Frequently Asked Questions

R-value measures how well a material resists heat flow — the higher the number, the slower heat passes through it. Two things get missed. First, R-value only describes conduction: it says nothing about air leaking through gaps, which in most Ontario houses is the larger problem. Second, the number on the package is the material's rating in a lab, not the wall's rating in your house. Studs conduct heat around the insulation, and every gap, compression and missed corner drops the assembly below its label. That gap between nominal and effective R-value is where good installation earns its money.

The Ontario Building Code sets minimums by assembly and build type, and current attic targets are far deeper than what most homes built before the 1990s actually have. The honest answer for an existing house is that we measure what is up there — settled insulation can be at half its original depth — and quote to bring it to current code. NEEDS: confirm the specific OBC / SB-12 R-value packages you want published for Simcoe County

Match the product to the problem. Spray foam where you need an air and vapour barrier, high R-value in a shallow space, or a seal on an irregular surface — attics, rim joists, crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings. BIBS blown-in where you have standard cavities to fill completely, want sound control, or need to insulate finished walls without opening them. Batt where the framing is open, clean and standard and budget matters most. Most houses we quote get a combination, and the comparison table on our services page lays out the differences side by side.

No — not if the house leaks. Piling material on top of an unsealed attic floor is like putting a thicker sweater on with the zipper down. Air sealing first, then insulation depth, is the order that produces results.

An air barrier is the continuous layer that stops air from moving through the building assembly. It matters in our climate because moving air carries both heat and moisture. Warm, humid indoor air escaping into a cold attic loses you energy on the way out and drops its moisture when it hits a cold surface — which is how you get frost on the sheathing, damp insulation and ice damming at the eaves.

Cured spray foam is an inert plastic and is safe in a finished home. The precautions belong to the installation: the space is ventilated, the crew wears supplied-air respirators, and occupants stay out during application and for the manufacturer's stated re-entry period. This is exactly why the CAN/ULC-S705.2 installation standard exists and why you should only let a certified applicator spray your house.

It depends on the product, the thickness and the ventilation of the space. We give you the manufacturer's re-entry time for your specific job before we start, and we schedule around it — for most basements and attics on an occupied house, customers are back in the same day.

No. Properly mixed and applied foam cures within hours and is stable after that. Off-ratio foam — the result of bad equipment, wrong temperatures or an untrained installer — is a genuine problem and is very difficult to fix after the fact. It is the single best argument for hiring a certified applicator.

In occupied spaces, the Ontario Building Code requires foam to be separated from the interior by an approved thermal barrier — usually drywall, or an approved coating where drywall is impractical. We identify what your space needs in the quote so there is no surprise at inspection.

Foam removes the open runways and the nesting material that loose insulation provides, and sealing the envelope closes many of the small entry gaps. It is not a pest control product, and a determined rodent can chew. If you have an active infestation, deal with the entry points at the same time — we identify them during removal work.

Enough that it is the reason most of our customers call, and not a number anyone can honestly promise you from a website. It depends on how leaky your house is right now, what you heat with, the size of the area being treated and how you run the thermostat. A poorly sealed older home with an empty attic sees a dramatic change. A ten-year-old build getting a top-up sees a modest one. We tell you which one you have after we look.

It is priced by area, product and access — an open new-build attic and a cramped 1950s crawl space are different jobs at the same square footage. Quotes are free and itemized by area and product, so you can see what each part of the job costs and decide what to do now versus later.

Call or send the form, we book a visit, and we get into the attic, basement or crawl space to see what is actually there. You get a written, itemized quote with the reasoning behind each recommendation. No obligation, no pressure, and no charge for the visit.

Most residential jobs are one to two days. An attic removal and re-insulation is typically a day for each. Large new builds and commercial work are scheduled around your other trades. We give you a realistic window rather than an optimistic one.

For the quote visit, yes — we need access to the spaces and it is the best time to ask questions. For the install, we will agree on access arrangements in advance.

Government and utility efficiency programs change regularly, so we do not want to publish a promise that expires. Ask us when you call and we will tell you what is current. NEEDS: confirm which rebate/incentive programs you want listed, if any

NEEDS: confirm your workmanship warranty terms and the manufacturer warranty you pass through

We work throughout Barrie and Simcoe County — Innisfil, Orillia, Wasaga Beach, Alliston, Angus, Midland, Collingwood, Bradford and the surrounding townships — as well as the Kawartha Lakes area. If you are not sure whether you are in range, call us; if we cannot get to you we will usually know someone who can.

Yes — shops, warehouses, barns, pole buildings and outbuildings, where continuous foam coverage over irregular framing is often what makes a space practical to heat.

Yes, and it is worth involving us early. The envelope decisions that matter most are cheapest to get right before the drywall goes on.

Yes. NEEDS: confirm licence/registration and insurance details you want published — WSIB clearance, liability coverage

Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. We are closed Saturday and Sunday. Quote requests submitted through the website on a weekend are answered the next business day.