Insulation Needs

Your house, and family, health is dependent on how well “dressed” your home is.  The key is to seal, insulate and ventilate appropriately.

Underneath the exterior material of your home (be it brick or siding), there is an air barrier, insulation and a vapor barrier. These three items of protection work together to keep moisture and wind away from damaging the house structure, and help in maintaining indoor temperature and comfort. If any of these measures are ineffective, problems can occur.

Ineffective Insulation

In Cold Weather	In Hot Weather
• walls cold to the touch • cold floors • high heating costs • uneven building heating levels • mold growing on walls and windows	• hot, uncomfortable inside air • high cooling costs • air conditioning system ineffective • mold growing in basement

Effective Insulation

Effectiveness of insulating materials is categorized by R-values (metric equivalent is RSI-values).  The higher the R- or RSI-value, the more resistant the material is to the movement of heat.  All insulation products in Canada are marked with this value, and Provincial building codes specify value minimums for new construction, based on application.

In addition to knowing the correct building code applications for the area, House Smart Home Improvements is experienced in recommending and installing insulation in such a way as to achieve maximum energy efficiency.  Elements such as compression, air circulation, and air movement are all factors in maintaining or reducing the R- or RSI-value of the insulation.