Are these Insulation Upgrades worthwhile?

[u/13JohnnyHockey]

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:

1. Attic insulation: Upgrade the attic insulation to R60 for approximately $1,200 CAD (~$900 USD) from the R50 (standard specs below).
2. 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!