Attic Upgrade FAQ
How much is my attic insulation upgrade going to cost?
The cost of your insulation upgrade depends on the square footage of your attic, as well as the amount of insulation you already have and the type of insulation you wish to have installed. We can add cellulose insulation over your existing insulation, be it cellulose, fiberglass, or wood shavings, to make your home more energy efficient. We can provide an accurate cost quote over the phone, but we offer free inspections and estimates.
Call us at 807-629-8557 today. Or Click Here to contact us throught our website.
How much insulation will I need?
The amount of insulation may vary depending on what currently exists in your attic. The government of Ontario advises R-60 be applied, but many homeowners are opting to go to higher to future proof their attic insulation needs and save on heating costs incurred by Northwester Ontario's cold winter months and cooling costs during the hot summer months.
What does "R-Value" mean?
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance. In other words, the effectiveness of a materials ability to resist heat transfer is measured in "R-value". The greater the R-value the more resistant to heat flow and the better your home is insulated.
Does insulation work in the summer as well?
Yes. Having your attic insulation upgraded will help keep cool conditioned air from escaping, so that the air conditioner will not need to work as hard to keep your home comfortable.
Does properly insulating my attic help preserve my roof?
When an attic is properly insulated it acts as a barrier, keeping heat and moisture low in the attic space. Extreme heat and moisture causes warping of the sheathing and structure and it shortens the life span of roofing materials. A well-insulated and vented attic will help combat these issues.
Can I blow insulation over top of the existing insulation?
Yes, in most cases you can, however it is not recommended if your insulation is contaminated by vermin, moisture or mildew.
How long does it take to complete the procedure?
It always depends on the size of the attic and the amount of insulation needed, but on average it takes between 2-3 hours to complete the work.
Does blown-in insulation "settle"?
Blown-in insulation does go through an initial settling process, so to compensate, Superior Home Insulation installs insulation at the manufacturers suggested depth, which is 20% deeper than required to achieve the target R-value. Insulation rarely settles the full 20%, meaning most homes end up with extra insulation.
What is ApplegateTM Cellulose made from?
ApplegateTM cellulose is made from recycled newsprint and other paper sources. It's treated with a non-toxic fire retardant, and other additives to resist mould, corrosion, insects and pests.
What makes ApplegateTM Cellulose a Green product?
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newsprint and other paper sources, paper that might otherwise end up in landfills, releasing greenhouse gases as it decomposes. Cellulose takes less energy to make than any other type of insulation. This is known as embodied energy, and includes total energy required to transport raw materials, manufacture and distribute the product. Fiberglass has up to 10 times more embodied energy, and foam products up to 64 times more embodied energy, than cellulose.
Why should I choose ApplegateTM Cellulose instead of fiberglass insulation?
The most significant difference between cellulose and fiberglass is density - cellulose is three times as dense as fiberglass, therefore, cellulose offers a higher R-Value per inch and greater resistance to air leakage. Cellulose completely fills cavities, leaving few air pockets for air or sound to travel in. Cellulose is also a more environmentally friendly product that fiberglass. Made from recycled paper, it has up to ten times less embodied energy (energy used in production and transportation) than fiberglass. Cellulose is made up of 85-100% recycled paper sources, while the recycled content of fiberglass insulation ranges from 0-40%.
How much ventilation should I have in my attic?
In most cases you should have one square foot of vent area for every 150 square feet of attic floor. Our estimator will carefully inspect your attic space and determine an ideal ventilation approach for your homes attic space.
Do I need air chutes/baffles?
Some homes built prior to 1980 may require air chutes, also known as insulation stops or baffles, to maintain soffit ventilation
Do you do basements or other parts of the house?
We insulate attics, crawl spaces, rim joists, basement walls, and outside walls.
What are your hours?
Our office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our installers work longer hours and will work occasional saturdays.
How do you upgrade attic insulation?
After you have reviewed your written estimate, had all your questions answered, and approve the job we will set up an installation appointment that works best for you. Typically we book 5-10 days ahead of time, but this may vary over the course of the year.
On your install date our installers will show up on time and have you sign off on your quote if you haven't already. At this point, the installers will:
- Lay down plastic backed drop cloths from you front door to your attic hatch, and corner protection to prevent any damage to your home when they walk in and out, and bring the hose in and out of the attic.
- Enter the attic and mark the required depth for the new insulation to ensure you get exactly the right amount of insulation, and install insulation stops if your home requires them. Insulation stops are required in homes built before 1980 to ensure that there is adequate space along the soffit for fresh air to enter your attic.
- Bring in the hose that is used to blown in your new insulation, and then one installer will begin loading material into the blowing machine in the truck and the other will install the insulation in your attic.
- Build an attic access collar to contain the new, deeper insulation out of rolled cardboard, and insulate and weatherstrip the attic hatch panel.
- Complete the installation and offer you a chance to take a look at the work prior to closing the hatch.
- Take the hose out of the home, roll up the drop cloths, and vacuum up any trace of insulation.
- Collect payment and leave you with a receipt for your records.
What type of blown fiberglass insulation do you use?
We use Knauf Jet Stream MAX blown-in fiber glass insulation, which is a premium alternative to cellulose. It's blown in to cover attics and hard-to-reach areas within attics, like corners, edges and around framing. It is noncorrosive and noncombustible. When it's applied to the recommended thickness and specifications, you can be assured that your home is energy-efficient, with minimal heat loss. Knauf Jet Stream MAX is made using more than 60% recycled glass, and is chemical free. Each bag contains the equivalent of over 47 recycled bottles! Because it is guaranteed never to settle, it's effective for the life of your home. Knauf Jet Stream MAX insulation is made specifically for professionals using large truck-mounted high volume production blowing wool machines and for the Blow-In-Blanket.
Fiberglass Batts FAQ
What fiberglass batts do you use/sell?
Knauf Insulation EcoBatt Fiberglass Batt insulation
Click here for more information on this product.
Why are the batts brown and not pink or yellow?
Knauf Insulation EcoBatt Fiberglass Batt insulation is made from highly resilient, inorganic glass fibers bonded with ECOSE Technology. The product is designed for cost-effective thermal and acoustical barriers for energy-efficient construction. ECOSE Technology is a revolutionary binder featuring rapidly renewable bio-based materials rather than non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals such as phenol, formaldehyde or acrylics. ECOSE Technology reduces Knauf binder embodied energy and contains no phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics or artificial colors found in traditional fiber glass insulation.
