Recently Asked Questions
Browse the latest insulation questions from New Brunswick homeowners.
Can New Brunswick walls be filled from outside?
Yes, NB walls can absolutely be filled from the outside — this is called exterior drill-and-fill, and it's one of the mo...
How does blown-in rockwool compare to blown-in fibreglass for fire resistance in New Brunswick attics?
Blown-in rockwool (mineral wool) offers significantly superior fire resistance compared to blown-in fibreglass, and this...
What is a Larsen truss and does New Brunswick use them?
A Larsen truss is a site-built framing extension that attaches to the exterior of an existing wall to create a deep cavi...
Are pot lights allowed under New Brunswick insulation?
Pot lights (recessed lights) can absolutely be installed in ceilings below insulated attics in New Brunswick, but the ty...
Does rigid foam suit a Dieppe garage door?
Rigid foam insulation panels are a practical and effective choice for insulating a Dieppe garage door, and they're one o...
Will air sealing raise humidity in a Moncton home?
Yes, air sealing will raise indoor humidity levels — and in Moncton's climate, that's mostly a good thing, but it does r...
What batt thickness suits New Brunswick walls?
For most New Brunswick homes, the right batt thickness depends on your wall framing — R-22 batts in 2x6 walls are the cu...
How long is the payback on New Brunswick insulation?
In New Brunswick, most insulation upgrades pay for themselves in 5 to 10 years — and some targeted improvements like rim...
Can spray foam fill a Saint John cantilever floor?
Yes, spray foam is one of the best solutions for insulating a cantilevered floor in Saint John — and in NB's coastal cli...
What does a full home energy audit cost in NB, and how does that cost factor into the ROI calculation for insulation upgrades in Fredericton?
A full home energy audit (EnerGuide evaluation) in New Brunswick typically costs $400–$650, and in Fredericton's climate...
What does a New Brunswick blower door test show?
A blower door test measures exactly how much air is leaking through your home's building envelope — and where those leak...
How do New Brunswick's freeze-thaw cycles affect the performance of insulation applied to a poured concrete foundation in Fredericton?
Fredericton's freeze-thaw cycles are one of the most aggressive forces acting on a poured concrete foundation, and the i...
Does a NB Home Energy Audit in Perth-Andover need to be completed by a certified energy advisor to qualify for rebates?
Yes — a certified energy advisor (CEA) is required to conduct the EnerGuide evaluation that qualifies your Perth-Andover...
Are there NB regulations governing the safe removal and disposal of vermiculite insulation in an Edmundston home?
Vermiculite insulation removal in New Brunswick is governed by both federal and provincial regulations, and in almost al...
What is the compressive strength difference between EPS and XPS rigid foam board when used under a Fredericton slab-on-grade foundation?
For under-slab applications in Fredericton, XPS outperforms EPS in compressive strength — but the gap is smaller than mo...
What is the minimum R-value required by the NB building code for above-grade walls in new residential construction, and how much does it cost to achieve that with current materials?
New Brunswick's current building code requires a minimum effective R-value of R-22 to R-28 for above-grade exterior wall...
Are there any contractor licensing requirements for blown-in insulation work in Saint John NB?
New Brunswick does not have a mandatory provincial licensing requirement specifically for blown-in insulation contractor...
Should I get multiple quotes for spray foam insulation in Fredericton, and how many contractors should I contact?
Yes, absolutely get multiple quotes — and for spray foam specifically, you should contact at least three contractors, id...
Is it worth hiring a contractor to assess my basement insulation before buying an older home in Sussex?
Yes, absolutely — a professional insulation assessment before buying an older home in Sussex is one of the smartest inve...
Should I ask a contractor to confirm they are meeting NB building code R-value requirements before starting insulation work in Bathurst?
Yes, absolutely — and in Bathurst specifically, you should push for values that exceed the minimums, not just meet them....
What time of year is best to install rigid foam board on exterior walls in Miramichi?
The best time to install exterior rigid foam on walls in Miramichi is late spring through early fall — roughly May throu...
What red flags should I watch for when hiring a spray foam contractor in Saint John?
Hiring a spray foam contractor in Saint John requires more due diligence than almost any other home improvement trade —...
Does replacing batt insulation in my Quispamsis walls require a building permit?
Replacing batt insulation in your Quispamsis walls does not typically require a building permit — provided you are worki...
Is it worth hiring an insulation contractor for batt insulation in Quispamsis, or can a general handyman do the job?
For most batt insulation projects in Quispamsis, a skilled general handyman can do acceptable work — but the answer depe...
Does adding insulation to interior walls in a Woodstock NB rental property require a permit?
For interior wall insulation in a Woodstock rental property, a building permit is generally not required — but there are...
Can a Moncton homeowner install rigid foam insulation on basement foundation walls themselves to meet NB building code?
Yes, a Moncton homeowner can install rigid foam on basement foundation walls themselves — but meeting NB Building Code r...
