Attic insulation in Guelph

As a homeowner and consumer, you want to know which attic insulation is best for you.  The truth is, your best choice is probably not your neighbor’s - and vice versa.  Choosing insulation can be challenging, because it’s a matter of choosing both the right product and the right contractor.  There are tons of promotional materials out there from companies far and wide, and of course, the big manufacturers are constantly advertising their products as the best.  Meanwhile, we find ourselves searching the Internet for our own answers, and the whole process can quickly become frustrating.  Shopping for attic insulation in Guelph, Ontario, and around the region, poses the same questions:  which product is best suited for my needs, and which insulation company should I choose to do the work?

Great Northern Insulation is Canada's largest full service insulation contractor - that’s a good start already.  And the GNI customer commitment is simple and straightforward:  to use only the best quality products; to ensure the optimal level of customer service; and to install everything at the highest standard possible. For GNI, a project isn’t complete until the customer is fully satisfied – it’s just that simple.  We do the job right, the first time, and we guarantee every install, whatever product we use.  In addition, we stand behind each of our manufacturer’s warrantees.

Now, regardless of the attic insulation product that is decided upon, there is a basic installation principle with which everyone agrees.  It’s the idea that an adequate layer of insulation must be installed, and that coverage must be total and complete.  It means that every space, cavity, hole and crack must be filled.  As for choosing a sound and reputable contractor, it means choosing someone who will work with YOU, and will determine the best products based on YOUR needs.  Beyond that, a good contractor will be comprehensive:  performing a systematic inspection of the attic; assessing the current conditions; offering product choices suited to those conditions; and evaluating costs so that the installation matches the budget.

In terms of specific product options, an affordable insulation product for any budget is loose-fill insulation, sometimes referred to as “blown-in” insulation.  It’s available primarily in two forms:  fiberglass or cellulose.  These products are “fluffy” in nature, and when installed, the fluffiness traps air and makes it an effective insulation layer for a vast space like the attic.  “Blown-in” insulation is chemically treated to be fire-resistant, and to resist mildew and mold, insects and rodents.  With special installation equipment, this insulation is blown right into the attic, and dispersed evenly throughout the space so that distribution and density is uniform.  One of the benefits of blowing this insulation is the potential to install on top of existing attic insulation - there is no need to remove good insulation, and the new layer will increase existing R-values immediately.  Both versions of the “blown-in” insulation cover an area efficiently and effectively, and the result is a “thermal blanket” that creates thermal protection throughout the vastness of the attic.  One of the best features of this insulation is that it covers an area entirely:  it fully envelops all the wooden attic beams; the various cables and electric wiring; and all of the HVAC ductwork that meanders through the space.

The best insulation you can purchase under any category is spray foam insulation.  Throughout the industry, spray foam is considered to be the most effective product.  Spray foam insulation is a chemical mixture that is sprayed out from a hose, and makes use of special tools and equipment to expedite the application.  Initially, the spray foam is released as a liquid, and immediately covers the surroundings - it completely coats the wooden attic beams, the electric wiring, the plumbing, and all of the ductwork.  Very quickly, the liquid foam expands where it’s applied, and hardens into an airtight “wrapper”.  And because the coverage is super-dense, it does not allow for the movement of air OR moisture, and performs superbly as both an air barrier and a moisture barrier.  Needless to say, the unique attributes of the product, and its overall performance as an insulation system makes superior to any of the other products on the market.

For the professionals at Great Northern Insulation, the preference when installing insulation is the so-called “hybrid” approach.  We create a whole insulation “system” by incorporating both of the insulation types described above.  We start with the spray foam insulation and continue with the blown-in insulation, thus creating the ultimate insulation combination.  And depending on the scope of a project, we might combine the spray foam with the cellulose insulation, or the spray foam with the fiberglass insulation.  Amongst professionals in the business, either of these combinations is regarded as the BEST approach for the attic.  It’s because the combination technique provides it all:  excellent insulation from season to season; total air sealing properties (because of the spray foam); and great dollar value (combining the spray foam with the blown-in insulation).  In fact, when GNI does a complete insulation removal, our install team will usually recommend one of the combination approaches.

The thing is, any of the products and methods mentioned above could be considered a DIY project, but in most cases, this is very specialized work that is best left to an expert.  An insulation project is more than just about the insulation.  At Great Northern Insulation, we see every insulation project as a “system”, and one that includes air barriers (to prevent the air movement) and vapor barriers (to prevent moisture penetration).  Whether it’s attic insulation in Guelph, or in the surrounding communities, our teams always employ a comprehensive approach to insulating - it means a home that is well sealed, well ventilated and well insulated.  And when you decide to contract GNI, you’ll be on the receiving end of 100% customer satisfaction, and without compromise.  That’s why we warranty everything we sell and install; guarantee all of our work; and deal with problem issues immediately.