my prices and everyone is still saying what a bargain it is. Ahhh America. Where one mans misfortune can help out another. DanT
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I know square foot pricing is taboo here, so I won't tell... but what's your SF range for attic blown R-38 and walls at R-21? I'm assuming you do drill and fill but do you net walls and blow them?
Well, ummm, David, I ummmm. I just had a customer ask how I calculated the house and I said her house should take between 45-55 bags and I have a 100 at the shop so we should be fine. I have done enough of them I am rarely surprised but I don't really calculate it. And I don't charge by the SF.
I take the materials with mark up and figure on most houses 2 men for a day ($400 per) and that is how I do it. Not real techincal I know but it works out. Since the latest boom I am now charging $600 per man per day. And the last customer thanked me for being so reasonable. DanT
Good on ya Dan.....the land of opportunity, supply and demand, and being the right guy in the right place at the right time.
Where ya been though? Or have we been running in different circles lately?
We have been super busy. No complaints of course but frankly when it's like that I come home and read the board but rarely have the inclination to respond as I use it as an unwind method. I have kept up on your progress though and am still impressed at not only the work but the pace! I want to grow up and be like you man! (gush gush)
We usually are trying to find work for late December and January to get us through to tax time which is always a big time for us. Usually we have 2 or 3 calls a week. I had 12 last week and have 7 booked for next already. We have work booked for the first week of December and I am to meet with a client next week to sign another kitchen job up. I am really grateful but somewhat overwhelmed at times. Hope it keeps up! DanT