If you’re shopping for attic insulation in Brampton, or in any of the suburban communities north of the GTA, it’s best to choose insulation specialist. The people at Great Northern Insulation are specialists - they can advise on which insulation best suits your needs, and they can expertly install all the products that they recommend. They will even tell you when insulation is not required. The GNI team wants to insulate your home properly - with viable, cost-effective solutions that will meet your needs and your budget. Our objective is to ensure that insulation issues are resolved, and that long-term benefits are realized.
In the “good old days”, insulating our homes was not the big deal that it is today. There was not much focus on the high cost of heating, and no need for discussion about household energy savings. Inside the home, the main focus was on keeping everything warm in the winter, and cool in the summer (most of us didn’t even have AC). For the most part, homes were quite drafty, with uneven heating between upper floors and lower floors, and very little concern about air circulation. But today, we all want seasonal comfort - an indoor space that is warm and comfortable in winter, and nice and cool in the summer.
At GNI, we approach every insulation project as a complete system, and on the premise that a good system has to be practical and effective. Air barriers must be adequate to prevent inside/outside air movement. All cavities must be insulated, and no holes, gaps, or cracks must remain. Above all, a proper vapor barrier (made of polyethylene sheeting) must be installed to prevent moisture penetration and the potential for condensation. Finally, using the appropriate insulation product will deliver the best results, and the best return on investment.
Clearly, we believe in the comprehensive approach, where a home is sealed well, insulated well, and ventilated well. It’s an all-inclusive approach, something the insulation pros call a “true insulated building envelope”. For the homeowner, comprehensive means a well-balanced heating and cooling system; dampened sound; and better performance of the entire indoor environment. And for the pros at GNI, comprehensive means proper insulating, and more: it includes installing air barriers (that keep air out); vapor barriers (that keep moisture in check); and suitable venting (that creates balanced circulation).
When it comes to deciding how best to insulate the attic, the process should be well thought out – after all, this is for the long term. Hiring a local contractor, with a truck, to install new insulation over existing insulation is not well though out. As previously mentioned, insulating is only part of the job - there’s air and moisture control; air circulation and ventilation; and overall indoor air performance. Not to mention the way the insulation is actually installed - a bad installation will always result in reduced R-values. That comes from the improper install of the insulating product; the poor coverage of air pockets and spaces; and even from bad air-sealing techniques create areas of uncontrolled air movement.
Spray foam insulation is regarded as the best insulation option amongst all products. It’s made of polyurethane foam, sprayed into the attic with special equipment, and can be used inside the walls, underneath the floors, and above the ceiling. The product is sprayed out in liquid form, then transforms into a solid, hard substance that expands and fills the cavity. The spray foam products that are commonly used are “open cell” and “closed cell” (higher density). “Open cell” spray foam is less expensive, providing an excellent air barrier, but not a water vapor barrier. The “closed cell” spray foam becomes an excellent air barrier AND water vapor barrier simultaneously, making it the ideal product for attic and roof.
Fiberglass “batt” insulation continues to be a popular option for the attic (the ones that are heavily promoted every fall). Insulating “batts” come in very convenient pre-cut panels, and are usually fabricated from fiberglass, but are also available in other materials. The fiberglass “batt” option is a less expensive insulation product and is relatively easy to install, delivering acceptable R-values and long-term energy efficiency. But the installation of the “batts” must be expertly executed, and coverage must be total and complete - if not, the installation will deliver less-than-maximum insulation values. The installation effort must be “super-tight”, because any leftover holes or gaps will affect the heating/cooling balance in the home. And as mentioned before, proper air barriers and vapor barriers must be installed as part of the complete system.
Blown-in insulation is another good option for the attic. The two most common options for blown insulation are cellulose and fiberglass, each of which has a good number of product advantages. Both are suited perfectly for the attic, and both have comparable insulation values. But industry experts still stress that cellulose will deliver an R-value that is slightly higher than fibreglass (these values are measured per-inch). Cellulose is known to settle over longer periods of time and this certainly has an affect on its insulating value. Fiberglass, according to the manufacturers, does not settle. Both products are fire resistant: cellulose is treated to behave as a fire retardant (stopping the spread of fire), while fiberglass, because its made of glass, is highly fire resistant by nature.
If you’re currently shopping for attic insulation in Brampton, Great Northern Insulation is worth looking at for insulation products and for installation. We can provide the highest quality products in the market, and always honour the product warrantees provided by our manufacturers. Our installs are guaranteed, for whichever product we install, and regardless of job size. At GNI, we do the job right the first time – and that means doing the job completely, with effective air sealing and draft proofing; with the right vapour barriers for the job; and with air vents and air exhausts that contribute to optimum ventilation and circulation.