Are your energy bills going through the roof lately?
The lack of proper home insulation might just be the culprit. When was the last time you checked if your roof, attic, walls, crawl space, basement, ducts, doors, and windows were well insulated?
Here at Jamieson Roofing, we’ll walk you through the ways professional home insulation in Calgary helps you save on energy bills—keep reading to discover more.
Table of Contents | Save on Energy Bills with Professional Home Insulation Services in Calgary
- What Is Home Insulation?
- What is Home Insulation Top-Up?
- The Types of Insulation Materials
- The Benefits of Home Insulation
- What Parts of Your Home Should You Insulate?
- Roof Insulation
- Attic Insulation
- Wall Insulation
- Crawl Space Insulation
- Basement Insulation
- Duct Insulation
- Door and Window Insulation
- Home Insulation Cost in Calgary
- Home Insulation Companies Near Me: Jamieson Roofing
What is Home Insulation?
Insulation is a vital component of any home construction or renovation project. It refers to the material that’s used to reduce the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of a building, keeping the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
What is Home Insulation Top-Up?
To ensure optimal performance, it’s recommended to opt for an insulation top-up every 15 to 20 years. This involves simply adding to the existing material without completely removing all your insulation and replacing it.
On the other hand, some homeowners might opt for insulation top-ups to adhere to the changing building regulations in their area.
Home Insulation in Calgary: The Types of Insulation Materials
There are several types of insulation materials, each with its own set of pros and cons. Some common types of home insulation include fibreglass, cellulose, foam, and mineral wool. Each material has different R-values.
What is R-Value?
The R-value of an insulation material measures its resistance to heat flow—the higher the R-value, the more effective it is at insulating. The R-values of insulation materials can vary based on their density and thickness. Discover the typical R-values for fibreglass, cellulose, foam, and mineral wool, which are typically used for home insulation in Calgary.
| Insulation Material | Typical R-Value per Inch of Thickness |
| Fibreglass | R-2.7 to R-3.8 |
| Cellulose | R-3.6 to R-3.8 |
| Foam | Open-cell spray foam: R-3.5 to R-3.6 per inch |
| Closed-cell spray foam: R-6.0 to R-6.5 per inch | |
| Extruded polystyrene (XPS): Around R-5 per inch | |
| Expanded polystyrene (EPS): Around R-3.8 per inch | |
| Polyisocyanurate (polyiso): R-5.6 to R-6.0 per inch | |
| Mineral Wool | R-3.0 to R-3.3 |
The Benefits of Home Insulation in Calgary
Ensuring that your home is well-insulated improves energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a home. Here’s why that’s a winning move:
- Results in lower energy bills
- Reduce the workload on heating and cooling systems, which may increase their longevity
- Provides a more comfortable living environment for homeowners.
- Helps to reduce carbon emissions, as less energy consumption means a smaller carbon footprint.
- Aids in reducing noise transmission from outside the home, making for a more peaceful living space.
- Prevents moisture buildup and condensation, which can lead to mould growth—ultimately leading to a healthier environment with better indoor air quality.
What Parts of Your Home Should You Insulate?
Now that you know how home insulation in Calgary leads to a healthier & more comfortable space and lower energy bills, you’re likely wondering where to even begin with checking these upgrades off your to-do list.
Team up with companies that provide professional home insulation services in Calgary to insulate these parts of your home:
1. Roof Insulation
Kick-off this insulation journey with your home’s crowning beauty: its roof.
Roof insulation is a crucial component of a building’s structure that provides thermal protection and energy efficiency. It’s a material that’s installed in the roof cavity or underside of the roof to reduce heat transfer between the interior and exterior of a building.
Let’s put it this way: Your roof is practically you’re home’s head. And when it isn’t well insulated, you could say it’s bound to be in a constant state of either brain freeze or hot-headed.
Roof insulation can come in various forms, including fibreglass batts, cellulose insulation, spray foam insulation, and rigid foam boards. Each type of insulation has its own unique properties and benefits, so it’s important to choose the right one based on your specific needs and budget.
2. Attic Insulation
Ah, the attic—the place where your holiday decorations, childhood toys, artworks, and other valuables you’d never let go of are bound to spend the majority of their lifetime. With such precious items sitting there all day, you want to make sure their space is well-insulated so they don’t, well…give up on life.
The biggest difference between roof and attic insulation is where they are installed. Attic insulation is installed in the ceiling plane, while roof insulation is installed on the roof slope itself, above and below the rafters. It’s a smart move to insulate both the attic floor and the underside of the roof. This way, the heat from the rooms below is prevented from escaping to the attic rooms above. The areas below the roof will also have more comfortable temperatures throughout the year.
Over time, attic insulation tends to lose its efficiency. That’s why it’s recommended to opt for attic insulation top-up services every 15 to 20 years to maintain the same level of performance.
3. Wall Insulation
Walls can be a major source of energy loss in a home, especially if they are not properly insulated. By installing or improving wall insulation, you can create a more energy-efficient barrier that helps to regulate indoor temperatures. This can result in significant savings on heating and cooling costs over time.
Interior Wall Insulation
Interior wall insulation is typically installed inside the walls of a building, between the studs. This type of insulation can be made from a variety of materials, such as fibreglass, foam, or cellulose. The insulation helps to regulate the temperature inside the home by slowing the transfer of heat through the walls.
