Spray Foam Insulation Archives - IDEAL Insulation & Roofing

Areas that are difficult to insulate

July 11, 2017/in Spray Foam Insulation /by Trevor

Every house has them: areas that are difficult to insulate. Architectural design, framing details, framing actuality, workmanship can all lead to a convergence that creates difficult spaces for contractors to insulate. Another common occurrence is the intersection of different building materials. The spaces between can be tight, irregular and highly susceptibile to air leakage.

This is where Spray foam insulation really shines. Applications like the basement walk-out walls below are the perfect application for the benefits of spray foam. The chemically expanding foam bonds to both the concrete foundation and the wood framing. It provides a continuous seal along this transition, covering both vertical and horizontal surfaces. It would be impossible to both insulate and air seal this area with any other product.

If you have difficult areas to insulate consider spray foam and be sure to consult with an experienced and qualified contractor like IDEAL Insulation & Roofing to do the work.

2lb spray foam applied to basement walk-out walls

Energy Efficiency Alberta Rebate

April 19, 2017/in Attics, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

The Energy Efficiency Alberta Rebate was announced on April 18th and is designed to help Albertan’s improve their home’s energy efficiency through improvements in insulation. As a leading residential insulation contractor in Alberta IDEAL Insulation & Roofing is proud to participate in this program. As more details are released on the mechanics of this program we will communicate & facilitate with our customers.

To date we know that each home is eligible for up to $3500 in insulation upgrades. Applications such as Attic insulation upgrades/top-ups, Main floor exterior walls and Basement walls have been mentioned to qualify. The scope and ranges of these dollars figures have not yet been communicated. We will post more information as it becomes known.

The posted start date for this program is April 28th, 2017.

You can read more on the Energy Efficiency Alberta Rebate HERE.

CBC News also reported on this announcement HERE.

Global News reported on this announcement HERE.

Energy Efficiency Alberta

How to hire a Contractor

January 13, 2017/in Attics, JM Spider, Removal, Roofing - New Construction, Roofing - Re-roof, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

IDEAL has been working with the Better Business Bureau for decades. They do a terrific job of identifying credible companies as well as supporting consumers with legitimate concerns. The BBB recently shared this FAQ sheet on how to hire a contractor. It clearly lays out some important factors to consider when choosing a reputable company to work on your home. Check out the link below and feel free to ask your IDEAL representative for any of our corresponding documentation.

Tip Sheet – Hiring a Contractor

Energy Efficiency Alberta

November 1, 2016/in Attics, Removal, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

The Alberta Government has established a new Energy Efficiency Alberta Agency that will administer & incentivize Albertan’s to invest in upgrading their home’s energy efficiency.

Here’s a snippet of their press release. You can read the entire post here.

“”Energy Efficiency Alberta will promote and support energy efficiency and community energy systems (including micro-generation and small-scale generation) for homes, businesses and communities.

Initial programs include a Direct Install Residential Program, a Residential Consumer Products Program and a Business Non-Profit and Institutional Rebate Program.

Direct Install Residential Program will offer direct, no-charge installation of low-cost energy efficiency products to residences, such as lighting, water and heating components.
Residential Consumer Products Program will offer point of sale rebates to residential customers at retail outlets with products such as lighting, insulation and appliances.
Business, Non-Profit and Institutional Rebate Program will offer incentives for high-efficiency products and installation of electric and gas based products such as lighting, heating and
cooling systems and hot water systems.””

Here at IDEAL Insulation & Roofing we are not certain what this new Energy Efficiency Alberta commission will mean to our business but we are certainly poised to service any requests for insulation upgrades. Give our office a call to discuss your thoughts or projects. Site inspections & quotes are always Free.

Updates to Alberta Building Code 9.36

August 8, 2016/in Attics, JM Spider, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

The Energy Efficiency portion of the 2014 Alberta Building Code 9.36 comes into effect on November 1st, 2016. This will effect how homes are built and renovated relating to insulation. To learn more the City of Calgary is providing some great information on their website. You can learn more here

IDEAL Insulation & Roofing is also prepared to educate and perform to the new standards. If you have any questions pertaining to your project and code changes please contact us to discuss. We have a variety of products and services ready to meet your needs.

