SHOW/Hide all Articles
When it comes to insulating the home, having some basic knowledge of insulation is worthwhile. For those homeowners choosing between fiberglass batt insulation and fiberglass loose fill insulation in Stratford, understanding the basics will contribute greatly to a productive working relationship with the installer. Without getting overly technical, insulating the home is essentially about limiting “heat flow” inside the home. During the winter, it means limiting indoor heat from escaping. And in summer, it means limiting outdoor heat from entering. Either way, “heat flow” isn’t a good dynamic for a home. It means that energy efficiency is compromised, and energy bills are higher than need be.
For insulation experts, addressing “heat flow” dynamics is fundamental. And when insulating, it’s all about the “building envelope" - the building structure of the house. It’s the building structure that most influences “heat flow”, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. And for an insulation expert, the main goal is to get rid of the negative influences. This is why it’s so important to choose insulation that will be right for the job. Indeed, with high quality insulation, and an expert install, the benefits for a homeowner are numerous: much improved energy efficiency; substantially reduced energy use; and noticeably lower heating and cooling bills. In fact, those savings are on going and long lasting.
Every year, there are “new and improved” insulation products for sale. But no matter which product is ultimately chosen, the priority for a homeowner should be product performance. A good insulation product will effectively constrain air movement and moisture build-up, while augmenting the existing R-Value in the installation space. Today, it’s not uncommon for a homeowner to think about a D.I.Y. approach to home insulation. There are definitely cost savings with this approach, but the results can never be compared to a professional approach. The truth is, an expert installer will always deliver the best results in terms of product performance, long-term benefits, and annual energy savings.
For many in North America, fiberglass insulation continues to be one of the most popular. Whether it’s the traditional batts, or the loose fill version, fiberglass continues to be used in roofs, attics, walls, and attached garages. With a good quality product, and an expert install, fiberglass provides satisfactory R-Values and good product lifespan. In a typical residential home, the results can be quite satisfactory: better overall energy efficiency; reduced energy consumption; and lower seasonal utility bills.
By any measure, a fiberglass insulation project requires some expertise. And here, it’s the professional installer who best understands product and installation. A professional installer can also guarantee a high level of product performance, even after the initial installation. Professionals know how to install for maximum, long-term performance – they install the loose fill product with consistent uniformity – and they install fiberglass batts in a methodical and strategic manner. It all takes expertise.
When installing fiberglass insulation, the best outcomes result when following manufacturer product specifications. In general, both of the fiberglass products are considered safe for residential use. They are asbestos-free, non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-combustible. Fiberglass insulation products are also considered to be “green”, since the products are manufactured with various amounts of recycled glass.
When properly installed, a fiberglass environment will not typically attract animals, rodents, or insects. But quite importantly, a fiberglass environment must be well ventilated. This is critical in preventing product deterioration, and ensuring longevity for the installed environment. For those homeowners choosing to install fiberglass insulation in Stratford, it’s one of the more cost-effective options.
For professional installers, fiberglass insulation does not fully accommodate the needs of an effective installation. Fiberglass insulation will not fully address air movement, nor will it fully address moisture buildup. Both of these issues are problematic, most especially in areas like the attic and roof.
Another important issue with fiberglass insulation is air leakage. Even with the most expert install, fiberglass does not seal a space completely. And the result is air leakage – a dynamic that significantly compromises insulation performance. For the professional, sealing is absolutely necessary.
There are additional problems when fiberglass gets wet. In a situation like this, wet fiberglass will lose integrity as well as R-Value. Eventually, wet fiberglass will deteriorate, and here, the only solution is to start from scratch – removing, repairing, and reinstalling the full extent of insulation.
For a variety of reasons, installer contractors are using spray foam applications instead of fiberglass. A spray foam application can achieve more than any of the other products now available on the market. This is an application that stops air leakage; inhibits moisture buildup; and provides high R-Value.
Overall, the best attribute of spray foam is its capacity to restrict “heat flow”. A good spray foam install will seal a space completely, and allow the insulation to perform at its maximum. Bottom line, there’s no other comparable product that can achieve the same results with one application.
As the best insulation product on the market, contractors are installing spray foam almost routinely. However, the spray foam insulation product is not suited for everyone’s budget. Because of this, spray foam contractors like Great Northern Insulation offer homeowners a more cost effective installation, especially for those customers who are budget conscious. The installation is referred to as the “hybrid” approach.
With the “hybrid” approach, spray foam is actually combined in a dual installation, along with one of the two fibreglass products. The spray foam component serves to seal a space and insulate, while the fibreglass component serves to supplement R-Value, and contribute to cost-effectiveness. This method can provide superb insulation results for those homeowners who are working with a more limited budget.
935 Keyes Drive
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada N4V 1C3
Phone: 1-800-265-1914
Fax: (519) 539-7946
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
7035 Industrial Drive
Comber, Ontario
Canada N0P 1J0
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
1027 Elwell Park Road
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Canada P1P 1R1
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
29 Ferndale Industrial Drive
Barrie, Ontario
Canada L4N 9V5
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
103 North Port Road
Port Perry, Ontario
Canada L9L 1B2
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
450 Industrial Dr,
Toronto (Milton), Ontario
Canada L9T 5A6
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
1035 Moodie Dr #1,
Nepean, ON
K2R 1H4
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
259 Campbell Street
Sarnia Ontario
Canada, N7T 2H3
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
6260 Don Murie St
Niagara Falls, ON
L2G 0B4
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914
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.
Energy Saving
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.
100% Canadian
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®
Gold Certification promise
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.
ECOLOGOTM:
Multi-attribute product certification
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).
Baeumler ApprovedTM
Professional, Certified and Insured
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.
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer our services in your location. You can sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes to our service area.
I would like to receive emails from GNI about exclusive offers, promotions, contests, industry trends, news and more!
Yes. I'd like to receive emailsNo, Thank you
Your email address will not be shared and your privacy will be protected. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Click here to access the GNI Privacy Policy GNI Head Office: 935 Keyes Dr., Woodstock, ON, N4V 1C3
Please, enter a valid value
Incorrect values!