Exterior Wall Insulation
Exterior wall insulation is installed on the outside of the building, typically underneath the siding or exterior cladding. This type of insulation helps to create a thermal barrier around the building, reducing heat loss through the walls. Exterior wall insulation is typically made from materials like rigid foam insulation or spray foam insulation.
3. Crawl Space Insulation
If you don’t insulate your home’s crawl spaces, well you can count on it that higher energy bills will start crawling toward you.
Crawl spaces are often overlooked when it comes to home insulation, but they can have a big impact on energy efficiency. Typically, fibreglass batts or board insulation are cut to fit snugly between joists and secured in place with staples/wires or glue, respectively.
Air Gaps
Apart from insulating crawl spaces, sealing gaps with caulking or spray foam will prevent air from leaking in or out. This can include gaps around pipes, electrical wires, and vents.
Vapour Barriers
A vapour barrier is essential in crawl spaces to prevent moisture from seeping through the insulation. This barrier should be installed on the floor of the crawl space, with the seams overlapped and sealed with tape to create a continuous barrier.
4. Basement Insulation
Basements can benefit from professional home insulation services too—ensuring head-to-toe energy efficiency.
Even if you don’t really use your basement that much, let’s not forget that significant portions of your home’s plumbing and electrical systems live in your basement. Protecting these elements is crucial to the safety, functionality, and future maintenance of your home—so don’t underestimate the power of keeping your home’s feet warm and cozy.
From basement wall insulation to basement floor insulation, these upgrades can help keep temperatures ideal all while protecting your space’s electrical and plumbing systems.
5. Duct Insulation
Insulating ductwork is another important energy-saving measure that can help to improve the performance of your HVAC system. By insulating ducts, you can prevent heat loss or gain as air travels through the system, leading to more efficient heating and cooling.
6. Window and Door Insulation
Your windows and doors play a vital role in maintaining indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Here are the various ways to ensure your windows and doors are well-insulated:
Windows
Add-on Insulation Solutions:
- Weather Stripping: Apply around the movable parts of the window to seal gaps.
- Caulking: Use for sealing non-movable parts of the window, like the frame.
- Window Film: Plastic film kits can be applied to the interior to reduce heat exchange.
- Thermal Curtains: Heavy, lined curtains that can help prevent heat loss.
- Draft Snakes: Also known as draft stoppers, they can be placed on window sills to prevent drafts.
- Storm Windows: Installing secondary windows outside or inside the primary window increases insulation.
Windows with Built-In Insulation:
- Double or Triple Glazing: Windows with two or three panes of glass with an insulating gas (like argon or krypton) between them.
- Low-E Coatings: A microscopic metallic coating on the glass can reflect heat back into the room.
- Gas Fills: Inert gases between panes provide better insulation than regular air.
- Insulating Frames: Frames made of materials like fibreglass, vinyl, or wood that provide better insulation than standard metal frames.
- Spacer Systems: Non-metallic spacers between glass panes reduce heat transfer.
Doors
Add-on Insulation Solutions:
- Weather Stripping: Apply to all edges of the door to seal gaps when closed.
- Door Sweeps: Attach to the bottom of the door to prevent drafts.
- Draft Excluders: Similar to draft snakes, positioned at the door’s base on the inside.
- Caulking: Use around door frames to seal gaps.
Doors with Built-In Insulation:
- Fibreglass Doors: These have a foam core for better thermal resistance.
- Steel Doors with Foam Insulation: Typically have a foam core as well and offer good insulation.
- Solid Wood Doors: Natural wood provides some degree of insulation, though less than insulated fibreglass or steel.
- Composite Doors: Made from various materials, like wood, PVC, and insulating foam, providing good energy efficiency.
Home Insulation Cost in Calgary
The cost of home insulation in Calgary depends on various factors such as the type of insulation material, the size of the space to be insulated, the thickness of the insulation, the R-value, labour costs, and the complexity of the installation.
| Type of Insulation | Average Cost (Materials & Installation) |
| Roof Insulation | CAD $3.00 – $7.50 per square foot |
| Attic Insulation | CAD $1.50 – $3.50 per square foot |
| Wall Insulation (existing walls) | CAD $2.00 to $4.50 (blown-in insulation) per square foot |
| Wall Insulation (open walls) | CAD $1.20 to $2.20 (batt insulation) per square foot |
| Crawl Space Insulation | CAD $3.00 – $7.00 per square foot |
| Basement Insulation | CAD $2.00 – $6.00 per square foot |
| Duct Insulation | CAD $4.00 – $8.00 per square foot |
| Door Insulation | CAD $50 to $350 per door |
| Window Insulation | CAD $25 to $100 per window for basic weather-stripping and sealing. More comprehensive upgrades like installing insulated window panels or double-glazing, the cost can range from several hundred to over a thousand dollars per window. |
Home Insulation Companies Near Me: Jamieson Roofing
Looking for a team that specializes in insulation top-up in Calgary?
Count on the experts at Jamieson Roofing to take care of your attic insulation top-up needs. We’ll ensure your home meets the minimum requirement of 18’’ of insulation in the attic.
For nearly a decade, Jamieson Roofing has been providing top-tier roofing and insulation top-up services in Calgary—from maintaining the highest levels of customer service to ensuring our expert roofers work to consistently exceed expectations
Start lowering your energy costs and improving the comfort of your home.
Contact us today to learn more about home insulation in Calgary by Jamieson Roofing.
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