Century Home Attic Insulation In Caledon, Ontario

Balloon Framing Needs Sealing Before Century Home Attic Insulation

Balloon framing is common in older houses: each stud runs unbroken from the foundation sill to the roof. Because there is no plate at the top, the wall cavities open into the attic and heat rises up through them.

Each open wall top is capped from above with rigid board and its edges are foamed or caulked before any new fill goes in. Sealing those walls frequently makes a bigger difference to comfort than the new depth does.

Old Wiring And Old Fill Come Before Century Home Attic Insulation

Knob-and-tube wiring is still found in many older attics. We take a picture of it and leave that area untouched until an electrical contractor has looked it over, as the Electrical Safety Authority recommends.

Old fill gets a careful look too. Wood shavings, crumbling batts and vermiculite all appear in older attics. Vermiculite is sampled and tested, and an abatement contractor removes it if asbestos is found. Other old material can stay beneath the new layer or be taken out through attic insulation removal.

Plaster Ceilings And Low Attics In Century Homes

Lath and plaster is heavier and more brittle than drywall, so we work from planks laid across the joists rather than stepping between them. Low attics and tight eaves are filled by hand wherever the hose cannot reach.

In most of these attics blown-in cellulose insulation is the best match, because it fills uneven bays and plugs small gaps better than batts.

Century Home Attic Insulation Price Range

Including full sealing and new loose fill, century home attic insulation tends to run between $2.25 and $4.25 for each square foot of attic. Attics with balloon framing, low headroom or a lot of hand work sit at the upper end.