At Great Northern Insulation, we are always advising our customers on which insulation option they should be installing. We are not in the habit of selling or up selling a customer on insulation that they either don’t need or don’t want – in fact, in some cases, we will actually advise a customer that a specific insulation option is not required. This is our business approach and applies to everything we sell and install. So if you’re shopping for blown in insulation in Mississauga, or in any of the communities west of Toronto, GNI may be a contractor worth your consideration. Our approach is to insulate properly - the right way - the first time. We want to provide our customers with cost-effective solutions to their insulation challenges, while meeting both their needs and their budget.
The people at Great Northern Insulation specialize in blown in insulation. Our installation teams use cellulose and fiberglass products, depending on the project, and use only high quality brands. We pass the manufacturer’s warrantee directly to the customer, and provide our personal guarantee on all installations. Basically, we stand behind everything that we sell and install. Today, the two most common blown insulation products are the cellulose and fiberglass options. Both are designed for use in roofing, in attics, and inside walls. Both have their own unique advantages, and both have brand manufacturers behind them who do their promoting and marketing. When it comes to insulation values, cellulose and fiberglass are pretty comparable, even though industry statistics show that cellulose delivers a slightly higher R-value than fibreglass (this measurement is based on a per-inch basis). Over long periods of time, cellulose can settle, and this characteristic can affect its relative insulation value. By comparison, the fiberglass manufacturers assert that their product doesn’t settle over long periods and therefore the product does not lose insulating value. Whatever the final choice of insulation - cellulose or fiberglass - each product has qualities that contribute to how they react and respond to seasonal weather conditions.
Cellulose and fiberglass are each specifically manufactured to have fire resistant qualities: cellulose is treated chemically to be fire resistant, and responds as a retardant, keeping fire from spreading. Fiberglass, because of its unique “glass” content, is very difficult to initially ignite, and therefore provides a very high level of fire resistance. As for product content and composition, cellulose is comprised of recycled newsprint, shredded and treated with anti-fungal chemicals. The newsprint is 100% recycled paper and is mechanically separated into cellulose fibres (fiberized), giving it a fluffy composition. Fiberglass is an entirely different product – it’s technically processed using fine glass fibres - a proprietary manufacturing technique that delivers a final product with distinctive insulating properties.
As blown in products, cellulose and fiberglass are both blown into a cavity using special equipment that is designed to spread the product uniformly. This is done with a large hose mechanism that blows product into a cavity (whether it’s a roof, attic, or wall). The blowing process ensures full coverage, even into the smallest, and most unusual spaces. And depending on the job itself, a contractor may decide that existing conditions warrant installing the cellulose or fiberglass right on top of the existing insulation.
At GNI, we do our best to work with customers from the start of a project through to the end, making sure that each customer is fully satisfied with the installation. We start off by selecting the product that is best suited for the job; we then make sure to book the installation while we accommodate the customer’s personal lifestyle and timetable needs; and finally, we make sure that the installation itself is performed according to acceptable construction standards and building codes. Our installers know that the performance of the product they install depends on the quality of their installation. And that’s why we always want to do it right the first time, using the best-suited tools and equipment, and always making a priority of the safety of occupants and installers. Doing the job right also means doing the job completely, and that can mean doing additional work. Doing it right might entail some air sealing or draft proofing; it may also involve installing a vapour barrier where required; or for that matter, there may be a need for adapting the air vents and exhausts. This is the kind of additional work that defines a “complete” job, and serves to assure the full performance integrity of the product that is being installed.
We have many customers who ask us to provide eco-friendly products. Today, many people want to be eco-conscious where possible. Sometimes it’s required for health reasons, or for some sustainability concerns, or just regarding the product’s composition. In this regard, because the cellulose already contains recycled paper, it’s actually a recycled product. With the fiberglass, the manufacturing process makes use of certain amounts of recycled glass, so this product also has eco-friendly tendencies. The truth is, most of the product manufacturers today, are more and more aware of the eco-consumer, and do whatever is possible to accommodate those “green” needs.
Product benefits, especially when it comes to insulation, are important to consider. For blown in insulation (cellulose and fiberglass), the blowing process covers virtually everything, leaving no area unfilled – practically every crack and crevice is covered with insulation. Other insulation products cannot always assure this kind of complete coverage, whereas blown insulation can even cover beams, wiring, and plumbing. This is the kind of complete coverage that professionals call “a true insulated building envelope”. And when our job is done, the properly insulated residence or building is poised for optimum insulation performance.
At GNI we’ve found blown insulation to be a straightforward installation, compared to many other insulation options. Because of the product, the equipment and the application process, it’s a project that is less prone to problems, and makes for an affordable option for many. So if you’re shopping for blown in insulation in Mississauga, consider GNI for your insulation contractor – you’ll be choosing an established, reputable company with countless benefits to offer.