Frequently Asked Questions

Have some questions? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one!
What does insulation actually do for my home?

Fiber glass insulation keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, because insulation resists the flow of heat. Heat is a form of energy and always seeks a cooler area – flowing out of the home in the winter and into the home in the summer. By reducing heat flow, a home uses less energy for heating and cooling.

A well-insulated home increases the overall comfort of the home and adds to its resale value. Whether your home is new or old, it pays to insulate.

What areas of my home should be insulated?

Insulation is not just for attics and outside walls. Insulation should also be installed in other areas of your home such as ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls (especially bathrooms), ceilings or floors for extra sound control.

How do I get a quote?

To get a quote for your home or business insulation, please give us a call. An on-site evaluation will be required to provide an accurate quote. If the house is new, it is possible to assign a quote using the house plans and layout PDF files.

How far in advance should I book?

You should book as far in advance as possible but please allow 1-2 weeks.

Will I save money with polyurethane spray foam?

YES. The installed cost of spray foam is about 2-3 times higher than fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation. However the higher initial cost is partially offset because you will save in your heating fuel and electric bills. Studies suggest that homes insulated with spray polyurethane foam use 20% to 40% less energy than homes insulated with conventional insulation.

Why is there such a price difference in spray foam quotes?

Caution while comparing quotes. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Different R-values, or products could be the difference especially for spray foam. Pricing on Spray foam will be greatly affected by the type of foam you’ve been quoted. For example: A 2lb medium density product such as Polarfoam will be a higher price than a low density foam such as Icenene or Home Foam. We can quote on both products. We also include everything in our quotes to give you a 100% complete job. Extras will only be added on at your request, other than that the quoted price is the end price.

What is ice damming?

Ice dams are the build up of ice, generally at the eaves of buildings, as the result of snow melting on the roof over the heated area of the roof, running to the colder unheated area of the roof, the eaves where it refreezes. With a number of such cycles, ice builds up to the point that snow melt starts to backup under the shingles and runs into the house causing major damage. Look for the formation of icicles, which is a sure sign of ice damming.

How does the cellulose and fiberglass insulation perform against moisture, insects, vermin etc?

Although both products are great products when it comes to upgrading the attic there are some minor differences in the two products. Fiberglass does not absorb water as much as cellulose. By contrast, cellulose soaks up moisture and takes a long time-if ever-to dry out. Regarding insects and vermin, cellulose insulation does well because of the treatment with borates (class I fire retardant) but regardless at which of these 2 products you choose insects and vermin can only be kept out be sealing entry points. Fiberglass may also hold its R-value for a longer period of time in regards to settling. At Eco Insulation we take this into consideration at the time of install.

What is the R-Value of cellulose insulation verses Fiberglass?

Generally, Fiberglass insulation has an R-value of about 2.7 per inch of thickness, compared to Cellulose R-value of 3.4 blown in or 3.8 settled per inch. Overall, cellulose is a denser product. So, cellulose is considered to have an overall better R-value than fiberglass insulation.

Do I need to remove my existing insulation?

Since the R-values are cumulative, there is no need to remove what you already have as long as the existing insulation is not contaminated. Instead we just blow a new layer of insulation over the existing one, adding up the resistance values together.

Does fiberglass cause cancer in people?

No. The International Agency for Cancer Research recently removed fiberglass from its list of possible carcinogens, based on its review of more than 15 years of research. Research conducted over the past 70 years shows that exposure levels are low, and that, even if inhaled into the lung, most fibers disappear quickly with no adverse health effects.

Will I have to take down interior walls to effectively upgrade my home insulation?

Not necessarily. Some of the places where heat loss can occur are easy to access and often don’t require taking walls down. In particular, unheated crawlspaces and attics don’t usually have walls that need to be removed, but insulation in these areas will significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency. Some basements are not well insulated but do have walls. In this case, it is worth the time and costs to insulate. Spray insulations can often be applied without removing an entire wall and some of them are very effective insulators.

What is ice damming?

Ice dams are the build up of ice, generally at the eaves of buildings, as the result of snow melting on the roof over the heated area of the roof, running to the colder unheated area of the roof, the eaves where it refreezes. With a number of such cycles, ice builds up to the point that snow melt starts to backup under the shingles and runs into the house causing major damage. Look for the formation of icicles, which is a sure sign of ice damming.

What is R-value?

Insulation is identified and labeled by its R-value. “R” stands for resistance to heat flow; therefore, the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

How long does an insulation project take?

Projects completion times vary greatly depending on what needs to be done and the size of the building. On average, a 2500 sq.ft. home can take two or three days.

Do you offer a warranty on your work?

Yes! All our work comes backed by a 1 year warranty.

What methods of payment do you offer?

We accept payment by MasterCard, Visa or Cheque. Please note that all NSF cheques carry a charge of $25. FINANCING AVAILABLE O.A.C! (over $2500 after tax)

What is Polyurethane Spray Foam?

Polyurethane foam is a 2 part liquid that when sprayed on expands to form a monolithic, seamless lightweight barrier. Is is the only insulating material guaranteed to seal hard to reach places such as between pipes and crawl spaces.

Is Polyurethane spray foam safe?

Yes! Except during the application. We recommend that no one is present during the application and should give 24 hours before entering the work area. Polyurethane foam has been used on many different applications for many years and has been tested extensively for safety. There are no emissions or any harmful substances related to the foam under normal conditions.

What's the difference between low & medium density foam?

The most notable difference is the density or weight per cubic foot which equates to R-Value. Open cell foams have a density of 0.5 and an R-value of 3.9 per inch, roughly the same as fiberglass insulation. The denser closed cell foam has a density of 2.2 and an R-value of 6 per inch.
Another major difference is permeance or resistance to moisture transfer and water absorption. For a material to be impervious to water absorption the perm measurement must be less than 1.0. Therefore the low density foam requires a vapour barrier whereas in most cases the med density foam does not.

How can you fix our cold floors?

The basement or crawl spaces of your house, all outside walls need to be insulated with polyurethane foam insulation. This type of insulation provides a total seal to keep out the cold air that is cooling down your floors.

What are some signs of insulation problems?

Signs of insulation problems may be: high heating costs, walls feel cold to the touch, mould on walls, drafty windows, cold floors, ice damming, cold rooms.

What is Drill and Fill?

Walls that have already been dry walled or plastered can still be insulated. The process is messy and will need another trade to come in to repair the many holes needed to perform a drill and fill method of insulating. At Eco Insulation we can install either Cellulose loose fill or Pour Foam depending on the situation. This method can be done either from the outside of the home or through the inside, also depending on the situation.

Will insulating my walls make my room soundproof?

Although there are various types of insulation that helps to muffle sound better than others, we cannot guarantee a 100% soundproof. Results are often better at the building stage than in a retrofit.

What is the best type of insulation: cellulose, foam, or fiberglass?

Each type of insulation has its inherent pros and cons and each is best suited for certain applications.  That is why at Eco Insulation we do NOT specialize in only one type of insulation, but rather offer our customers options, taking the time to thoroughly explain the pros and cons of each insulation type and the applications that each is best suited for.

What are major uses of fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass serves a number of useful purposes, but the most important application of wool-type fiberglass is as insulation used primarily to control temperature and sound in homes, commercial buildings and industrial operations.