Attic Insulation in Barrie

If you’re thinking about installing attic insulation in Barrie, you’re likely focusing on some of the more important priorities – like keeping your home comfortable; diminishing your annual energy consumption; and reducing your utility bills. Energy efficiency is becoming more relevant for many homeowners today. And for most, it’s about saving money AND saving the environment.

The benefits of properly insulating the attic in Barrie

For homeowners installing attic insulation in Barrie, it’s important to do more than just load up on insulation material. It is important to have a “building envelope” that is properly sealed, properly insulated, and properly ventilated. By addressing these priorities, the aim is to ensure optimum energy efficiency throughout the attic (and therefore throughout the home). When the attic and roof cavity are well sealed and insulated, and proper ventilation is achieved, there are multiple benefits:

undesirable air movement is prevented
heat loss (during winter) is blocked
retention of conditioned air is improved
air moisture accumulation is prevented
air leaks are impeded (winter/summer)
air circulation is controlled and balanced

Energy efficiency is more than just insulation

If you’re a property owner installing attic insulation in Barrie, sealing and ventilating the space are essential to the job. A well-sealed attic prevents warm indoor air from escaping in the winter, and prevents warm outdoor air from intruding in the summer. The attic space also requires proper ventilation – without it, even the best quality insulation won’t perform at its peak.

Signs that attic insulation needs upgrading

Most attic insulation products will degrade over time, and as a homeowner you’ll naturally notice the signs. Your heating and cooling system may be overworking. Indoor temperatures may be fluctuating. And your utility bills may be unusually high. These are all signs (winter and summer) that insulation is not preforming, and that air leakage may be jeopardizing the building envelope.

Attic insulation as a comprehensive system

Effective attic insulation goes beyond just blowing or spraying insulative material to fill a space. This is vital for both homeowners and contractors to understand, regardless of the insulation product. Doing it right means installing an effective air barrier and a vapour barrier to compliment the insulation. It’s a system that prevents air movement, helps block moisture buildup, and insulates.

Spray foam insulation for the attic and roof

For professionals in the industry, spray foam insulation is the gold standard. It’s sprayed into the attic cavity as a liquid and quickly hardens into a dense foam envelope. Using a high quality spray foam product, the installation provides an air barrier, vapour barrier, and insulative barrier, all under one roof. For many contractors, spray foam has become the product of choice for the attic/roof.

Homeowners opting for spray foam insulation are making a sound long-term investment. A single application does it - the entire attic space is sealed and insulated like no other installation. And the finished space provides more energy efficiency than anything comparable. While spray foam is considered a premium product, the energy savings will offset the cost of the initial installation.

Fibreglass batt insulation for the attic/roof

Homeowners shopping around for attic insulation in Barrie may find fiberglass “batt” insulation to be the ideal option. The fluffy “batts” are fabricated from fibreglass materials and installed as pre-cut panels to fit throughout the attic. Fibreglass “batt” insulation is a cost effective approach that delivers satisfactory energy efficiency. Here again, the attic space must be properly sealed.

With fibreglass “batts”, the installation must be complete and comprehensive in order to deliver maximum insulation performance. Perfectly cut panels must be properly fitted, no gaps or openings must be left, and R-Values must be installed to provide appropriate thermal insulation. Finally, an air barrier and vapour barrier must be installed to control both air movement and air moisture.

Blown insulation (in cellulose or fiberglass)

Blown insulation is commonly used in the attic. Available in cellulose or fiberglass composition, these insulation products are very similar in terms of benefits, although cellulose has does have slightly higher R-Value than fibreglass. However, cellulose has a tendency to settle over time, and this often has a negative effect on insulation performance.

Fiberglass does not settle over time (according to the manufacturer). Overall, both of the insulation products deliver satisfactory thermal protection and very good dollar value. Both are ideal for the attic, as they are fire resistant and mold resistant. The finished space does not attract insects or rodents. Once again, this installation requires an air barrier and vapour barrier.

Working with an insulation professional

When installing attic insulation in Barrie, it may be tempting to go with a DIY (do-it-yourself) approach, primarily to save money. The fact is, home insulation benefits from a professional approach. Simply put, an insulation expert knows which solution is best for the job. And in some cases, the solution may encompass many unseen or undiscovered problems, above and beyond the insulation itself.

When deciding on how best to insulate your attic, it’s important to understand the “big picture”. And here, an insulation expert can provide recommendations to best suit the need. Hiring a contractor without the proper documents (such as liability insurance) to blow insulation over top of existing insulation is very short-term. You shouldn’t take the risk of having to call an experienced contractor in to fix the first contractor’s mistakes.

Great Northern Insulation – the insulation experts

When it comes to attic insulation in Barrie, local homeowners can rely on the experts at Great Northern Insulation to do it right the first time. We use only high quality products - we provide a manufacturer’s warrantee – and our installations are company guaranteed. Our people don’t take shortcuts and we work according to the building code. Most importantly, you’ll be assured of any energy efficient attic space that includes an air barrier, vapour barrier, and efficient ventilation.