Most Alberta attics are 8 inches short.
Homes built before the mid-'90s typically have about 8″ of attic insulation (~R-20). Today's building code puts new Alberta homes at R-50 to R-60 — roughly 18″. We close that gap in about three hours, and prove the depth with photos.
Most homes: $1,900–$2,900 all-in. Farm & barn crews for Central Alberta. No pressure — if a top-up isn't worth it for your house, we'll say so.
The 8″ → 18″ story, honestly told
You may have heard "insulation has to go from 8 inches to 18 inches." Here's the accurate version — because you deserve the real rule, not a scare tactic.
You likely have R-12 to R-24
That was code back then. Add 30 years of settling, gaps around pot lights, and wind-scoured corners, and the effective value is lower still. Bonus rooms and rooms over garages feel it first.
New homes are built to ~18″
Alberta's energy code (section 9.36) requires roughly R-50+ effective in new-home attics in our climate zone. Nobody forces you to upgrade an existing home — but R-50 is the target every rebate and financing program pays for, and what buyers' inspectors look for.
We close the gap in ~3 hours
Air-seal the ceiling, baffle the soffits so your attic still breathes, then blow fresh insulation to a photographed, ruler-verified 18″. You keep the photos and the material receipts.
Three services. Done extremely well.
Residential attic top-up
from $1.65/ft² · most homes $1,900–$2,900
Blown-in fiberglass to R-50 or R-60 over your existing insulation. Includes attic hatch insulation & weatherstrip, depth markers, and before/after photo report.
Air sealing & ventilation
+$300–$800 · bundled with top-ups
Foam-seal ceiling penetrations, pot lights and the attic hatch; add soffit baffles and check venting. This is where a big share of the comfort gain comes from — and it prevents attic frost.
Farms, barns & shops
$1.00–$2.50/ft² · scoped on site
Poultry barns, workshops, and colony buildings across the Red Deer–Lacombe–Ponoka corridor. Propane-heated barns often see 2–4 year paybacks. We follow your biosecurity protocols and help with On-Farm Efficiency Program paperwork.
What would you actually save?
Most insulation sites promise "up to 40%." We'd rather show our math. This uses real Alberta degree-days and current energy prices — every assumption is listed below, and you can change them.
Your building
Roughly your main-floor footprint. Drag high for barns & shops.
Our assumptions (tap to view or adjust)
July 2026 regulated rate is $1.60/GJ + variable delivery & riders ≈ $5 all-in per extra GJ.
Typical installed range in Calgary is $1.50–$2.50/ft².
- Existing insulation credited R-2.5 per inch × 0.85 (settling, gaps, joist bridging).
- Heating degree-days: Calgary ≈ 5,000, Red Deer ≈ 5,450 (base 18 °C) + allowance for 21 °C indoor temps.
- Furnace efficiency 92% (gas), 90% (propane); A/C COP 3; electricity $0.19/kWh all-in variable.
- Air sealing adds ~12% (reduced attic air leakage). Cooling includes summer attic solar gain.
- CO₂e: 51.6 kg/GJ gas, 61.2 propane; AB grid ≈ 0.40 kg/kWh.
Estimates, not a quote — real attics vary (ventilation, air leakage, layout). Gas is unusually cheap in 2026, which is exactly why we show the math instead of promising "40% savings." Most customers buy the upgrade for comfort, ice-dam prevention, and resale value; the energy savings stack on top. Firm quotes are free and take one 15-minute attic visit.
Get my firm quoteQuote to cozy in four steps
15-minute attic check
We measure your current depth, photograph it, check ventilation, and screen for vermiculite and buried wiring. Free, no obligation.
Fixed quote, same day
Priced per square foot with everything itemized. We'll also tell you if a top-up isn't worth it — it happens, and we'd rather earn your referral.
Seal, baffle, blow
Air-seal ceiling penetrations, baffle the soffits, protect your furnace flue, then blow to depth with markers every few metres. Floors stay covered; we vacuum on the way out.
Proof & paperwork
Ruler photos before and after, material bag count receipts, and the documents you need for CEIP financing or farm-program claims.
We'll tell you when a top-up isn't worth it.
Gas is cheap in Alberta right now, and any contractor who hides that is planning to disappoint you. Our edge is simple: published pricing, a savings model you can poke at, and depth you can verify from the hatch without climbing.
- Published pricing — the number on the website is the number on the quote.
- Ruler-photo guarantee — you see 18″ on camera, corner to corner, or we come back.
- Vermiculite protocol — every pre-1990 attic screened before we disturb anything.
- Program paperwork done — CEIP for homeowners, OFEP guidance for producers.
- Local & accountable — two owners, our names on every job, Calgary born and based.
Things people ask us
Do you remove the old insulation first?
Usually no — that's the beauty of a top-up. Existing fiberglass or cellulose in decent shape stays put and keeps contributing R-value; we blow fresh insulation right over it. Removal is only needed for water damage, heavy rodent contamination, or vermiculite (which we screen for first).
How much does an attic top-up cost in Calgary?
From $1.65 per square foot to R-50. A typical 1,100–1,500 ft² attic lands between $1,900 and $2,900 including air sealing of ceiling penetrations, soffit baffles, and hatch insulation. Bigger attics, R-60, or extensive air-sealing run more — the calculator gives you an instant estimate.
Is it actually worth it with gas so cheap?
On energy savings alone, payback is slow at 2026 gas prices for a typical house — we show that openly in our calculator. What tips the scale: even bedrooms in January, fewer ice dams, a cooler upstairs in summer, R-50 on your listing sheet when you sell, and $0-down CEIP financing. Propane-heated farm buildings are a different story — paybacks there can be 2–4 years.
What rebates exist in 2026?
The federal Greener Homes Grant closed in 2025 — anyone still advertising it is out of date. What's live: Calgary and Red Deer's CEIP (finances up to $50,000 at ~5.7% over up to 20 years on your property tax bill) and, for farms, the On-Farm Efficiency Program (50% cost-share, next intake expected fall 2026). Details on our rebates page.
Book your free 15-minute attic check
We'll measure what you've got, show you the math, and give you a fixed price on the spot. If your attic's already fine, we'll shake your hand and leave.
Get a free quote