Overview: Insulation Contractors
Insulating a Canadian house is a fight with cold and with moisture. Crews top up attics, insulate basement walls and the rim joist above the foundation, and seal the gaps that let warm, damp air into cold framing. People usually call about a frosty attic hatch, icicles along the eaves or a bedroom over the garage that nobody wants in February.
Sealing comes before depth. Warm air leaking through pot lights, plumbing stacks and the hatch carries moisture that frosts the underside of the roof and drips at the thaw. A good crew explains where the air barrier and the vapour barrier go before it names a product.
Older houses hide surprises. Vermiculite in the attic may contain asbestos, and Health Canada says to leave it undisturbed. Urea formaldehyde foam insulation has been banned in Canada for decades, so ask what's in the walls before anyone drills into them.
Our listings show what each contractor states on its own website about the materials it uses, from blown cellulose to spray foam. Start with your province, then your city, to reach insulation crews in your area.
What does home insulation cost in Canada?
Compare the completed assembly and target insulation level, including air sealing and any preparation before new material is installed.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Attic insulation top-up | C$1.50–C$3.50per attic sq ft | Accessible dry attic, generally R-20/R-30 toward R-50/R-60; measured starting level and target specified.Confirm the measured starting level, target insulation level and minimum project charge. Air sealing is separate unless included in the written package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified insulation; Installation Budget separately or confirm: Major air sealing; Hazardous material removal |
| Attic air sealing | C$600–C$1,800per project | Approximately 1,200 sq ft accessible attic; seal identified penetrations before insulation.This example is for an accessible attic of about 1,200 sq ft. Do not add it again if air sealing is already included in the top-up package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Agreed sealing work; Specified materials Budget separately or confirm: Insulation top-up; Ventilation alterations |
| Complete basement wall insulation assembly | Scope-based quoteper specified wall assembly | A designed basement wall assembly with insulation, framing and agreed air and moisture control.A spray-foam application rate does not price a complete framed and finished basement wall. Resolve moisture problems before covering the wall. Foundation condition, moisture control, framing and insulation type change the assembly. Send wall area, photos and the intended finish; request itemised insulation, framing, air-control and protective-covering costs.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified insulation and framing; Agreed air and moisture-control installation Budget separately or confirm: Waterproofing and hazardous removal; Drywall, decoration and electrical work |
| Closed-cell spray foam at two inches | C$2–C$5.50per insulated sq ft at two-inch thickness | Closed-cell foam at two-inch thickness on accessible prepared surfaces; minimum booking and masking confirmed.A minimum booking can override a small-area calculation. Confirm mobilization, masking and any required protective covering separately.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Foam material; Application Budget separately or confirm: Removal and separately quoted masking or mobilization; Required protective finish coverings |
| Existing insulation removal | C$1–C$3.50per affected sq ft | Dry, clean, confirmed non-hazardous attic insulation; accessible vacuum removal and disposal.This is ordinary clean, dry material removal. Contamination assessment or specialist removal requires a separate scope.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Removal labour; Disposal Budget separately or confirm: Asbestos abatement; New insulation |
What changes the price
- Starting R-value, target assembly and required installed thickness.
- Air leakage, access, ventilation details and moisture conditions.
- Existing material, contamination assessment, removal and reinstatement.
Ask before accepting a quote
- What R-value or assembly does this price deliver, and how will it be checked?
- Which air sealing, ventilation and moisture repairs are included before insulation?
- What happens to the quote if existing insulation needs specialist removal?
Thickness is part of the price
- Compare spray foam at the same type and installed thickness; an area-only rate is incomplete.
- Separate necessary preparation from optional upgrades and show each allowance.
Canadian context
Older vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos; do not treat its removal as an ordinary insulation-disposal allowance.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EnerGuide evaluation worth doing before insulating?
Often, yes. An energy advisor registered with Natural Resources Canada measures your insulation levels and runs a blower door test to find air leaks. You get an EnerGuide rating and a list of upgrades, which turns a sales pitch into a checklist. Registered service organizations don't sell evaluations door to door or through unsolicited calls, so a knock offering one is a warning sign.
What is air sealing and why does it matter?
It means closing the holes that let heated air escape into the attic and walls: the hatch, pot lights, plumbing stacks, wiring holes and the tops of interior walls. That air carries moisture, which turns to frost in a cold attic and a ceiling stain later. Natural Resources Canada encourages pulling back attic insulation to find those leaks, with one exception. Vermiculite stays put.
Spray foam, fibreglass or cellulose?
Batts suit clean, open wall cavities. Blown cellulose covers an attic floor full of wires and odd framing. Closed cell spray foam seals and insulates the rim joist in one pass. Medium density spray foam installers are certified and should carry a photo ID licence, so ask to see it. Natural Resources Canada also calls for a curing and off-gassing period before anyone moves back in.
Can insulation cause damp or mould?
Yes, if the moisture plan is wrong. Warm indoor air leaking into a cold attic condenses on the roof deck. Natural Resources Canada puts the vapour barrier on the warm side of the insulation. A second barrier on the cold side can trap water in the wall. Bathroom fans have to vent outdoors, never into the attic. On basement walls, keep insulation tight to the concrete.
What if my attic already has vermiculite insulation?
Leave it alone for now. Health Canada advises assuming older vermiculite may contain asbestos. Left sealed in an attic, it poses little risk to the people below. Trouble starts when someone rakes it, vacuums it or crawls through it to work. If the job means disturbing it, hire a professional trained to handle asbestos before the insulation crew shows up.
