Insulation contracts and the R-value receipt, signed and sealed
Insulation is the trade where the customer never sees what they bought. Once the attic hatch closes or the drywall goes up, the only proof of how many inches went in, and what R-value they add up to, is your paperwork. SignMaster turns that paperwork into a sealed PDF with a certificate showing who signed it and when, so the numbers can't drift later.
Updated November 9, 2026 · 4 min read
On this page
The receipt the FTC asks installers for
The FTC's R-value Rule says an installer must give customers a contract or receipt for the insulation installed. What it shows depends on the type:
- Every type except loose-fill and reflective, such as batts, boards and spray foam: the coverage area, thickness and R-value.
- Loose-fill: the coverage area, initial installed thickness, minimum settled thickness, R-value and number of bags used.
- Reflective insulation: the number and thickness of the air spaces, the direction of heat flow and the R-value.
“The receipt must be dated and signed by the installer.”
The rule also says to list each part of the house separately rather than adding up coverage areas or R-values, and not to multiply the R-value of one inch by the number of inches. Take the R-value from the manufacturer's data.
In SignMaster, build the receipt as a template with a section for each area: attic, walls, rim joists, crawl space. Number fields hold the square feet, inches and bag count; a date field and your signature come first, and the homeowner gets the sealed copy as Receives a copy or signs to acknowledge it.
What else gets signed
- Estimate and contractAreas, material, target R-value, air sealing and baffles, and old insulation removal. Radio buttons let the homeowner pick a good, better or best option.
- Attic and access prepWhat the homeowner clears out of the attic or garage, and who moves stored boxes, before your crew arrives.
- Spray foam re-entryThe time everyone stays out of the house after spraying, taken from the manufacturer's instructions, initialed by the homeowner.
- Rebate and program formsUtility and weatherization program paperwork. Upload the program's PDF, place fields for the customer's signature, and send it with your contract.
- Change ordersExtra air sealing, damaged ductwork, or a wet spot that needs fixing first. Signed before the blower starts.
- Completion sign-offThe final receipt plus a walk-through form, and photos of the depth markers if you use them.
If the attic has vermiculite
EPA says a mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990, and that the vermiculite from that mine was contaminated with asbestos. EPA advises leaving vermiculite insulation undisturbed and hiring a professional asbestos contractor for work that would disturb it. Put a stop-work clause in your contract.
Weatherizing older homes
EPA's lead renovation rule names weatherization as renovation, including cutting holes in painted surfaces to blow in insulation or to reach an attic. In homes built before 1978, past the minor repair limits of 6 square feet of painted surface per room inside or 20 square feet outside, the owner gets the Renovate Right pamphlet no more than 60 days before the work, and you keep their signed acknowledgment.
From attic inspection to sealed receipt
- 1
Quote on site
Fill the estimate template while you measure. A calculated field turns square feet and your price per square foot into a total.
- 2
Sign at the table
Choose Sign in person and hand over the phone or iPad. The homeowner signs the contract and any program form in one sitting.
- 3
Install and record
Fill the receipt with what actually went in, area by area, with the bag count for blown-in jobs.
- 4
Close it out
Sign the receipt yourself and send it. Everyone gets the sealed PDF with its certificate of completion.
Pricing
Solo is $15 a month with unlimited envelopes. Crew is $49 a month for 5 people, so estimators and installers who sign receipts each have a login, and more seats are $8 a month each. Free includes 3 envelopes a month. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. Compare plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It doesn't calculate R-values or bag counts. Use the manufacturer's coverage chart.
- It doesn't file utility rebates for you.
- It doesn't take payments or deposits.
- Signing links go by email. You can copy one and text it.
Questions? Answers.
What does an insulation receipt have to show?
Under 16 CFR 460.17, the coverage area, thickness and R-value for most types; for loose-fill, also the initial and minimum settled thickness and the number of bags. It must be dated and signed by the installer.
Can I sign the R-value receipt electronically?
E-signature laws generally give an electronic signature the same effect as ink. Read are electronic signatures legal, and ask your lawyer if you want certainty for your own receipts.
Can homeowners sign a utility rebate form through SignMaster?
Yes, if the program accepts electronic signatures. Upload its PDF, place the signature and date fields, and send it with your contract or on its own.
What should I do if I find vermiculite in an attic?
Stop and tell the homeowner. EPA advises leaving it undisturbed and using a professional asbestos contractor for work that would disturb it.
Sources
- 16 CFR Part 460: Labeling and advertising of home insulation (R-value Rule) · ecfr.gov
- EPA: Protect your family from asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation · epa.gov
- 40 CFR 745.83: Definitions (renovation, minor repair and maintenance) · ecfr.gov
- 40 CFR 745.84: Information distribution requirements · ecfr.gov