How do I air seal and insulate a basement rim joist in an older Moncton home to prevent drafts and moisture?
The rim joist is one of the most impactful and overlooked insulation projects in any older Moncton home — a weekend of w...
How much does it cost to re-insulate interior basement walls with mineral wool batts versus fibreglass batts in a Moncton NB semi-detached home?
For a typical Moncton semi-detached home, expect to pay $2,500–$4,500 for fibreglass batt basement wall insulation insta...
What is the fire rating difference between mineral wool batts and standard fibreglass batts for interior walls in New Brunswick?
Mineral wool batts are significantly more fire resistant than fibreglass batts — mineral wool remains intact and continu...
How long does it take to spray foam the rim joists and basement walls in a Saint John home?
For a typical Saint John home, spray foaming the rim joists takes 2–4 hours, while the basement walls add another 1–2 da...
How do I vet a rigid foam board insulation contractor in Bathurst before signing a contract?
Before signing any contract for rigid foam board insulation in Bathurst, you need to verify insurance, WorkSafeNB covera...
Does rigid foam board insulation thickness significantly affect the cost per square foot for exterior wall sheathing on a new build in Fredericton NB?
Yes, thickness has a meaningful but not linear effect on rigid foam cost per square foot — and for a Fredericton new bui...
Is summer or fall the best time to insulate the walls of an older wood-frame house in Moncton before the heating season starts?
Both summer and fall work well, but summer is the better choice — and here's why timing matters more than most homeowner...
How much does it cost to remove and replace wet or mould-damaged fibreglass batt insulation in a 1,200 sq ft crawl space in Rothesay NB?
Removing and replacing wet or mould-damaged fibreglass batt insulation in a 1,200 sq ft crawl space in Rothesay will typ...
Are there WorkSafeNB regulations that apply to contractors insulating a foundation in Sackville NB?
Yes, WorkSafeNB regulations apply to insulation contractors working on foundation projects in Sackville — and as a homeo...
What is the typical duration of a home energy audit in Sackville, from inspection to receiving the report?
A home energy audit in Sackville typically takes 2-4 hours for the on-site inspection, with the written EnerGuide report...
What spray foam insulation options are available for a multi-unit apartment building in Saint John?
For a multi-unit apartment building in Saint John, you have two primary spray foam options — closed-cell and open-cell —...
Does a home energy audit in New Brunswick need to be done before and after insulation work to qualify for rebates?
Yes — for both the NB Power Total Home Energy Savings Program and the Canada Greener Homes Grant, a pre-retrofit EnerGui...
Are there contractors in Sackville, NB who specialize in both air sealing and insulation, and is that combination better value?
Yes, contractors who combine air sealing and insulation in a single scope of work are absolutely the right call for Sack...
How do current New Brunswick building code R-value requirements account for the province's Maritime climate compared to drier inland Canadian provinces?
New Brunswick's building code R-value requirements reflect Climate Zone 6 conditions — long, cold winters combined with...
Are there specific certifications I should look for when hiring a blown-in insulation contractor in Moncton?
There's no single mandatory certification for blown-in insulation contractors in New Brunswick, but there are several cr...
What insulation upgrades do NB energy auditors most commonly recommend for 1970s-era homes in Fredericton after a full audit?
The most common recommendations energy auditors make for 1970s Fredericton homes are attic air sealing and insulation up...
How do I identify and fix insulation gaps causing cold spots in the walls of my older Saint John home without hiring a contractor?
Cold spots in older Saint John walls almost always come down to two culprits: missing or settled insulation in the wall...
Can a Saint John NB homeowner stack federal Greener Homes grants with provincial insulation rebates, and what is the maximum combined rebate available for a full insulation retrofit?
Yes, Saint John homeowners can stack federal and provincial insulation rebates, and the maximum combined incentive avail...
What insulation approach is best for a New Brunswick home being converted from seasonal to year-round use?
Converting a seasonal cottage or camp to year-round use in New Brunswick is one of the most demanding insulation project...
How long does installing batt insulation in the walls of a new Dieppe home addition typically take?
For a typical new home addition in Dieppe, batt insulation in the walls takes one to two days for a professional crew, o...
What are the most common DIY mistakes homeowners make when adding attic insulation in a Saint John home?
The most common DIY attic insulation mistake in Saint John is adding insulation without air sealing first — and it singl...
Is blown-in insulation a good choice for a new construction home in Dieppe versus a retrofit of an older house?
Blown-in insulation serves different purposes in new construction versus retrofits, and the choice depends on your speci...
How does the NB Building Code R-value requirement for attics differ between a new build in Sussex and a retrofit in Riverview?
The NB Building Code R-value requirement for attics is identical for both new construction in Sussex and retrofits in Ri...
How does the R-value of blown-in mineral wool compare to blown-in cellulose when used to top up attic insulation in a Dieppe home?
Blown-in mineral wool provides R-3.6 to R-4.0 per inch compared to cellulose at R-3.5 to R-3.8 per inch — a modest advan...
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