Insulation and Air Sealing
If your home is properly insulated and air-sealed it will be more comfortable and use less energy. That means lower heating and cooling costs and less environmental impact. If your home is older, it may not have enough insulation and be prone to air leaks. Insufficient attic insulation can lead to condensation and ice damming.
Insulation
Insulation slows the flow of heat into or out of your home, making it easier to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and reduce noise from outside. The measure of how well insulation material resists heat transfer is called its R-value. The higher the R-value of a product, the better the product insulates. The measure varies for different materials, so when comparing products, be sure to specify the R-value instead of thickness.
A sufficient amount of attic insulation will keep your attic space cooler in the winter, and stop warm air from entering in the summer. Keeping your attic cool is one step to prevent ice damming and condensation build up. Combined with attic ventilation, you can make sure your attic space breathes properly which combats against mold growth.
Air sealing
Air leakage can make a room uncomfortable (e.g., drafty windows and doors), increase energy costs, and can damage your home. Air leaks most commonly occur at windows and doors, basement rim joists, and electrical or plumbing holes through the wall or in the attic. Air sealing will reduce air flow into or out of your home. It’s important to check your attic protrusions (lights, plumbing etc.) to make sure they’re properly sealed.
Detect air leaks by clipping a light tissue onto a coat hanger. If the tissue flutters when held against a closed window or door, or in front of an electrical outlet, there is an air leak.
While drafts are obvious and make you uncomfortable, leakage into the wall or attic space can damage your home. In the winter, warm, moist air flows through these holes and comes into contact with cold surfaces, which causes condensation. Reducing the flow of air slows down this process, protecting your home.
Air sealing can be done at any time, but it is often cost–effective to do this work while the walls or attic are being insulated. Sealing your home may change the amount of moisture (humidity) in your home. Read more about managing humidity.
Weatherstripping
- draft-proofs your home by sealing the gaps and cracks with weatherstripping;
- available in a wide range of material types, shapes, and colours suitable to your existing window and/or door system such as:
window and door gaskets, weatherstrips and caulking, door sweeps/bottoms, door jamb strips and thresholds.
Window insulating film
- clear plastic film that can be applied to your windows or doors to reduce drafts and insulate;
- applied to the window or door frame and is designed to trap a pocket of air between the glass and film, acting like a temporary extra pane of glass;
- reduces frost and condensation by insulating and sealing the window or door;
- easy to install and remove, and it shrinks tight for a transparent, wrinkle-free fit;
- best to install in late fall or early winter.
We’re dedicated to meet your exterior project needs, as well as budget. Specializing in full service exterior renovations including: roofing, soffit, fascia, eavestroughing, and siding. Let us assist you, in completing your project needs. If you’re looking to request a FREE estimate on any of our services in Winnipeg, head over to our Estimate page and we’ll get started. You can also call Agassiz Roofing directly at 204.975.9426.
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