What are the costs of insulation materials in Canada?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) - $2.50/square foot Extruded polystyrene (XPS) - $3/square foot Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam - $2.50/square foot Open-cell polyurethane foam - $2/square foot Polyisocyanurate(PIR) - $1.40/square foot Ecobill (polystyrene beads) - $1.49/square foot Soy soil based polyurethane - $1.5/square foot Rockwool - $1.0/square foot Fiberglass - $0.85/square foot Cellulose - $0.85/square foot Hemp - $2.5/square foot Straw - $3/square foot Cotton - $2.50/square foot Cork - $0.55/square foot

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The Cost of Insulation : Materials and Techniques

Last modified: 2020-12-18 | Approximate reading time 3 mins

#Interior renovations #Renovation tips

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If you want to improve the thermal insulation of your home, it is important to know that there are several thermal insulation products available to you with varying prices and degrees of efficiency.

At RenoQuotes, we’ve prepared a table that includes the prices, performance, advantages and the inconveniences related to each type of insulating material.

The average prices of different insulation materials

Type of insulation	Price per sq.ft/ inch	R-value per inch	Advantages	Disadvantages
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)	$2.50	3.9	Resistant to fire and moisture. Easy to install.	In the event of a fire, can release toxic fumes.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS)	$3	3.6	Resistant against humidity. Easy to install.	Not fire-resistant. Can release toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam	$2.50	3.2 to 5	Resistant to air and water vapour.	Not fire-resistant. Complex installation
Open-cell polyurethane foam	$2	3.2 to 5	Resistant to air	Not resistant to water vapour. Is not fire-resistant.
Polyisocyanurate(PIR)	$1.40	6	Resistant to flames and water vapour	Loses its insulating properties when in direct contact with cold
Ecobill (polystyrene beads)	$1.49	4.4	Injected without need for demolition. Allows walls to breathe and doesn’t foster mould growth. Clean (dust and odour free). Permeable to water and air. Recyclable. Easy installation.	Like expanded polystyrene, can discharge toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
Soy soil based polyurethane	$1.5	6	Air and water vapour resistant. Capacity for high expansion.	Application requires protection.
Rockwool	$1.0	2.8 to 4.5	Resistant to moisture and fire. Delivers soundproofing qualities. Easy to install.	May contain traces of formaldehyde.
Fiberglass	$0.85	3.0 to 4.5	Easy to install. Resists fire.	Sensitive to water. May contain traces of formaldehyde.
Cellular glass	$3.5	2.6	Waterproof with air and vapour barrier. Flame resistant. Long life cycle. Soundproofing properties.	Lower insulation level.
Cellulose	$0.85**	3.6	Resistant to flames, mould and corrosion. Delivers soundproofing qualities.	Complex installation process. Very sensitive to moisture. **Requires more thickness (does not majorly impact cost).
Hemp	$2.5	3.7	Resistant to flames, bacteria, insects, and fungi. Soundproofing properties.	None
Straw	$3***	2	Resists fire a somewhat humidity.	***Requires a thickness of at least 14 inches. Price is to build not to renovate.
Cotton	$2.50	3.8	Resists flames. Soundproofing properties.	Sensitive to moisture.
Cork	$0.55****	3.7	Long lifespan. Resists water, fire, insects and rodents. Offers good sound insulation.	****Requires a thickness of 8 to 12 inches.

*R is the coefficient that measures insulation performance. Essentially, insulation prices vary depending on the form (panel, bulk, etc.), the location to be insulated (exterior wall, attic, floor, etc.) type of insulation (brick, wood, etc.) and the cost of labour. For more information, see our articles on mineral insulation and natural insulation.

Articles about thermal insulation

We have published several articles about different insulation materials. Since you are here looking for information about this subject, here are some links that could be useful to you:

Insulation techniques

Insulation materials

To find out about the average prices of different home renovation projects, check out our Home renovation price guide.

Get 3 renovation quotes for your insulation project

RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes for installing insulation in your home. If you submit your project to us, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will get estimates from trusted professionals.