Keeping Your Summer Cottage Warm

Summer cottages typically have little insulation, and they don’t require it if they’re only used during the summer. When the temperature difference between inside and outside is only a few degrees and air circulation from open doors and windows are regular. The reasons for insulating, such as keeping moisture from gathering between walls, are rarely an issue.

When it comes to insulating your cottage for the winter, there are a few things to keep in mind. One is that you’ll need to install a vapour barrier, in January the temperature difference between your warm and cozy cottage and the freezing outdoors might be more than 30 degrees. Warm air can condense on the inside of the walls as a result of this discrepancy. Mold can build in the walls or attic due to moisture, which can be very troublesome.

Many contractors will recommend installing blown in or fiberglass batt insulation directly into the walls or attic when choosing an insulation solution for the cottage. Without the addition of a vapor barrier, it is also likely to produce dampness and mildew. A vapor barrier is an expensive add-on that can’t be installed without tearing down existing walls.

For your cottage, there’s a better option

Spray foam insulation is Eco Spray Insulation’s best choice for insulating your cottage for the winter. Spray foam is great because it serves as both insulation and a vapor barrier, keeping heat in while keeping moisture out. It has a high R-value, so it keeps heat in while keeping moisture out. 

Spray foam is a liquid that expands into walls or between joists, and it may be applied without tearing down walls. When compared to other modifications, spray foam insulation can have one of the most significant cumulative benefits on your cottage energy bills. Performs an outstanding job of sealing the little fractures and air leaks that allow your heated air to leave.

The ideal spots to ensure effective air sealing while insulating your cabin for the winter are:

• Under the rafters, to be precise.
• The crawl space interior.
• Within the confines of closed or empty wall cavities.
• Around the perimeter of windows, doors, and vents.
• Wires and plumbing pipelines should be avoided.
• Between the studs of the wall.

Adding Insulation to the Attic

Your attic is one of the greatest places to insulate when properly installed. In the winter, attic insulation helps manage your indoor temperature by lowering your heating expenditures. New attic insulation will assist create a more stable indoor environment that keeps moisture and temperature balanced regardless of the season. 

When it comes to insulating your cottage for the winter, the attic is a requirement, as it will help protect you from the elements while also lowering your energy consumption. Spray foam’s capacity to both insulate and seal air leaks is where it really excels. It will keep your cottage pleasant, avoiding air conditioner loss in the summer and retaining heat in the winter.

Upgrading your cabin and removing old insulation

Prior house insulation must be removed before you can begin insulating your cottage for the winter. Older types of insulation continue to deteriorate or underperform as they age, potentially affecting airflow or circulation in your cottage. Working with professionals on your cottage will improve your comfort and enjoyment; not only will the Eco Spray Insulation contractors ensure a clean and safe removal, but they will also inspect your cottage for any air leaks or damage that needs to be repaired.

While spray foam insulation gets a lot of attention at Eco Spray Insulation, there are two more types we install and suggest for insulating your cottage for the winter.

Blown in Insulation

Insulating attics, roof cavities, and exterior walls with this sort of insulation are simple and cost-effective. Fiberglass and cellulose are the most common materials used in blown-in fabrications. Both have a similar R-Value and can be used to increase the efficiency of existing insulation. 

Blown in insulation is suitable since they do not attract pests and are fire-resistant. They, like anything else, require appropriate installation to guarantee that they perform to their full potential.

Fiberglass Batt Insulation

This well-liked product is suitable for both attics and walls. Fiberglass batt insulation can be utilized in the attic or in the walls, depending on the project. This non-combustible insulation helps to absorb moisture as well as sound. 

This product is best installed by a professional when insulating your cottage for the winter, as an amateur install may result in poor performance and increased air leakage.

The Advantages of a Four-Season Cottage

Insulating your cottage will allow you and your family to enjoy your lakeside escape all year long. Also lowers your energy expenses, reduces air leakage, and stabilizes inside temperatures. 

Different insulation solutions, as well as professional insulation installation and air sealing, will ensure that you are comfortable regardless of the season. Because of the age of many cottages and their often handcrafted construction methods, they frequently have insufficient air sealing and insulation.

