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Winterizing Your Cottage for Ontario Winters is Easy with GNI

October 25, 2019

Winterizing your CottageAlthough it may seem a bit intimidating at first, winterizing a cottage is actually a fairly straightforward and easy process with the right help. With GNI, you can be certain that your relaxing getaway spot will be well prepared for the coldest months, and that the most cost-effective pathway for strong winterization was taken. Our expert insulation consultants are able to help you select the right insulation products for your needs and budget, and will gladly conduct a free inspection of your home or cottage to help you get started.

Without professional help, it is easy to incur unwanted or unforeseen expenses when winterizing your cottage. Issues such as hidden air leaks, building envelope problems, or faulty insulation can all impact your cottage’s ability to keep you warm through the winter - and can be extremely difficult to diagnose and treat by yourself. With GNI’s insulation experts by your side, you are able to draw up a plan for winterizing effectively and affordably, and then stick to that plan without worry of hidden expenses or unforeseen problems.

To learn more about winterizing your cottage with GNI, or to schedule a time for a free assessment from our expert insulation consultants, contact our Customer Experience Team by phone at 1-800-265-1914, or online through our website's live-chat feature.

What is Cottage Winterization?

Cottage winterization is the act of upgrading and improving a cottage, so that it is inhabitable and comfortable during the coldest months of the year. In a very real sense, winterization is extending the amount of time that you are able to spend at your getaway spot, since it would otherwise need to be closed down for the winter.

There are many different ways that a cottage / building can be upgraded so that it is well winterized, but every different method essentially boils down to one concept: have effective insulation and strong air sealing. While this may be over-simplifying things a little bit, it is still worth noting that a building with high levels of insulation and air sealing will be much more capable at maintaining a comfortable interior temperature during the winter, than a building with poor insulation and numerous air leaks.

This also means that by winterizing your cottage through insulation and air sealing improvements, you are also upgrading its overall energy performance all year long. This means lower utility bills, a more comfortable interior temperature (no matter the season), better air quality, and oftentimes a higher market value - since strong energy performance is becoming an increasingly desirable commodity on the real estate market.

Is Winterizing My Cottage Worth it?

If you have any intentions of spending time at your cottage during the winter (or even during the colder parts of spring and fall), then winterizing is absolutely worth it! This is especially true if your getaway spot is in a region that gets extremely cold or windy. Additionally, by winterizing your cottage you are also working to improve its energy performance, which provides you with a tremendous number of benefits - even during the summer.

Any building that has been well winterized will also be well air sealed and well insulated. This means that in the summer, it is easier to maintain a comfortable temperature inside, and that less reliance needs to be placed on your air conditioner. It also means that there will be fewer drafts that detract from the cozyness of your living spaces, and that you will have a lower risk of moisture control problems, such as mould or mildew.

Overall, a winterized cottage is a comfortable and an enjoyable place to be any month of the year. Also, through the Home Efficiency Rebate program, any Ontarian homeowner who is a customer of either Union Gas or Enbdrige Gas can apply for rebates totaling up to $5,000 to help improve their building’s energy efficiency. And since winterizing a home involves many of the same improvements that are outlined in the program, GNI can ensure that you are aiming for the right rebate to make your cottage winterization as affordable and as effective as possible. 

What is the Difference Between Winterizing a Home and Winterizing a Cottage?

Fundamentally, there is no difference between winterizing a home and winterizing a cottage. However, the most cost-effective method of winterization varies from building to building - no matter the building type. In other words, while both a home and a cottage can largely be winterized by strong airtightness and effective insulation, the method of improving the insulation and airtightness can differ.

Depending on the climate that surrounds the building (which includes humidity levels, temperature ranges, wind gusts etc.), the need for stronger winterization may be required. For example, a building in the Vancouver area may need more focus placed on strategies that will help control humidity and regulate airflow (due to the common occurrences of wind and rain along with the temperate climate), whereas a building near Thunder Bay would likely need a different strategy for winterizing that focuses on higher R-Levels and airtightness (to combat the colder & longer winters).

