General
We are happy to provide free estimates for any of your insulation needs.
For safety, all people and pets must be out of the home during and for 24hr after the spray foam insulation application is complete.
That all depends on the insulation project, but here are some typical guidelines:
- attic upgrades take approximately one hour
- other insulation upgrades are usually less than a day
- insulating a full house (new construction)) takes about a week, depending on the size of the home
Insulation blocks heat from entering the home in the summer and holds heat in during the winter. Insulation is a thermal barrier - it doesn't keep the cold out but rather keeps the heat in (and vice versa).
The Okanagan is a Zone 5 Climate, and as such, R50 is the recommended insulation level for attics and R24 for walls.
Some signs your insulation may need to be upgraded include:
- furnace or A/C running constantly
- high energy bills
- you notice persistent drafts in your house
- you have frozen pipes or your pipes freeze easily
- snow on your roof melts faster than your neighbours
- an abundance of icicles forming from your roof
- walls feel cold in winter or hot in summer and uneven temperatures throughout the home
- if you can see any insulation, for example in your attic or unfinished spaces, and it appears moldy, damaged, wet, or in poor condition
- if you've had any pest issues, you may need to replace your insulation
The attic! Heat rises so if your attic is not well insulated, this is where you will see the most heat loss (and increase in energy costs).
Insulation should be installed in all exterior walls and ceilings. This includes attics, walls, and ceilings, and between living spaces and garages (or other unheated spaces). Don't forget foundation walls in basements and crawlspaces.
It can also be added to basement floors, as well as interior walls for soundproofing purposes.
There are options for just about any possible insulation need. Fiberglass batts are cost-effictive solution for most walls and ceilings. Blown-in insulation is cost-effective and ideal for attics as it fills every nook and cranny and provides excellent R-value. Spray foam is more expensive but provides a moisture barrier and insulation in one; it is ideal for crawlspaces, joist or truss ends, under slabs, and sloped ceilings.
We also offer pour-foam insulation services for filling beams or voids, including boat hulls. And thermal Acoustic spray-on insulation for commercial and industrial projects.
R-value measures how well insulation can resist heat. The higher the R-value, the greater the performance of the insulation.
It's hard to measure exactly as every house is unique but you can expect to easily save at least 10% on your energy bills if you upgrade your insulation. Many homeowners see greater savings!
Another one that's hard to measure. The cost of insulating a house will depend on size, style, location, building year, etc. We are happy to provide free estimates for your insulation project.
Our expert estimators will inform you of any energy rebates you would quality for at the time of your estimate.
Professional insulators will ensure that ventilation is added or maintained to prevent possible mold issues from occuring. Insulation companies will take care to avoid compressing the insulation, leaving air spaces around the insulation or allowing air movement in the insulation. As well, the R-value of any insulation material will be reduced if it is not installed by a professional.
Often with the savings from the rebates, the cost to have professionals install your insulation is less than it would cost someone to DIY.
As a program-registered contractor with Fortis BC and BC Hydro, Okanagan Insulation Services' experts have additional training and testing to ensure our knowledge is up-to-date with the latest insulation practices. Our estimators will be happy to inform you on how to take advantage of the current Home Renovation Rebate Program (HRRP).
If insulation is in good condition and has not been exposed to moisture, rodents/pests, and is not compressed, it is possible to reuse it. If you have existing batts or blown-in insulation in your attic that is in good condition, there is no need to remove it as additional blown-in insulation can be added overtop.
Absolutely! Most RVs and trailers come from the manufacturer with minimal insulation. If you plan to use your trailer in colder or hotter temperatures, or live in it year-round, adding additional insulation will greatly improve the comfort of your trailer.
Spray foam insulation requires all people and pets be out of the home during installation and for 24 hours after installation to allow gases to dissipate. After that, insulation poses no harm to people or pets unless ingested or burned.
Insulation can be harmful if is ingested or burned; please keep insulation out of reach of all pets.
Insulation fire safety is pretty simple. When using spray foam, it will need to be covered with a thermal barrier such as drywall as spray foam is flammable. Fiberglass insulation on the other hand is naturally fire resistant.
No. Fiberglass insulation and mineral wool insulation is fire resistant. Spray foam insulation is flammable and must be covered by a thermal barrier such as drywall.
