If your upstairs bedrooms stay chilly while the furnace runs non-stop, the problem is rarely the furnace. It is usually the house itself letting heat out faster than you can pay to replace it. Upgrading your attic insulation is the fix most Markham homeowners start with, and for good reason: the attic is easy to reach, the work is usually done in a day, and you can stay home while it happens.
Attic insulation is not the whole story, though. Below are nine practical things you can do to make your home warmer this winter, in roughly the order we would tackle them.
1. Top up your attic insulation
Warm air rises, and a thin or patchy layer of insulation on the attic floor does little to hold it in. A quick check you can do yourself: look across the attic from the hatch. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists, the insulation is probably too shallow.
In most homes there is no need to tear anything out. New loose-fill is blown over the existing layer and the R-values add together. We install two materials for attic insulation in Markham:
- Cellulose blown-in insulation, a dense recycled-paper product that is good at slowing air movement.
- Fibreglass blown-in insulation, a lighter material that is typically the more budget-friendly choice.
Not sure where your attic stands? Our guide on how to tell if your Markham attic needs more insulation before winter walks through the warning signs. And if your house is fairly new, do not assume it is fine. Here is why newer Markham homes still come up short.
2. Air seal before you add attic insulation
Insulation slows heat. It does not stop air. Gaps around plumbing stacks, wiring holes, pot lights, the chimney chase and the attic hatch let warm, moist air pour straight into the attic. Natural Resources Canada’s guide Keeping the Heat In: Roofs and attics notes that these leaks can account for substantial heat loss and can lead to moisture problems.
Seal those openings first, then insulate over them. For whole-house air leakage, AeroBarrier air sealing is another option worth asking about.
3. Keep the attic ventilated with baffles
A well-insulated attic is a colder attic, which is what you want. But it still needs to breathe. If loose-fill is pushed into the eaves it blocks the soffit vents, moisture gets trapped, and you can end up with frost on the roof deck or ice dams along the eaves. Proper baffle installation holds the insulation back and keeps a clear channel for air.
4. Replace attic insulation that is wet, mouldy or contaminated
Topping up only works when the existing layer is clean and dry. Insulation that has been soaked by a roof leak, flattened by rodents or affected by mould should come out before anything new goes in, and the moisture source needs to be fixed first. See our attic insulation removal service and our article on attic mould and insulation removal in Markham.
One safety note: if your attic contains vermiculite (small, pebbly, grey-brown granules), do not disturb it. Some older vermiculite contained asbestos. Have it assessed by a professional.
5. Insulate the basement and rim joists
Cold floors on the main level usually point down, not up. Natural Resources Canada points out that basements and uninsulated walls can lose more heat than a typical attic, so do not stop at the roof. Rim joists, the band of framing where the house sits on the foundation, are a common weak spot. Spray foam insulation, particularly 2 lb closed-cell spray foam, insulates and air seals in one step. If you plan to finish the space, read getting the basement right before you finish it.
6. Fix the cold room above the garage
The bedroom or bonus room over the garage is the classic cold spot in a two-storey home. The floor sits over an unheated space, and the cavity is often poorly insulated or leaky. Garage ceiling insulation is the targeted fix.
7. Fill empty exterior walls
Older homes can have little or nothing inside the exterior walls. You do not need to gut the house to fix that. With drill and fill insulation, small holes are drilled, the cavities are filled, and the holes are patched.
8. Stop drafts at windows and doors
This is the cheap weekend job. Replace worn weatherstripping, add a door sweep, and caulk gaps around window and door trim. Natural Resources Canada’s materials guide explains which weatherstripping suits which spot.
9. Help your heating system do its job
A few no-cost habits make a real difference to comfort:
- Change the furnace filter on the schedule the manufacturer recommends.
- Keep supply and return vents clear of furniture, rugs and curtains.
- Open curtains on sunny days and close them at dusk.
How much difference does it make?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements (ENERGY STAR). That figure is a modelled average for typical U.S. homes, so treat it as a guide, not a promise. What you save depends on your home’s age, its current insulation and how leaky it is.
Rebates for attic insulation in Markham
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program offers rebates on eligible insulation upgrades. Amounts and rules change, so check what is current on our energy rebate page, or read our walkthrough of the rebate process from first call to payment.
Attic insulation FAQs
Do I have to remove my old attic insulation first?
Usually not. Unless it is contaminated by mould, water or rodents, new insulation goes over the existing layer.
Is attic insulation enough on its own to make my home warmer?
It helps a lot, but it works best paired with air sealing. Insulation over unsealed gaps still lets warm air escape.
Do I need to leave the house during the work?
No. You can stay home while we work.
How much does attic insulation cost in Markham?
It depends on the size of the attic, the material and how much insulation is already there. We quote each home individually after a free on-site assessment.
Get your attic checked before the cold sets in
Pro Insulation Contracting offers free on-site assessments across Markham. We will measure what you have, show you where the heat is going, and give you a clear quote. Contact us for a free estimate or call (416) 315-0471.