Spray foam insulation is one of the best insulation materials for insulating your cottage for the winter, according to professional spray foam insulation contractors. It’s the ideal home installation since it serves as both a moisture barrier and a foam insulator, sealing the space, inhibiting moisture, and providing high R-Values. Insulating your cottage for the winter has benefits all year round.

Get in touch with our project manager and learn more details about spray foam insulation and how it can benefit your cottage.

In this article, we are going to help you understand the Ontario Building Code requirements for insulation, so if you are planning a home renovation or you need to insulate your house, this article will impact some of your decisions.

What are the Ontario Building Code Insulation Requirements?

The Ontario Building Code is a regulation made under the Building Code Act. The Ontario Building Code Insulation Section was created to avoid unsafe construction practices, construction methods, and materials. It serves to guarantee both builders and homeowners comfortable and safe homes.

It requires that each section of a house that separates the inside from the outside and vice versa, must have:

• Insulation or a thermal barrier
• An air barrier
• A vapour retarder

Each of these sections is thorough and everything is explained with precision. For example, the internal walls of a home must prevent condensation from forming in winter. Also, the code specifies which materials to use for insulation and how to install them. All materials must meet the established requirements that material manufacturers are concerned with even before the insulation materials are marketed. So, never use second-hand material of dubious origin.

The Ontario Building Code deals in depth with the two main types of insulation and regulating them. These are some of the rules regarding the installation of thermal insulation and Loose-Fill insulation:

• Installation of Thermal Insulation – In order to prevent the flow of air through the material from being compromised the insulation must be in contact with an air barrier. If the insulation material is vulnerable to water, then it must be at least at a height of 2” above a crawl space floor. In case the insulation is exposed to atmospheric events, it must be protected by 6mm thick preservative plywood or 12mm cement parging.
• Installation of Loose-Fill Insulation – It must be covered by a membrane through which you can look, after installation it must not be moved and it must not swell and interfere with the internal finishes of the home.

Insulation areas

Attic

If you are planning on insulating the attic then you should remember to seal any air leaks and complete necessary repairs. It’s important to choose the right insulation for the attic and you may consider using spray foam insulation or blown-in insulation (fiberglass or cellulose) if you want to insulate the floor of the attic. It’s important to know that ducts should be sealed and insulated as well to reduce energy losses. Attic insulation value requirements have been raised so that the density for new homes and additions in Ontario now has been raised from R-50 to R-60.

Ceiling

Insulating the ceiling means that you avoid heat losses by keeping the warmth inside and reducing sounds. Ceiling insulation leads to better living comfort, it is an efficient and cheap way to improve the energy performance of your house.

Walls/Basement Walls

There are many advantages if you consider insulating the walls. In this way, you improve a home’s thermal performance and reduce energy consumption while reducing heating bills, and also improve a building’s comfort level. So, you keep moisture, heat, and cold where they should be for durability. 

Home’s Foundation

When building a new home before backfilling the space you might want to insulate the foundation. Insulating the foundation will minimize insects, moisture, and radon infiltration problems

Navigating the Ontario Building Code Insulation Requirements

The Ontario Building Code requires a certain standard of energy efficiency in new builds, additions, or major renovations. If you’re considering insulating the house but you are not sure that your house confirms the current building code, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can choose a package of energy-saving improvements to meet the standard and there is not one specific change that has to be adopted.

You Can Count on Eco Spray Insulation – Even in Smaller Towns

From roofs, and attics, to rooms and basements, home insulation can be a very practical add-on that provides comfort to a living space while making the home far more efficient. In terms of meeting the Ontario Building Code’s requirements for energy efficiency, it is crucially important that you work with a professional insulation installer like Eco Spray insulation to ensure that you are properly and effectively insulating your home since insulation and air sealing are the biggest contributors to overall energy efficiency. Even just a few air leaks can drastically affect a small building’s level of energy efficiency and moisture build-up can lead to further problems or maybe too expensive repairs down the road.

Eco Spray Insulation is an expert in the field of insulation. In addition to installing the type of insulation that fits your needs, including spray foam insulation, fiberglass, and cellulose insulation, we also make sure that your home is air sealed to make you’re already home even cozier.

The best way to ensure that you are following Ontario Building Code requirements for insulation is to have a professional contractor like Eco Spray Insulation perform your installation.

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