Johns Manville Insulation Removal in Los Angeles: What to Know First
Johns Manville insulation removal in Los Angeles typically takes one day for most attics under 1,500 square feet, and our written quote is in your hand before any equipment comes off the truck. We’re an independent Johns Manville service provider, not a factory-authorized dealer, which means we answer to you and The Garrison Standard, not a brand playbook. Most removal jobs run $1.40 to $2.80 per square foot depending on insulation type, depth, and attic access.
This page is for Los Angeles homeowners who have Johns Manville fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, or spray foam in their attic and need it removed. Whether it’s water damage, rodent contamination, or a renovation that requires a clean deck, we handle the removal, disposal, and replacement. Call (254) 272-5876 and a live person answers, 24/7.
How Johns Manville Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Johns Manville makes solid insulation. But every product has a failure point, and in Los Angeles, heat and roof leaks find them faster than most places. Here’s what we see in attics across the Valley, the Westside, and the South Bay.
- JM ComfortTherm batts with vapor retarder facing: The kraft paper facing can trap moisture against the drywall when installed backward or when attic ventilation is poor. We see this in older Los Angeles homes where a previous contractor stapled facing down “to hold it in place.” The result is mold at the drywall seam. We remove the affected batts, address any mold at the surface, and replace with unfaced insulation or a vapor-permeable option.
- JM Attic Protector blown-in fiberglass: Rodents love tunneling through it. In Los Angeles foothill neighborhoods like Sherman Oaks and Studio City, rats and squirrels nest in blown-in fiberglass all year. Once they’re in, the insulation compresses and holds urine and droppings. This is a full removal job, not a spot patch, because you can’t see contamination depth from the attic hatch. We bag it, HEPA-vac the deck, and sanitize before new insulation goes in.
- JM Corbond III closed-cell spray foam: When installed over a leaking roof deck, closed-cell foam hides the leak until the plywood underneath is spongy and the foam is saturated at the seam. Los Angeles flat roofs on 1950s and 1960s homes are notorious for this. Removal of closed-cell is mechanical, labor-heavy work. We cut, scrape, and bag it, then inspect the deck for rot before any new insulation decision is made.
- JM Spider fiberglass blown-in (the “cobweb” product): This loose-fill fiberglass with an adhesive binder settles unpredictably in hot Los Angeles attics that hit 140°F in August. It clumps and leaves bare spots at the eaves after a few years. When a homeowner wants to upgrade to a higher R-value, we remove the settled material first so the new blown-in depth is uniform across the deck.
- JM Formaldehyde-free batts in older homes with knob-and-tube wiring: Los Angeles still has thousands of pre-1940 homes with live knob-and-tube. Insulation packed over live wiring is a fire hazard and an insurance problem. We remove the batts around the wiring paths, install proper barriers, and advise on the safest insulation approach that keeps the home insurable.
Our Johns Manville Insulation Removal Process
Every removal job follows the same sequence, whether it’s 400 square feet in a Reseda bungalow or 2,000 square feet in a Hancock Park attic.
- 1
The call: You reach a live person at (254) 272-5876. We ask about the insulation type, the attic access, and what prompted the removal. No forms. No callback queues.
- 2
The inspection: A background-checked, uniformed technician arrives inside the scheduled window. We measure square footage, insulation depth, moisture readings if water is suspected, and check for contamination or wiring issues. We also document the existing R-value so you know what you’re losing and what we recommend replacing it with.
- 3
The written quote: Before any work starts, you get a written price that includes labor, disposal, and the new insulation if you’re replacing. The number you approve is the number on the invoice. No change orders unless you add scope.
- 4
The removal: We bag and remove all existing insulation using commercial-grade extraction equipment. For fiberglass, that means direct vacuum to sealed bags. For batts, we hand-remove and bag. For spray foam, we cut and scrape. Drop cloths protect the floors and the attic access gets sealed off with plastic to keep dust out of the house.
- 5
The cleanup and air seal: We HEPA-vac the attic deck and joists. If you’re upgrading, we air seal the obvious gaps around plumbing vents, recessed light housings, and top plates before the new insulation goes in. That step is what actually makes the new insulation perform in a Los Angeles summer.
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The guarantee: Every removal and replacement is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the work fails within a year, we come back at no charge. Full stop.
