Popular articles
Adding cellulose to a 1970s attic to achieve a maximum R‑value
This article was originally published on August 31, 2017 by Pierre Boucher
Homes built in the 1970s and 80s and insulated to the standards of their time (R‑12 versus today’s R‑41) are energy-hungry beasts. Weak insulation points in houses from that era include the roof (attic), which is responsible for numerous uncontrolled air leaks causing significant heat loss. Continued
Insulating a Cathedral Roof From the 1960s and 1970s: Effective Solutions to Increase Comfort
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
Having gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, the cathedral roof (or cathedral ceiling) certainly offers the advantage of maximizing interior space, but it also comes with its share of disadvantages when the insulation and ventilation of the attic were not done properly at the time of the initial construction. These so-called “sloping” roofs are […] Continued
Heat Loss in The House: The Simple Solution Is in the Attic.
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
The attic, unlike what you see in the movies, is not a room filled with period treasures worth a smallfortune. Rather, it is a place where many air leaks can end up costing you a small fortune in electricity. Poor attic insulation can account for up to 25% heat loss. Yet attic insulation is a […] Continued
Spray urethane foam: the benefits of high-performance thermal insulation
This article was originally published on August 27, 2017 by Marcel Lapierre
If you’re having a new home built and the time has come to choose insulation, or if you’re considering renovations to improve your home’s thermal insulation, you are most likely looking for an insulation material that offers proven performance as well as excellent value for your money. Continued
Insulation of a Veranda or Solarium Floor With Urethane
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
Autumn is now well established and the freshness of your veranda reminds you of the huge heating bills from the previous winters? Perhaps you should think about improving the insulation of this three-season living space, in order to enjoy increased comfort and make substantial energy savings, both in summer and during very cold winters. INSULATION […] Continued
Soundproofing: best practices for winning the war against noise
This article was originally published on January 17, 2017 by Marcel Lapierre
Whether you live in a triplex or a single-family home, you may often be bothered by noise coming from upstairs or downstairs or through the walls. From the sound of a chair on a floor to music being played too loudly, annoying noises heard through floors and walls due to poor acoustic insulation can disrupt your peace of mind and, in some cases, become a daily nightmare. Continued
The Evolution of Insulation Materials From Yesterday to Today
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
THE HISTORY OF INSULATION MATERIALS Our houses have never been so well insulated, but it hasn’t always been this way. How did we arrive at such high quality insulation? What are the steps, events and inventions that have made insulating materials evolve? We invite you to discover the evolution of insulation materials with us. THE […] Continued
Polyurethane: 80 Years of Proven Use
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
If you were under the impression that polyurethane (also called “urethane”) was developed in recent years, due to its cutting-edge properties and relatively recent popularity, you will be surprised to learn that it has rather originated eighty years ago, in the premises of IG Farben in Germany. This material from the same family as plastics […] Continued
All There Is to Know About the Vapour Barrier
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
The vapour barrier is one of the building’s envelope misunderstood elements. What’s its use? Which materials can be used as vapour barrier? How can water droplets get through a wall? Can a simple plastic wrap be efficient? Isolation Majeau sheds light on this house construction and renovation essential element. The Two Ways Vapour Can Go […] Continued
Airtightness problems: does your house breathe?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
Like you, your house has basic needs like keeping warm and breathing. But there are myths regarding insulation. Some people are under the false impression that a house with a bad air circulation is too insulated. Let’s have a closer look on houses’ sealing and its influence on air quality. The Difference Between Insulation and […] Continued
How to Insulate Your Cottage for Winter?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
5 ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER FOR INSULATING YOUR COTTAGE FOR WINTER You’ve had a heavy heart for years when it comes time to close your cottage in the fall. With the pandemic, you may be thinking of living there year-round and working from home? Fireplace, holiday season at the cottage, snowshoeing in the forest, does that […] Continued
Radon Insulation: 6 steps to Effective and Lasting Protection
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
RADON: A HIGHLY HARMFUL UNDERGROUND GAS A radioactive gas of natural origin responsible for many lung cancers, radon is a silent killer (because it’s odourless and colourless) making its way through cracks in foundation walls and floors, also finding its way through openings around pipes and cables. Once inside your home, radon will tend to […] Continued
The Different Types of Foundations for Your House
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
When time to build a house comes, a ton of decisions must be made. One of the most important ones is to decide on which type of foundation you’ll want to build it. Since the foundation will support the weight of the whole hose, you have to choose the one that’s most suitable according to […] Continued
Symptoms and Causes of Fogging in Windows.
