Loft insulation removal and clearance
Loft insulation removal is the clearing of old, damaged or contaminated insulation from a loft floor using sealed vacuum equipment, so it can be replaced with clean material at the correct depth. Extract Energy removes old mineral wool, blown fibre and other fibrous insulation across Hampshire, and disposes of it under our Environment Agency waste carrier registration. If your loft has old loose-fill vermiculite, we will not touch it until it has been tested for asbestos.
When loft insulation should be removed
Topping up is usually the right answer. Sometimes it is not, and laying new insulation over a problem just hides it. We recommend removal when:
It is wet
A roof leak, a burst tank or a long-term condensation problem has soaked it. Wet insulation does not dry out in a loft; it sits against the plasterboard and the joists and rots them.
It is contaminated
Mice, rats, squirrels or birds have been living in it. Droppings and urine are a health hazard and the smell comes through the ceiling.
It is compressed
Decades of boxes and boards have flattened it to a fraction of its depth. It is doing very little and boarding over it makes it worse.
It is old fibrous material
Old, loose and dusty material of a type you would rather not have in the house, breaking down.
It is spray foam
That a surveyor or lender has flagged. That is a specialist job and has its own page.
You need a clear loft
For a conversion, rewiring, a new boiler flue, or structural work.
How we remove it
Survey
We look at what is there, what caused the damage, and whether the cause (a leak, a vermin entry point) has been fixed. There is no point stripping a loft under a roof that still leaks.
Protect the house
Dust sheets from the front door to the hatch. The hatch surround is sealed. Operatives wear full PPE including respiratory protection, because disturbing old fibre releases dust you do not want in your bedrooms.
Vacuum extraction
The insulation is drawn into sealed bags with a high-powered industrial vacuum. For loose or blown insulation this is quick. For rolls and batts, they are lifted, bagged and passed down. Nothing is carried loose through the house.
Clearance
We sweep and vacuum the joists and the ceiling, clear debris from the eaves, and check the condition of the plasterboard and timbers underneath. If we find rot or a wet patch, we photograph it and tell you before going further.
Re-insulate or board
In most cases we lay new 270mm Knauf Earthwool the same day, fit Klober eaves trays and felt lap vents, insulate pipes and the tank, and fit raised boarding if you want storage.
Tidy finish
Bags out to the van, sheets up, hatch closed, a walk round with you. Old insulation is disposed of at a licensed facility under waste carrier registration CBDU532168.
Health and safety, and a warning about vermiculite
Old mineral wool is an irritant. Droppings from mice, rats or birds can carry disease. Our operatives are trained in manual handling, working at height and asbestos awareness, wear full PPE including respiratory protection, and stop work if they find anything they are not sure about.
Vermiculite warning
Vermiculite is the one to watch. If your loft is filled with grey-gold, pebble-like granules, that is probably loose-fill vermiculite, and some old vermiculite is contaminated with asbestos. Do not disturb it. Do not sweep it, vacuum it, bag it or walk through it. Have a sample tested by an accredited asbestos laboratory or surveyor first (sampling and a basic survey typically cost from about £50 to £250). If asbestos is found, removal is specialist work for a licensed asbestos contractor, not for a general insulation firm like us, and we will tell you so rather than quote for it.
What it costs
Guide prices for a typical three-bed semi, shown as separate lines because removal and installation are charged differently for VAT:
| Job | Guide price | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Removal only | from £500, typically £600 to £950 | 20% |
| Removal plus same-day re-insulation to 270mm | from £1,100, typically £1,300 to £1,900 | Removal 20%, new insulation 0% until 31 March 2027 (then 5%) |
| Contaminated, wet or rodent-damaged loft | Quoted after survey; contamination typically adds £350 to £900 | 20% on the clean-up |
Pest control and repairs to the roof or ceiling are separate. Prices as at October 2026.
Full insulation price guideReplace it the same day with 270mm
A cleared loft is a cold loft. We almost always re-insulate on the same visit so you are never left with bare joists overnight. New Earthwool to 270mm, ventilation at the eaves, pipes and tank wrapped, hatch insulated. One day, done.
Loft insulation installation
Frequently asked questions
How much does loft insulation removal cost?
For a typical three-bed semi, removal only is from £500 and typically £600 to £950, with VAT at 20%. Removal plus same-day re-insulation to 270mm is typically £1,300 to £1,900, with the new insulation at 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. Contamination typically adds £350 to £900. The written quote after your free survey is the one that counts.
Is old loft insulation dangerous?
Mineral wool is an irritant rather than a hazard, but old insulation full of droppings, or soaked and mouldy, is a genuine health concern, especially for anyone with asthma. Loose-fill vermiculite may contain asbestos and must be tested before anyone disturbs it. We treat every old loft with caution.
Can you remove blown or loose insulation?
Yes. Loose and blown fibre is actually the easiest to vacuum out. Rolls and batts take longer because they are lifted and bagged by hand.
How long does it take?
Most three-bed houses are cleared in half a day and re-insulated the same afternoon. Big lofts, heavy contamination or lots of stored belongings to work around add time.
Do you dispose of it?
Yes. Everything leaves in sealed bags in our van and goes to a licensed facility under our Environment Agency waste carrier registration, CBDU532168. We can provide a waste transfer note if you need one for a landlord or insurer.
Areas we cover
Loft insulation removal across Gosport, Fareham, Portsmouth, Havant, Southampton, Winchester and the wider Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey area.
Book a free loft survey
We will tell you whether to top up or strip out, and give you a price for either.