Business ProfileforAFI Insulation

I generally do not write extended reviews. However, one is needed in this case. My wife and I researched and spent some time looking at insulation contractors for the walls of our home. After careful consideration and bids, we selected AFI Insulation of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. For the situation present, our best option was blown-in. This requires the removal of a strip or strips of siding and blowing insulation into the walls. Once complete, the holes are plugged and the siding put back on just like it was to start. On August 20, 2021, a van arrived with men to do the work as scheduled. It was supposed to only take a few hours, and the house would be insulated with all holes securely covered and the siding and all other aspects back into the condition it began. Originally, they said we didn't need to be home, but we insisted we do so. It is fortunate we were, because the install did not go well. There is a substantive list of problems, so I will go through all the aspects of the install and the mass of issues it created, the issues we had with the installers, and the days of repair and costs following the fiasco. For one, when AFI arrived, no one even bothered to alert us they had arrived. As a result, the two men, having never been to our property, had no idea about our home or the walls they were to insulate. By the time my wife and I made it outside, they had already pulled several pieces of siding. As well, without asking nor discussed at any time in the process of our discussions with AFI, they also pulled every single shutter off our home. Anyone who has worked with shutters know they use plastic shutter screws. These break when removed and have to be replaced with new ones. When we made it out, one of the installers said we have bad news. We broke the screws--no kidding. So, I asked them before they left to find the plastic screws that were recoverable so we could at least get the ones on the second level back up correctly. We don't have a ladder to reach that height. The one gentleman in charge (Duston), did say it would be taken care of. Well, to get to that part of the story first--not only was it not done as asked, but the person working with Duston (guy in charge), he grumbled about doing it and after I thought it was resolved, turned out not to even attach parts of the shutters up above. When I saw what had happened in a few places, I had asked Duston to take care of the upper part and fix those. The guy he worked with ended up yelling at each other as Duston was informing him he needed to address the issue and go back on the ladder and fix them. It didn't happen. And, they ended up still leaving--with the mess completely in our hands. As I would discover later, some only had two screws, even though we had pulled ones that were useable. They were just hanging and any wind would have pulled them down. In addition, they had cracked the bottom of one. These ran around $70 a piece; the screws are about $6-7 for ten. And by the time my wife and I and a guy we had to hire to get to the second level, we had to purchase and replace every single screw. Those they had said were good included broken off screws, some stuck in the wall sticking out, others bend over behind the shutters. Sadly, this was not the worst problem we had on the day. In repairing the shutters, we discovered that when the siding was removed, the two had pulled the nails around the windows that held the vinyl siding supports in place. These frames are what provides the support for the siding, and keeps rain from getting in through the area around the window. There were gaps on the top level as large at three inches. It would have led to the rain going down the wall and leaking in the house and/or getting in the insulation and causing molding creating an environmental hazard. For example, I am allergic to mold, so this is a serious concern. Once again, the "worker" had not mentioned anything about pulling and not replacing nails. We don't even know what else they pulled yet. We have found over 70 nails thus far that was just thrown in the yard all the way around our house that were pulled in the process. Again, we were never asked, gave permission or expected this crew not to return things to the condition it was before. We were told it would be back to what it was like first as if nothing was done. This is completely unprofessional and incompetent. In addition, they drilled holes to blow in the insulation. They didn't bother to clean up even half of wood and other remains that left. We ended up picking up these all over the yard, the sidewalks and even on the roof in a few places on the area we can reach. I should have known when I went out another time and they hooked up the insulation blower the first time something was wrong. They blew insulation all over our yard before they got it stopped. Again, this wasn't the end of the biggest issues caused by the crew's incompetence. As insulation was blown in, we heard a loud pop on the north wall. It turns the pressure of the blower had popped an internal area in the wall and insulation was blowing in and filling one of our closets and also pilling into our dining room. That area was older and had had some repairs, so I can understand an accident. But even after the pop, that they said they recognized and us beating and yelling for them to start, they didn't. My wife finally had to run outside. If you simply looked in the hole, they drilled you could have seen something was in there. We are having to get multiple items dry cleaned since that closet had many of our dress clothes. And, Duston said he would get everything cleaned up for us. We thought he meant right away. My wife has several severe allergies as do I. They didn't end up coming to address this till after they were done outside. And, my wife and I ended up doing much of the clearing. We couldn't wait until they got around to it. When they did come in to clean up what was left in the closet, they still ended up missing all that above the stuck to the shelves. Oh---this wasn't the worst of it. A few minutes later while I am working on the closet, my wife yelled as the wall in our office started opening up. Maybe the force was off on the hose, but they literally blew in a part of the wall and again, insulation covered the room. To make matters worse, this is our office space and the insulation not only went everywhere, but into our computers and other electronics. At this point, the person in charge, trying to address the issue called back to his company to address what had happened. Upon hearing from their boss/manager, I was asked to explain all that had happened and he listened intently. He also offered a discount to address the concerns. I had no real idea and worked through things as known at the time on a part-by-part basis. Again, he did listen and was respectful; however, he then, maybe trying to get sympathy informed me the two sent down to our home normally did not do this type of insulation. The installer that had been scheduled broke his ankle the day before. My biggest question is why was I not told before the job. I would have been fine delaying the job until an experienced person could do the job. We had one who cared and tried but obviously didn't know what he was doing. The guy working with him didn't want to be here and wanted to leave as soon as possible. And, I felt I was pushed to an answer on the phone, because I think they all suspected I would find more issues, which I have. He offered $700 off the price of 4077.45. Considering the issues, the crew and I felt it would not a good idea to do the south side of the house, the longest stretch. It appeared it had insulation. So, the $700 was a nice gesture, but considering part of the job was no longer required and would be left with repair--well, I would have rather they made things right by physically fixing all that had done back to pre-job status. Duston (installer) did try to help in the office and did make it at least secure for now. I will have to in the coming days reinforce the area, sand, tape and possible put in new sheetrock and paint--at least a day's job considering the items that will have to be moved including a large desk (one which we had to move to get to the wall that broke and I already had to fix). In short, this was not a great experience. I don't know if this was a one-time thing. But I will not be able to do business with this company again. Given the areas the holes were drilled, I am a little concerned the insulation didn't fill above. I have not been able to check as of yet. The crew leader did try to help and do what he knew how to do. Duston even went to Walmart to buy a rack to try and clean up the yard where they blew the insulation (he was able to clean up most of it). But we should have been given the option to wait for an experienced blow-in fiberglass crew. Duston's helper, however, might as well have not been here. I am sure that didn't help the situation. In short, this was a bad experience. We are not blaming the company as a whole. Like mentioned earlier, we did research their business. But, in this case, the was a poor overall situation, and everyone needs to know all aspects when deciding to spend their hard-earned money. If using AFI, be sure to ask who is doing the install and be sure they have experience and knowledge in the insulation you are purchasing. I believe our head installer tried, but it was not his area of expertise.