Yes, spray foam insulation is flammable and as such must be covered by a thermal barrier such as drywall.
Spray foam can be used as a radon barrier as research shows that closed-cell spray foam insulation creates a highly effective barrier against radon gas in both new and remodeled homes.
Most insulation, especially cellulose, will hold smells including cigarette smoke, nearby forest fires, or nearby house fires. Unfortunately, once these smells have permeated your insulation, the best course of action is remove the insulation, treat the wood if necessary, and replace with fresh insulation.
Some of the easier ways to help remove smoke smell from your home include:
1. Exhausting air outside and use a HEPA filter air purifier inside your home
2. Remove and replace attic insulation
3. Have ducts professionally cleaned
4. Clean/Wipe all surfaces
Foam Insulation
Spray foam is an insulation and vapour barrier in one. It is airtight and fills all gaps. It can help prevent insects and small pests from infiltrating spaces, making it ideal for crawl spaces and basements. It does not attract mould (or feed it) so it is ideal to help prevent mould issues.
Yes we can! Most RVs and trailers come from the manufacturer with minimal insulation. If you plan to use your trailer in colder or hotter temperatures, or live in it year-round, adding additional insulation will greatly improve the comfort of your trailer.
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation consists of the combination of two liquid components, commonly referred to as an A-side and a B-side:
- A-Side or “Iso”: Also known as polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate or “PMDI”.
- B-Side or “Resin”: Also known as the polyol blend, and is comprised mostly of polyols, with smaller amounts of catalysts, blowing agents, flame retardants, and surfactants.
Spray foam is roughly 4-5x the cost of traditional batt and poly insulation. But spray foam offers different benefits than fibreglass insulation.
Depends on the size of the project. Typically only a few hours but all people and pets must be out of the house while the spray foam is being applied and for 24 hours after installation.
When spray foam is applied correctly, it is relatively inert. During the application period, spray foam is hazardous and as such, all personnel working with it must use proper PPE and follow strict guidelines, and all occupants must be out of the home during the application period and for 24 hours after installation has completed. Poorly applied spray foam will smell of rotten fish and this will alert you to the fact that there are issues and it is not safe to be in the home.
Yes, as long as it is applied correctly by certified installers and a high-quality spray foam is used. After the initial off-gassing period, spray foam insulation is relatively inert. Most health issues relating to spray foam are as a result of improper installation, not the product itself. In the spray foam industry, manufacturers and governments have established rigorous standards, guidelines and criteria for handling and installing spray foam compounds and Okanagan Insulation Services is committed to meeting and exceeding these standards to keep our employees and homeowners safe.
As spray foam is a relatively new product, there are no long-term studies to concretely prove how long it can last, though most estimates are at least 20-30 years. When properly applied and with good long-term maintenance, you can expect many years out of your spray foam insulation.
Batt Insulation
Fiberglass batt insulation is an affordable insulation material made from glass fibers and is the most common type of insulation in Canada. It is fire resistant, excellent for sound reduction, has a high R-value and its environmentally friendly! The batt insulation from Okanagan Insulation Services not only reduces energy consumption in homes, it is also made from 25% recycled materials.
Yes, as long as the batts are in good shape and have not been exposed to moisture, rodents/pests, and are not compressed. There is no need to remove it as additional blown-in insulation can be added overtop.
Fiberglass batt insulation can last a lifetime when it is well maintained. If you have any moisture issues, rodents or pests, or the insulation has been compressed, it may need replacing.
Sound
Yes, insulation is an excellent solution to help soundproof your home from both exterior noises and interior noises.
Typically fiberglass or mineral wool insulation is used for soundproofing.The best time to think about soundproofing your home is well before the drywall starts. Changes to the insulation in your home's walls and ceilings can drastically reduce sound transmission throughout the home. Interior insulation can reduce noise between rooms (suites, washrooms, theater rooms, etc.) and insulation on the exterior walls can reduce noise from vehicles, airplanes, and other external sources.
No, the 2lb Closed-Cell Polyurethane Spray Foam insulation used at Okanagan Insulation Services is not ideal for soundproofing as it is too dense and rigid to provide optimal soundproofing qualities