For this reason, GNI often recommends for homeowners and cottage owners who are thinking about winterizing to have an energy audit conducted by a registered energy advisor. This provides you with a complete look at the energy performance of your entire home, along with a list of suggestions detailing how you could most cost-effectively improve your energy efficiency. Additionally, an energy audit will also help you to qualify for any of the home reno rebates that the Home Efficiency Rebate program currently has to offer.

At your request, GNI will arrange for you to have an energy audit conducted and can help you understand the results. If you have any questions about winterizing, the benefits of an energy audit, or how energy efficiency works to improve a building of any size or shape, give our Customer Experience Team a call at 1-800-265-1914, or message us online at http://www.gni.ca/contact. From here, you can also arrange to have a free in-home evaluation done by our insulation consultants, providing you with a jump-off point for future home improvements. Call GNI now and let us make your cottage winterization easy!

Western Ontario

935 Keyes Drive
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada N4V 1C3

Phone: 1-800-265-1914

Fax: (519) 539-7946
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Muskoka, Haliburton, Northern Ontario

1027 Elwell Park Road
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Canada P1P 1R1

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Barrie, Ontario
Canada L4N 9V5

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Etobicoke, ON
M9V 4K6

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Canada L9L 1B2

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South Central Ontario

450 Industrial Dr,
Toronto (Milton), Ontario
Canada L9T 5A6

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Eastern Ontario

1035 Moodie Dr #1,
Nepean, ON
K2R 1H4

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Niagara Region

25 Lincoln Ave
St. Catharines, ON
L2P 2C7

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

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HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2021.

Homestars Best of 2022 Award

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HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2022.

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GNI is the Authorized & Trusted Insulation and Air Sealing Installer for Lowe’s

Trusted for Over 40 Years

Over 40 Years in Business

At GNI, we service your project with the most experienced staff in the industry. Ongoing professional development is an obsession at GNI and we will not compromise at any level to bring to our customers the very best Installers, Sales Representatives, Customer Care Personnel, Field Superintendents, Estimating and Technical Support to your project.

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Great Northern Insulation is recognized as Canada's largest full-service insulation contractor. GNI is 100% Canadian owned, proudly serving Ontario customers since 1980.

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Do it right the first time
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January, 2021 regulatory phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with the introduction of WALLTITE CM01. Using hydrofluorolefins (HFOs) with lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to HFCs, WALLTITE CM01 is the next generation of spray foam insulation.

HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Huntsman HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Heatlok® Soya HFOTM leverages Honeywell’s latest Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent technology. This new hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agent is the most environmentally conscious blowing agent produced to date, with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, which is more than two orders of magnitude (99.9%) lower than HFCs used in this industry.

3M

3MTM products.
Quality + Performance = Savings

3MTM energy-saving products are designed to keep warm air in, and cold air out, while keeping energy bills down. Products optimize energy efficiency in buildings and homes; improve indoor environment for occupants; and effect the reduction of seasonal energy costs. 3M products are authorized for LEED credits (Leadership in Energy/Environmental Design).

Holmes and Holmes

Holmes and Holmes

 

Mike Holmes and his son Mike Jr. (MJ) convert MJ’s bachelor bungalow into a two-storey home for MJ and his girlfriend Lisa. Choosing the newest materials and build techniques, the father and son team follow Mike’s famous motto – “Make it right.” The show can be watched on HGTV and DIY Network.

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Enbridge Incentives

The Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program offers up to $10,000 in home reno rebates – and Great Northern Insulation can pave the way.

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Climatizer Cellulose

Climatizer

CLIMATIZER PLUS cellulose insulation is manufactured from a minimum of 85% locally-sourced post-consumer recycled newsprint. Non-toxic additives are applied to the uniquely fiberized paper generating a building material with superior thermal and acoustic properties, as well as exceptional resistance to fire, moisture, mould and pests.

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