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For years, basements were mostly used for laundry (the washer and dryer), for the hot water heater, and for all of the furnace equipment. There was plenty of space for extra storage, but the space was not really livable - it was cold, damp and smelled musty. In most basements, walls were made of cement block; insulation was non-existent; and there was no real need for drywall. Today, most basements are functional and livable. It’s a comfortable, family friendly space. In Chatham Kent, basement insulation is often the first step when a homeowner is finishing the basement and planning for additional living space.
Planning for more living space in the basement takes on different dimensions for every homeowner. In some cases, an extra washroom is important. In other cases, an extra bedroom or office space is the priority. For some homeowners, a self-contained apartment is the ideal. But in every situation, the common objective is to create comfort, and comfort is usually a result of good insulation. When a basement is properly insulated, it keeps nice and warm in winter, and keeps nice and cool in summer. And for homeowners in Chatham Kent, basement insulation is very often the most effective way to conserve energy.
As much as most homeowners understand the basics of insulation, there’s still plenty of misunderstanding about the benefits. And when it comes to the basement, not many homeowners understand the importance of properly insulating that part of the house. In fact, many professionals would argue that the basement is more important to insulate than other areas of the house. The bottom line is clear for every homeowner: a properly insulated basement will provide more benefits (and cost savings) than most other renovations. Certainly this is true when comparing benefits of a bathroom or kitchen renovation.
By any measurement, good basement insulation is worth the investment. And with a quality approach to product and installation, the whole house can benefit from good insulation. Unwanted air movement and air leakage is prevented; undesirable moisture accumulation is averted; and the installed R-Value (a measure of thermal resistance) is significantly augmented. Very importantly, the HVAC unit (which includes heating and cooling) performs with a greater level of efficiency. In general, all things considered, a good insulation job will assure energy conservation (and notable utility savings) throughout the year.
When compared with other home renovation projects, basement insulation is one with a much better payoff. A quality product, expertly installed, will assuredly reduce seasonal heating and cooling bills throughout the year. Just this benefit on it’s own makes for a good investment.
Professionals in the insulation industry agree that installing a higher R-Value will result in a better overall outcome. Clearly, this applies to basement insulation – with high R-Value, and superior thermal resistance, the results are better. But it all depends on basement size/layout.
When a basement space has been well insulated (with something like spray foam) the savings on utility bills are measurable. During temperature extremes, energy savings are even more noticeable. However, specific cost savings will still depend on the basement size and the layout.
Throughout the country, building codes will differ with project type and building type. New construction, for instance, will differ compared to a renovation or retrofit project. But with a good contractor, the homeowner can be sure that all building code pre-requisites will be followed.
The issue to be most watchful about in basements is water entry. This type of problem has to be remediated before any insulation is installed, and regardless of severity, water entry should be handled professionally. In unfortunate cases, remediation might turn into a major project.
Practically every basement will suffer from those spaces that are “difficult-to-reach”. These are also very hard to insulate. And while most insulation products don’t suffice, spray foam can easily seal and insulate those spaces with one application. Nothing can quite compare.
For basement insulation in Chatham Kent, it’s best to deal with a reputable contractor. Both product and installation can get complex, and professionals like Great Northern Insulation can advise a homeowner on the best product option and install for their particular job. For the team at GNI, spray foam insulation is the product-of-choice for many different scenarios. And spray foam has proven itself as an ideal installation for basements - it’s an excellent air/vapor barrier, and it brings the very best R-Value when compared to others.
For professionals in the business, the very best option in the basement is to insulate the floor. Here, spray foam is installed throughout and covered with a coating of concrete. It’s an application that ensures total sealing and insulating in one shot. For basement walls, the ultimate aim is to create airtightness. For this, spray foam is also an ideal application – it creates airtightness; it stops unwanted air movement (and air leakage); and it prevents the accumulation of moisture throughout. Best of all, its done with one application.
No question - a basement that is properly insulated in Chatham-Kent will definitely conserve energy. For homeowners, it means reducing utility bills every season around the year. The best approach, of course, is spray foam. It has established itself as an application with more benefits than other products. And one of those benefits is that spray foam does it all with one install. A good install creates an airtight barrier to prevent the movement of air and the accumulation of moisture, while insulating the space with the highest R-Value on the market.
Spray foam is considered a premium insulation product, and will not suit every budget. Alternatively, Great Northern Insulation offers a “hybrid” installation. This is a combination installation that integrates spray foam with conventional fiberglass “batts”. Expertly installed, the “hybrid” option has impressive results. Above all, it’s cost-effective and suitable for most budgets. But most importantly, the short term and long term results with the “hybrid” option make for an excellent and worthwhile project investment.
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Best of 2017
From reputation to responsiveness, HomeStars consistently ranks Great Northern Insulation at better than 95% for customer satisfaction. Thanks to everyone for the great ratings!
Best of 2018
For the second year in a row, HomeStars consistently ranks Great Northern Insulation at better than 95% for customer satisfaction. Thank you again to everyone!
Best of 2019
For the third year in a row, HomeStars ranked Great Northern Insulation at better than 95% for customer satisfaction.
Best of 2020
For four years now, HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation at better than 95% for customer satisfaction.
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Energy saving and energy efficiency is easier than one might think. Great Northern Insulation helps to identify performance issues, while taking advantage of improvement opportunities.
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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.
Do it right the first time
- with foam mastersTM
WALLTITE® ECO™ is a high-performance system, professionally installed by certified and approved specialists. Its C.C.M.C. approved (Canadian Construction Materials Centre) - with product quality guaranteed - and with installation by highly trained experts with the technical know-how to do the job right, the first time.
The GREENGUARD®
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GREENGUARD® Gold Certification ensures the strictest criteria for low-level chemical emissions. Certified products are safe for individuals with sensitivities (children/elderly) and safe for use in school environments and health-care facilities. The product certification is widely recognized by the LEED Rating System (Leadership in Energy/Environmental Design).
Insulthane® Extreme
For the ultimate in high performance spray foam insulation, Insulthane® Extreme is the professional choice for residential, commercial, and industrial application. With improved thermal performance over other products, Insulthane® Extreme has an exceptionally low Global Warming Potential (GWP). Considered environmentally friendly, this next generation spray foam insulation is non-ozone depleting, and exceeds specifications of other HFC product alternatives.
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ECOLOGOTM is an accredited sign of environmental performance – holistic – green – sustainable - and compliant with strict, third party standards. Life cycle criteria for product certification may include manufacturing and operations; health and environment; product materials and performance; and product innovation, development, and management.
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).
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Baeumler ApprovedTM gives you peace of mind when connecting with contractors, trades and home service providers. All Baeumler Approved members have demonstrated high quality work for customers and other trade professionals. Members must also have Workers Compensation, liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 and prove professional certification.
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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