Insulation and Soundproofing Guide

Insulation is one of the key elements in terms of the level of comfort inside a home. This statement is even more true in a country where winters are harsh and summers are very hot. Indeed, even during the summer, insulation plays a major role because if the walls and other elements are poorly insulated, hot air will pass and energy expenses will be increased.

As far as soundproofing is concerned, this is a very important aspect in relation to the quality of life of the home's occupants. They want to have their privacy, while being able to participate in activities that make noise, without disturbing others. It is also necessary that the house be well-soundproofed with regards to noises coming from outdoors.

RenoQuotes.com has many insulation and soundproofing experts in our network. We have also published many articles on this topic on our renovation blog. To make things easier for you, we have collected and classified the articles in this guide about insulation and soundproofing:

General Articles About Insulation

Here is a list of articles that touch on many aspects of insulation, including the different types of insulation, the average prices of materials available on the market, and environmental concerns. You will also find clues to help you determine if your home is badly insulated and learn what to do in this type of situation.

• Everything you need to know about home insulation

• The cost of insulation

• 3 eco-friendly insulation materials

• The top signs of a poor home insulation

Photo: Dunktanktechnician

Different Insulation Materials

There is a wide variety of insulation materials for which prices and quality levels differ widely. Before choosing the right material, it is important to evaluate the options available in order to find out what will work best in your home and suit your budget:

• Mineral insulation materials

• Natural insulation materials: what you need to know

• Everything you need to know about synthetic insulation

Insulation Techniques and Target Areas

Each part of the house needs to be well insulated. On the other hand, certain sections are more important than others. Think of roofs, walls, basements and attics, among others. If these sections are poorly insulated, the rest of the house could suffer the consequences. Here are some articles that specifically address the techniques and parts of the house not to be overlooked:

• How to insulate a roof and an attic

• How to insulate a crawl space: tips and guidelines

• How to insulate an attic: materials and techniques

• 6 signs that your attic is not well insulated

Soundproofing Techniques and Materials

As previously stated, soundproofing is another very important factor in ensuring that occupants of the home are comfortable. Sometimes, small changes will work to improve the soundproofing, while in other cases, the transformation must be more extensive.

• 10 ways to soundproof your home

• How to soundproof a basement

• Everything you need to know about soundproofing

Photo: Air Mobility Command

Additional Materials for Home Insulation and Soundproofing

In addition to insulation and soundproofing materials, other materials such as air and vapour barrier membranes can greatly help ensure that the house is in good condition. Here is an article that talks about vapour barriers:

• What is a vapour barrier?

Potential Problems

In the past, certain insulation materials contained products that are now banned or whose use is heavily regulated, including asbestos. Here is an article that discusses the dangers of this element and techniques for removing asbestos-containing materials:

• How to recognize lead and asbestos in your home

Tax Credits for Insulation and Soundproofing Projects

Since proper insulation helps to make the home more energy efficient, many tax credits and subsidies are available through various levels of government. These programs often change but here is a presentation of several credits and subsidies currently available:

• Subsidies and tax credits for renovations in Alberta

• Subsidies and tax credits for renovations in Ontario

• Toronto green renovation initiatives

Other Relevant Articles

Here are a few other articles that talk about insulation, among other things:

• Passive house: everything you need to know about this concept!

• 10 ways to improve your home's energy efficiency

• Five essential ways to weatherproof your home

• 10 green home renovation materials

• Building an ecological home: 6 things to know

Cover photo: Flickr Martin Pettitt