Blown-In Insulation near you

In an open attic, loose fill is blown at a fairly low density, a bit like a thick layer of snow over the ceiling. The installer starts in the far corners and works back toward the hatch, building an even depth over the old insulation when that layer is dry and clean. This is the typical top-up: quick, tidy and easy to check, because you can see the finished surface and measure it.

Walls are a different job. The crew drills holes, from inside or outside, and packs each cavity much more tightly so the material doesn't slump; Natural Resources Canada advises putting the manufacturer's recommended density in the contract, and notes that cathedral ceilings and flat roofs can be dense-packed too. Before filling, the contractor should confirm that the cavities are dry, the wiring is sound and the holes lead into stud cavities, never into the air space behind brick veneer, which must stay open to drain.

All three are fibrous: they slow heat but let air through, so none replaces air sealing, and all lose much of their effectiveness when wet, so roof leaks and fans venting into the attic are fixed first. Each product's label gives the depth or density needed for a given insulating value.

Once loose fill is down, the ceiling's leaks are buried and hard to reach, so preparation comes first; Natural Resources Canada's retrofit guide puts air leakage control at the head of any upgrade.

Loose fill settles after it is installed, some products more than others, as the fibres pack down under their own weight. Natural Resources Canada advises allowing for settling and suggests that the contract state the minimum settled depth, not only the depth on the day the crew leaves.

Depth markers make the result easy to check. Before blowing, the installer fixes rulers or marked pieces of wood to the framing across the attic; NRCan's guide describes wood indicators nailed to the joists. Afterward, every marker should show the target depth, with an even surface rather than mounds near the hatch and thin spots at the edges. Call the contractor back if you notice any of the following.

Blowing new material into an old attic means working in, and often stirring up, whatever is already there. Health Canada notes that vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos, and Natural Resources Canada traces the concern to ore from a Montana mine that produced vermiculite until 1990. Vermiculite is sometimes hidden under a later layer of batts or loose fill, so the installer should look underneath in several spots, including near the eaves, before quoting.

If any turns up, the insulation work stops there. Health Canada's advice is not to disturb it and to have professionals trained in asbestos handling test it and, if needed, remove it before the attic is renovated.

Loose fill moves easily. Blown carelessly, it drifts into the soffits and chokes the intake vents; without a baffle, wind entering at the soffit can lift it off the edge of the ceiling, often the coldest spot in the house. Natural Resources Canada's attic guidance pairs continuous soffit vents low on the roof with ridge, gable or roof vents higher up, and baffles keep that intake path open.

Ventilation doesn't fix a leaky ceiling. If warm, humid air still reaches the attic, it can condense on the cold underside of the roof and wet the new insulation. That is why sealing comes first, and why frost on nail tips or damp patches after the job deserve a call to the contractor.

Most insulation programs want proof of what was installed, so the depth markers, photos and a detailed invoice all count. Programs change, and several require an energy evaluation before the work, so confirm the rules on the official page before signing. When this page was reviewed, these programs were active: