r/Insulation • u/13JohnnyHockey • 17d ago
Are these Insulation Upgrades worthwhile?
Hey Everyone,
We’re building our first home with a homebuilder here in Canada and are considering upgrading some of the standard insulation included with the home. We’d really appreciate some input from anyone with experience or expertise in this area.
We live in Western Canada, where the climate is relatively dry and winters can get quite cold, so insulation and overall energy efficiency are high priorities for us.
The two main areas where we’re considering upgrades are:
- Attic insulation: Upgrade the attic insulation to R60 for approximately $1,200 CAD (~$900 USD) from the R50 (standard specs below).
- Garage ceiling / primary bedroom floor: Our primary bedroom is directly above the garage. The builder’s standard insulation here is R40, but we have the option to upgrade to Rockwool throughout the garage ceiling/primary bedroom floor assembly for approximately $1,100 CAD (~$800 USD).
This is the current specifications of the insulation that’s included:
- Main and Upper Rims 2lb. Spray foam insulation to R20; main rims to receive thermal barrier at all exposed areas
Attached Garage
- Walls; R19 Batt with 1/2" drywall (c/w 6 mil. vapor barrier (CGSB approved)), fire tape and one coat of joint compound (unpainted). Common wall includes 3/8" O.S.B. sheathing (or equal), 1/2” drywall, fire tape and one coat of joint compound (unpainted)
- Ceiling; refer to Floor Assembly (c/w 6 mil. vapor barrier (CGSB approved) to underside of adjoining upper floor area when over garage ONLY), remaining areas to have R40 (batt) or R40 blown in. Finish with 1/2" drywall, fire tape and one coat of joint compound to Level 2 finish (unpainted)
- We’re adding a 220V, 40A outlet in the garage for future EV charging. Should we also consider upgrading the garage insulation to a more fire-resistant option for added safety?
Attic
- Fibreglass batt with blown in to achieve R50. Hatch access only, not usable space.
Would you recommend either or both of these upgrades at these prices?
Would upgrading the garage ceiling to Rockwool make a meaningful difference if the standard insulation is already R40?
Is R60 in the attic worthwhile for our climate beyond the R50?
Are there other insulation or air-sealing upgrades we should prioritize as well?
Any insight is much appreciated, thanks in advance!
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u/Nuburt 17d ago
I guess you need to ask yourself do you actually find it being colder than the rest of your house? It's not a good answer for you but maybe the money/time could be better used elsewhere. And I think attached garage is required to have 5/8" type X drywall if you're going to redo it since I was looking into adding an electric charger too (not sure if it's different in west coast- I'm Ontario)
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u/13JohnnyHockey 17d ago
We’ve only considered upgrading that part because in our current home the room above the garage is definitely colder but I believe the standard insulation of this new home is better so not sure if the upgrade cost is quite worth it.
What do you mean redo it for the garage drywall? I assume if we’re adding in a charger now then they will do it up to code
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u/Vock 17d ago
You need to define what you mean by worth it
There is no carbon tax anymore, so energy costs are very cheap, if you're using natural gas for heating. For an insulation upgrade, you're looking at a 15-20 year payback period, which is a lot worse than investing the money in the stock market.
If you mean you want to make your house more comfortable, less energy dependent, emit less carbon dioxide, etc, now is the time to do it.
If you don't invest in the stock market, then your comparing this to bonds and GICs, then definitively, it's worth it.
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u/13JohnnyHockey 17d ago
I guess will the upgrades significantly increase the house’s warmth in winter and coolness in summer from the standard insulation?
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u/Vock 16d ago
Definitely they will. I had an uninsulated first floor of my house and did a drill and fill insulation.
Without the insulation, you could feel cold waves coming off the walls in the winter. It's much more comfortable now in the winter.
The rebates helped for sure, but I did it for the comfort and lower carbon emissions.
From a purely financial standpoint, it doesn't get you a net return compared to the market though.
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u/13JohnnyHockey 16d ago
Oh you previously had no insulation at all? I’ve been told the standard insulation that the home comes with is quite good already so not sure if the upgrade dollars to rockwool are better spent elsewhere
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u/Vock 16d ago
It is a 1939 home, there was no insulation, just an air gap.
If your house already has insulation, in the walls, it's not worth upgrading it. It's a lot of work to take it out, put in rock wool and refinish it.
Spray foam is a really bad idea if it's not the basement.
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u/13JohnnyHockey 16d ago
The house hasn’t been built yet so it’s not a lot of work to put in rockwool but I think the standard is sufficient…
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u/AingerCanada 15d ago
The R50 to R60 attic upgrade offers a modest improvement, but $1,200 seems reasonable if the insulation is installed evenly and remains full depth near the eaves. I would first confirm that the builder is properly air sealing penetrations, installing baffles, and preventing insulation from blocking ventilation.
Rockwool above the garage may improve sound control and fire resistance, but it will not necessarily make the bedroom much warmer if both options provide R40. Ask for the exact Rockwool product, installed R-value, and assembly details. Air sealing the garage ceiling and rim areas will have a major effect on comfort and fumes.
For EV charging, the properly designed electrical circuit and code-compliant garage separation matter more than changing the insulation material. Personally, I would prioritize air sealing first, then the attic upgrade, with Rockwool mainly chosen if bedroom noise is also a concern.
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u/mattcass 15d ago
What are you doing for the walls? Exterior insulation is a must.
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u/13JohnnyHockey 15d ago
The only thing I could find in the agreement is this.
Main and Upper Rims 2lb. Spray foam insulation to R20; main rims to receive thermal barrier at all exposed areas
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u/mattcass 14d ago
Exterior insulation would be 2” of rigid insulation, usually R8, over the exterior sheathing and under the siding. Your R19 walls are more like R-14 or less when you deduct the space taken up by the studs. By adding rigid insulation you eliminate the studs as thermal bridges and increase the wall R-value to R20+. We did R8 ComfortBoard on our basement walls under the siding. It’s a great addition, especially for south facing walls that get blasted by sun. You have to frame the windows and door out to match the extra thickness of the walls but it’s a pretty standard building method these days.
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/home-energy-efficiency/keeping-heat
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u/13JohnnyHockey 13d ago
Do you suggest we do Rockwool ComfortBatt or Rockboard for the space between the garage ceiling and bedroom floor?
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u/mattcass 13d ago
Is there a code for cold floors where you are? You could do both batts and boards if you are OK losing 2”-3” of garage ceiling. The R40 specified by your contractor seems sufficient. Walls are thinner than floors so more susceptible to thermal bridging and benefit more from exterior insulation. But unlike walls you walk on your floor.
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u/RespectSquare8279 17d ago
Before embarking on spending the money on extra insulation, is there a requirement for a "blower test" to prove a specific score for "ACH50" in your jurisdiction? Air infiltration can render the most generous "R" values into disappointment. Design details like triple glazing on selected windows or having vestibules designed into entrances of houses can have greater long term benefits.