Can Home Insulation be Installed in Cold Weather in Ottawa?

Name: Great Northern Insulation
Telephone: 1-800-265-1914

December 04, 2018

In Canadian cities like Ottawa, proper home insulation is imperative – both for energy efficiency and home comfort. If you’re a residential homeowner asking if insulation can be installed in cold weather in Ottawa, the simple answer is YES. The more important thing is to choose the right product and have the work done professionally.

Properly insulating your home is more than just topping up insulation in the attic. Air sealing and high performance insulation deliver benefits that are far-reaching, particularly in frigid parts of the country like Ottawa. The HVAC system will work more efficiently; heating bills (and cooling bills) will be lower; and indoor comfort is enhanced.

Clearly, any insulation upgrades and retrofits are better expedited before the inclement weather arrives. But when professionally managed, home insulation can easily be installed and finished during cold weather. It means that as a homeowner, you don’t have to wait for spring, and with the proper upgrades, the benefits can be immediate.

Spray foam insulation can be installed in cold weather in Ottawa

However, weather conditions can affect the installation of spray foam insulation

If you’re contemplating spray foam insulation as a retrofit, a number of factors should be taken into consideration in winter weather. With a professional installation, you’re assured that every necessary step is taken so that the spray foam installation will deliver performance for years.

With added air moisture during the fall and winter, our professional installers will ensure that all of the settings are optimized so the spray foam will adhere properly and envelope the given space in an effective manner. We leave nothing to chance.

While heavy winds certainly affect exterior applications of spray foam, care must also be taken with interior applications. A professional will ensure manufacturer-recommended applications.

In winter, air temperature and surface temperature can affect a spray foam application. However, there are multiple spray foam products for every season. Our experienced professionals know exactly which product to choose so you only need to focus on getting comfortable in your upgraded home.

Spray foam installations from Great Northern Insulation

With the professionals at Great Northern Insulation, spray foam insulation can be installed in cold weather in Ottawa. We use the spray foam product that’s appropriate for the temperature, and we ensure that fall applications and winter applications follow manufacturer specifications.

Spray foam is a complex product and application, and many homeowners remain misinformed about its attributes and the application process. At GNI, we are considered the insulation and home comfort experts, including spray foam, and our experience encompasses the complexities of cold weather installation.

Whatever the season, our installers use appropriate application techniques to ensure the highest level of insulation performance. We strive for a high standard of installation quality, providing homeowners with the best possible understanding of the benefits of spray foam insulation.

Understanding how insulation works during winter

While home insulation may have originated with home comfort, today it’s about energy efficiency as well. Good insulation makes your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. When performing at peak, insulation also ensures improved energy efficiency throughout the year. This translates into better energy consumption, and thus, lower energy bills for heating and cooling.

The idea behind insulation is to minimize “heat transfer” – to prevent warm indoor heat from escaping (in the winter) and to prevent warm outdoor heat from entering (in the summer). In Canada, where winter and summer weathers can be extreme, having adequate insulation in every part of your home, attic to basement (or crawlspace), is needed for the highest levels of energy efficiency to be reached.

Generally, in residential buildings, insulation is most effective in the attic; the basement and foundation; and the exterior walls. With professional oversight, specific types of insulation are recommended, depending on the needs of the “building envelope” and the homeowner. Great Northern Insulation installs every type of insulation, using the most advanced products and installation techniques.

All types of insulation can be installed in cold weather in Ottawa

If you’re installing home insulation this winter in Ottawa, there are a number of product options to choose from - all depending on the physical needs of your home and your budget. There are also provincial (and sometimes local) rebate programs available, designed to incentivize specific projects.

Spray foam insulation

Spray foam insulation provides the highest performance when compared to other products. This is an ideal application in the attic, basement, and exposed exterior walls. Spray foam seals a space airtight; provides very high R-Value; and acts as a vapour barrier. Post installation, spray foam noticeably improves energy efficiency and provides significant energy savings season after season.

Blown insulation

Blown insulation is another option, using either cellulose or fiberglass as the insulator. Cellulose, mineral wool, and fiberglass have similar attributes, excellent R-Values, and long-term performance. Commonly used in the attic cavity and exterior walls, blown insulation is an affordable option and a cost-effective investment. An air barrier and vapour barrier must both be installed.

Mineral wool insulation

Mineral wool insulation has excellent thermal properties and provides long-term performance. Professionally installed, mineral wool also reduces noise and is treated with fire retardant. This product is made of renewable materials, and allows for a cost-effective installation. In the average home, mineral wool insulation is an ideal installation for lofts, attics, as well as exterior walls.

Fibreglass batts

Fibreglass batts are most often installed in an attic cavity and in exterior walls. Fibreglass is non-combustible and sound absorbing. When installed with the proper air barrier and vapour barrier, this product provides excellent insulating performance. For the very best results, professionals will often apply spray foam insulation and install fibreglass batts in a combination install.

Count on Great Northern Insulation for quality products and superior installation

Even at this time of year, insulation can be installed in cold weather in Ottawa. Whatever the upgrades or retrofits, your home will be more comfortable, and more energy efficient. When you work with GNI, we’ll recommend the energy retrofit that will best suit your need - an upgrade that will deliver optimum results for the long term.

With energy upgrades, it pays to have a professional installation. At Great Northern Insulation, we install only quality products, and provide a fully comprehensive approach – one that includes insulation and air sealing. When you choose Great Northern Insulation, satisfaction is assured from start to finish, regardless of the project.

Call one of our home energy experts at 1-800-265-1914 for a FREE home assessment, or visit our company website https://www.gni.ca for more information.