Attic Insulation

Neglecting your attic insulation is neglecting your entire home.

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How to get started

Our knowledgeable estimators complete a free 7-point attic inspection at the estimate stage, providing accurate quotes to solve existing problems.

The key things we identify when preparing an attic insulation quote include; vapour barrier, thickness of current insulation, and ventilation. All three areas are essential to ensure that attics function properly and do not cause potential issues in the future. Having a sound attic system will ensure your home runs efficiently, save you on your energy consumption and prevent Attic Rain.

Attic Insulation Quote

The entire Beyond Team will work together to ensure you get the appropriate attic insulation installed in your Calgary home. From the moment you contact us for a free attic insulation quote, our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. All of our attic insulation estimators have been installers and crew leads in the past. You have the comfort of knowing when you are talking to a Beyond Foam estimator, that they have the “hands on” experience to answer your questions and provide a solution to your attic needs.

R20 2lb spray foam insulation in Attic

Residential Attic Insulation – Calgary & Area
Beyond Foam
403-730-8080
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Attic Insulation 
Calgary Thermal Scan Inspections   

Contact Us

Attic Insulation Installation Process

Once you receive your attic insulation quote, our scheduling team will work with you to find an installation time that offers minimal interruption. When our crew arrives to complete the job, they will take the extra time to ensure your home or workplace is kept clean and tidy.

Typically, attic insulation companies in Calgary insulate attics with a relatively inexpensive loose fill blown-in product such as cellulose or fibreglass. These open celled products work to hold air molecules and help reduce the transfer of heat. Normally attics are blown to an R50 thickness, which is between 14 and 18 inches high. The effectiveness of loose fill insulation is dependent on the quality of the vapour barrier. An effective vapour barrier by current building standards provides less than 60 ng/pa which is typically a 6 mil CGSB rated polyethylene. The vapour barrier sheets must be sealed or taped at every seam and tie into the interior top plates and vapour barrier boxes for pot lights, electrical boxes, bath fan ventilation units, etc. The vapour barrier is installed at the construction stage from below, prior to drywall being installed.

 

At the attic insulation quote stage on existing homes, it’s often difficult to determine the exact condition or functionality of the vapour barrier. An estimator can reach down to feel if there is a vapour barrier and determine the thickness of it. If there is less than 6 mil poly, it is quite safe to assume that the builder did not use plate poly or seal the poly to today’s building code standards. To correct the vapour barrier without removing drywall, it is necessary to first remove the existing attic insulation (normally through a large vacuum hose, or placing batts down through the attic hatch). The vapour barrier issues are corrected through the use of 2lb closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. The 2lb foam should be sprayed to a 2” thickness in order to reach less than 60 ng/pa vapour barrier. Attic rulers may be installed in attics by installers when they are upgrading attics with loose fill. These show the installer and homeowner the thickness of installed loose fill.

Attic Insulation FAQ

Q. What is included in an attic inspection?

A: To create a healthy, effective, and long-lasting attic space, there are a lot of essential elements to consider. We look at the pitch or style of roof, ventilation design and capabilities, thickness and quality of vapour barrier, thickness and type of insulation, and the quality of seal around the attic hatch and other penetrations. If you are unsure of how to check these things, get a professional to diagnose and investigate your attic to ensure you get the best results from your attic insulation.

Q. What is the difference between fiberglass and cellulose insulation?

A: Cellulose is an attic insulation made primarily from recycled newspapers while Fibreglass is mulched up fibreglass material. Cellulose boasts a nominally higher R-value per inch, to be bug and pest resistant, and have better sound suppression. Fiberglass insulation is approximately 5-10% less expensive than cellulose, has less dust particles when installed and is more commonly used in the Calgary market. We use both as they work to hold temperature in the air molecules of the products. Cellulose is a grey colour and fibreglass is typically either white or pink.

 

Q. What is the R-value per inch of loose fill insulation?

A: The R-value per inch of loose fill is approximately R3.2 for fibreglass and R3.8 for cellulose. Both of these r-values assume an effective vapour barrier is in place. An industry standard for an effective vapour barrier is less than 60 ng/pa. This is achieved with a 6-mil poly or 2lb polyurethane spray foam.

Q. What is proper ventilation in an attic?

A: Proper ventilation in an attic system would allow air to flow from the outside through the attic space to remove condensation in the winter and hot air in the summer. In most cases the air intake would come from the soffits and rise through the air chute (insulation stops) and exit out the upper roof vents. In some cases the ventilation will be through the gable vents on the side of the attic. There are other options but these are the two most common.
Proper ventilation is vital in our Calgary climate. In winter when the weather goes from bitter cold to a warm chinook, there is a damaging condition that can occur. Click here to learn about Attic Rain.

Still have questions? See our handy FAQ’s section

We want to get you all the information you need to make an informed decision. See what our customers frequently ask, or get in touch with us today. We’re always happy to help.

Residential Attic Insulation – Calgary & Area
Beyond Foam
403-730-8080
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Attic Insulation 
Calgary Thermal Scan Inspections   

Contact Us

Author: Kevin Boschee