What Johns Manville Insulation Removal Costs in Los Angeles
Here’s what we quote Los Angeles homeowners for common removal scenarios. These are honest ranges, not lowball openers.
| Scenario | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Blown-in fiberglass removal only (attic up to 1,000 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,200 |
| Batt removal only (attic up to 1,000 sq ft) | $1,200 – $1,900 |
| Rodent-contaminated blown-in removal with sanitizing | $1,800 – $2,800 |
| Closed-cell spray foam removal (per 100 sq ft of ceiling area) | $700 – $1,100 |
| Removal plus new blown-in fiberglass at R-38 (attic up to 1,000 sq ft) | $2,800 – $4,200 |
What moves the price: attic height, access (single hatch vs. walk-up), contamination level, and whether the old material is wet or compressed. Blown-in across the entire deck is faster to remove than batts that have been stapled in place for 40 years. If you’re re-insulating, the R-value you choose and whether you add air sealing changes the final number. Call (254) 272-5876 for an exact quote. Estimates are free and the number we give you is the number you’ll pay.
Why Los Angeles Homeowners Call Alden Attic Insulation for Johns Manville Work
Alden Attic Insulation is independently owned and operated, held to The Garrison Standard. That means every job gets a written price before work starts and a written guarantee that runs 365 days. If it’s not done right, we make it right, at no charge. That’s not a slogan. It’s the Garrison Code.
Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform, inside the window we gave you. They know Johns Manville products because we install and remove them regularly, alongside Owens Corning, Knauf, Rockwool, CertainTeed, Icynene, Demilec, GreenFiber, and Reflectix. A technician who works with eight brands tells you what’s actually best for your attic, not what’s on the truck that week.
Bryce Holloway grew up in Reseda and learned the trade through the construction technology program at Los Angeles Valley College. He’s spent more than two decades in Los Angeles attics, and he’ll give you an honest assessment. If your attic needs work, he’ll tell you exactly what and why. If it doesn’t, he’ll tell you that too. Good insulation doesn’t announce itself – you just stop noticing the heat.
FAQs
If your Johns Manville insulation is still under its manufacturer warranty and you remove it for reasons unrelated to a covered defect, the warranty won’t apply to the replacement material. If a product defect is the reason for removal, contact Johns Manville first to see if you’re covered. We’re an independent Johns Manville service provider, so we don’t process manufacturer warranty claims. We document the removal thoroughly, and we can provide photos and samples if you need to file a claim. Call (254) 272-5876 and we’ll walk you through what to ask Johns Manville before you commit to removal.
Most Los Angeles removal jobs are scheduled within 5 to 7 business days. A typical attic under 1,500 square feet with blown-in fiberglass is removed in one day, including cleanup. Batt removal can run into a second day if the attic is large or the batts are stapled and glued. Same-week appointments are often available depending on the time of year and location. Call (254) 272-5876 for current scheduling.
It’s cheaper to add new insulation on top of dry, uncontaminated existing insulation. But if the existing Johns Manville material is wet, rodent-contaminated, or moldy, layering over it traps the problem and makes it worse. Removing first costs more today, but it’s the only way to get a clean deck and a uniform R-value. We’ll tell you plainly if your existing insulation can stay. That’s part of the honest assessment Bryce built his reputation on.
Yes. We remove both closed-cell and open-cell Johns Manville spray foam, including Corbond III. Closed-cell removal is mechanical and labor-intensive, which is why it’s the most expensive removal we do. Open-cell is easier to remove but still requires care to avoid damaging the deck. We’ll assess the ceiling condition, the foam thickness, and the roof deck access before quoting a removal price.
If there’s a water leak actively flooding your attic or a fire-related contamination issue, call (254) 272-5876 and tell us what’s happening. We handle emergency removals on a priority basis. A live person answers the phone 24/7, not a voicemail. For non-emergency removals, we’ll get you on the schedule as fast as the calendar allows and show up inside the window we promised.
Get Your Johns Manville Insulation Removed in Los Angeles
We remove Johns Manville insulation across Los Angeles County, from the Valley to the South Bay. Every job gets a written price before work starts and a written 365-day guarantee behind it. If it’s not done right, we return at no charge. That’s the Garrison Standard, and it’s been how we work since 2002.
Call (254) 272-5876 for a free estimate. A live person answers, 24/7. We’ll schedule the inspection, send a background-checked technician inside the promised window, and put the number in your hand before a single tool comes off the truck.
Written by Bryce Holloway, Owner, Alden Attic Insulation at Alden Attic Insulation, serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.