My Heat

March 3, 2016/in Attics, JM Spider, Removal, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

A new energy efficiency research company launched this year that is providing homeowners and contractors with new data on residential heat loss. My Heat uses technology born at the University of Calgary to provide a Heat Score for houses that have been scanned with a Thermal camera from the air. These scores can be used to identify hot or cold areas in a home, largely focused upon the attic/roof. As a homeowner you can now see a thermal scan of your home where you can identify warm or cold areas. There is much to be learned of their sources, heat loss can be due to construction factors such as insufficient insulation, voids allowing for cold or hot air to pass or appliance issues such as furnaces. Lifestyle factors such as number of inhabitants, cooking/laundry/washing habits or heating factors such as furnace and fireplace will also impact a My Heat score.

With this information homeowners and contractors have a comparative score that can be used to identify heat loss quantitatively. This information is very new and subsequent scans and casual relationships must be reviewed in order to properly understand it’s relevance to homeowner lifestyle and home construction techniques. On the surface it is an exciting opportunity to measure overall heat loss on a scale that was previously unavailable. Here at IDEAL we are very interested to see how our work with insulation applications and products will impact the My Heat scores of our customers. My Heat is currently offering data on the town of Okotoks, AB with plans to scan more cities in the near future. You can learn more at www.myheat.ca Stay tuned!

Map of Okotoks where My Heat has currently scanned

HomeStars Best of 2016 Award

February 17, 2016/in Attics, JM Spider, Removal, Roofing - New Construction, Roofing - Re-roof, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

IDEAL Insulation & Roofing is proud to be recognized as one of HomeStars Best of 2016 Award winners for Calgary, AB. HomeStars is one of the most trusted online forums connecting consumers with residential contractors. It has become a valuable tool to promote current jobs as well as communicate with prospective clients. When our customers tell us that they read positive reviews on our company we know that they are speaking of HomeStars. To be selected as a HomeStars Best of 2016 Award winner exemplifies the role that they play in our business and our communication with future clients to come. Thank you HomeStars!

HomeStars Best of 2016 Award

Identifying Mold

February 16, 2016/in Attics, Removal, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Trevor

Identifying Mold in your home can be a scary proposition. Why is it there? How long has it been an issue? Is it dangerous to the health of myself and my family? These questions are best answered by a qualified mold remediation professional. To help research this topic the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has published a detailed document on identifying mold. It’s a case study prepared for a Saskatchewan First Nations community that experienced overland flooding but their insights can apply to all households that experience mold growth. The document pertaining to Homeowners identifying mold is located HERE.

IDEAL Insulation & Roofing encounters mold on projects frequently, most often during the winter months due to condensation. It is often the result of excessive moisture generated in the Home due to lifestyle coupled with poor Attic ventilation and insufficient insulation. IDEAL can often help with improving these factors to aid your efforts in removing the source of the mold from your home. Contact IDEAL today to schedule a free site inspection where we will share our expertise in identifying the insulation & roofing issues within your home.

identifying mold in an attic space

R-value

March 16, 2015/in Attics, JM Spider, Spray Foam Insulation, Walls /by Colin

R-value is the unit of measurement used to gauge a material’s ability to reduce the rate of heat flow. Everything has an R-value and in insulation it is used to rate the effectiveness and quality of products. Different products have different R-value characteristics which are often compared by inch-depth. A standard fiberglass batt has a different R-value per inch-depth than loosefill fiberglass, cellulose, JM Spider or spray foam insulation.

We use insulation most commonly in residential construction within the wall and ceiling cavities. Its purpose is to hold heat within the conditioned spaces, the interior of your home, and slow down the rate of transfer to the outdoors. Walls are most commonly insulated with Fiberglass batts which have the lowest R-value per inch-depth. JM Spider Custom insulation is an innovative system that creates a higher r-value per inch-depth using loosefill fiberglass and resin. Spray Foam insulation, in either ½lb open-cell or 2lb closed-cell offers the highest r-values. Spray Foam is also excellent in areas that are difficult to insulate traditionally such as Floor Joists & Cantilevers.

For Attics the standard remains loosefill fiberglass insulation. At IDEAL we utilize Climate Pro insulation developed by Johns Manville, one of the largest insulation manufacturers in North America. Climate Pro is formaldehyde free and offers ease of installation to ensure your attic will be insulated to a quality standard with minimal heat loss.

Insulation within finished wall and floor cavities are difficult/impossible to improve without renovation. Flat ceiling attic spaces on the other hand are readily accessible and often easy to upgrade the insulation R-value. During an attic upgrade inspection IDEAL will identify the current R-value of your attic insulation and specify the additional loosefill fiberglass insulation required to achieve our recommended R-Value of 50. Ventilation and vapor barrier performance is also considered and scope of work quoted. By increasing your attics insulation you can expect increased comfort within your home and potential savings on your energy bill.