RECENT BLOG POSTS
Adequate Insulation Attics can be insulated in a number of ways, including blowing in insulation or laying fiberglass batts. Insulation is rated with an R factor, meaning the higher the R number, typically the higher the insulating factor. Ask your home inspector if the batts are facing the right...
12/16/2009
Previous Fire DamageIf the rafters are any other color than natural wood, that could be a sign that the home was on fire. If the wood is black, scorched and sooty, that's almost a sure sign it had been burned in the past. However, if the wood is painted white, that could indicate that the smoke a...
12/15/2009
 Although inspecting attics is rarely foremost on a buyer's mind, there are a lot of good reasons why buyers need to get into an attic or send their home inspector into the attic before completing a home inspection.  Attics should not be overlooked. An attic reflects the history of a home. It can...
12/12/2009
Is it Cost Effective to Insulate?The right insulation system can save you money, reduce the amount of energy you use and make your home more comfortable. Keep in mind that installation costs (including changes to the framing, cladding, and finishes) are usually the most expensive part of an insul...
11/12/2009
Basement Insulation Basement walls are unique because they must handle significant moisture flows from both inside and outside the house. The preferred method, from a building science perspective, is to insulate the wall on the outside with rigid insulation suitable for below-grade installations,...
11/11/2009
Attic Insulation The attic is often the most cost-effective place to add insulation. Usually, a contractor blows loose fill into and over the top of ceiling joists. For the do-it-yourselfer, batts laid sideways on existing insulation are an easy alternative. The air barrier at the ceiling line mu...
11/09/2009
Wall Insulation for Existing Construction The two most common wall types are wood-frame and solid brick. In a wood-frame wall, insulation (loose fill and some foams) is typically blown into the cavities through holes that have been drilled through the drywall or siding. In solid brick, the larges...
11/08/2009
Typically, this is a wood-frame wall with the potential for insulation in the stud cavity (batts or spray-applied) and on the exterior face of the studs (rigid insulation). See Figure 1. During planning and installation, note the following: The vapour retarder should be at or near the inside surf...
11/07/2009
Effective Insulation SystemsEffective insulation systems slow the movement of heat and deal with the movement of moisture at a reasonable cost. To do this, they have the following: An air barrier, which prevents the movement of interior or exterior air through the system. Carefully filled cavitie...
11/06/2009
Insulation EffectivenessR values and their metric equivalent, RSI values, are a way of labelling the effectiveness of insulating materials. The higher the R value or RSI value, the more resistance the material has to the movement of heat. Insulation products sold in Canada are labelled with R and...
11/05/2009
Rainer
52,571

Eragorn Francis

Business Owner
local_phone(306) 684-1748
Contact The Author