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
In Quebec, we are lucky to have four seasons. But the changes of seasons can bring certain inconveniences such as fogging in the windows. This phenomenon, which is not necessarily dramatic, occurs mainly in the fall. Here are some reasons that can explain the presence of fog as well as some simple tips to eliminate […] Continued
Residential Insulation: Deconstructing 5 Tenacious Myths
This article was originally published on July 2, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
Popular beliefs conveyed about residential insulation can often turn out to be false or misleading. Since energy is more and more expensive, and everyone is looking for ways to save money and preserve the environment, it is important to break these many myths to see more clearly and make strategic choices that will keep you […] Continued
How to Properly Manage Humidity in the House?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
Is your house comfortable? In order to optimize your comfort, get a hygrometer to verify the relative humidity level. During winter, because of the heating, our houses tend to be too dry. According to Health Canada, during the cold season, the house’s humidity level shouldn’t get below 30%. And during summer, the humidity level shouldn’t […] Continued
Rénoclimat: Generous Subsidy for Green Renovations
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by François Morissette
Work is needed in your home and you’re looking for a way to reduce the bill for your renovations without cutting corners? Note that the Government of Quebec is currently providing you with a very advantageous subsidy aimed at encouraging homeowners like you to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Rénoclimat: a program that […] Continued
Why is Ventilating the Attic Essential?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
The Importance of Ventilating the Attic Did you know that your house breathes? In order to maintain the air that’s in the attic fresh and dry, the air has to circulate. That’s the roof and soffit ventilator’s role. But why is the attic’s ventilation important, during winter and summer? Why can we find humidity in […] Continued
Warning: Beware of Fraudulent Insulation Companies
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
No one is safe from the fraudulent schemes of a dishonest company. In construction and renovation, as in many other fields, some unscrupulous entrepreneurs try every year to make profits at the expense of consumers, too often at the mercy of their so-called expertise.So don’t be surprised if traffickers are also rampant in the insulation […] Continued
Insulating the Flat Roof of a Duplex/Triplex: Easier Than It Seems!
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
IS YOUR FLAT ROOF WELL INSULATED? Are you planning to redo your duplex roof in part or in whole? Your triplex will soon undergo major renovations on the upper floor? If you have not planned to take advantage of this work to take a look at the state of the insulation of your flat roof, […] Continued
The Importance of Getting Your House Airtight
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
You probably heard about the concept of getting a building’s envelope airtight. But do you really know why it’s important to get the walls, the roof, and the floor airtight? Isolation Majeau breaks down the concept, the pros, and the cons of a house that doesn’t let water vapour and drafts through. Why Get Your […] Continued
Choosing the Right Insulation for the Right Part of the House
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
How to Choose the Right Insulation? That’s it, after years of thinking about it, you finally decided to fix your insulation problems once and for all. It’s now time to get the materials, but you don’t know which ones to use? Whether you want to insulate your basement, the above-ground walls, or the attic, each […] Continued
Overcoming Mildew and Dampness Problems in the House
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
If there’s one thing you never want in your home, it’s mildew. Made up of microscopic fungi whose spores can cause serious health problems, mildew develops mainly during the winter, when indoor humidity condenses on windows, door frames, walls and poorly ventilated corners. CAUSES OF MILDEW ON WALLS AND CEILINGS Although moisture concentration is normally […] Continued
8 Tips For a Successful Insulation Project
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
You’re planning on renovating? Why not take the opportunity to redo your insulation? But in order to realise a durable and efficient insulation, you have to follow the best practices. Isolation Majeau helps you with your project by presenting to you 8 tips for a successful insulation project. 1- Ask a Specialized Enterprise for a […] Continued
9 energy renovation grants
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by François Morissette
Your house begins to get old. But with today’s real estate market, moving out isn’t an option. No problem. The federal government, the provincial government and Hydro-Québec have programs and grants that can help you renovate at lower costs while you get your energy expenses down. There are also renovation grants available for you if […] Continued
Poor Home Insulation: How to Make Your Own Diagnosis?
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Pierre Boucher
If you believe that your home insulation is deficient, you can confirm or refute your suspicions quite easily by taking note of certain revealing elements. Of course, you can seek the advice of an insulation expert, but the first diagnosis only requires a little observation and some common sense. 6 KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN […] Continued
HFOs: New Nature Friendly Blowing Agents
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
A greener future is around the corner in the construction field. Construction professionals who are environment-friendly now have a new ecological alternative with hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Those new products replace the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which were accelerating global warming. Isolation Majeau presents to you this new agent that is found in the blown polyurethane HEATLOK Soya HFO […] Continued
Eliminating cold and dampness in a crawl space
This article was originally published on August 31, 2017 by Marcel Lapierre
A crawl space, which in earlier years took the form of a dirt cellar, is a volume of air between the earth and a house’s main floor whose purpose is to keep the floor of the building raised up off of the ground and away from moisture. Today, builders generally raise a home’s main floor anywhere from a few centimetres (at least 20 cm) to as high as 1.8 metres off of the ground. To comply with the Building Code, a crawl space may not have an access door with stairs (although one without stairs is acceptable), hold any type of combustion appliance or be used as a bedroom or office. Continued
How to Prepare the Interior of Your House for Winter?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
The cocooning season begins with the arrival of colder days. You stock up canned vegetables you prepared, and the house smells like simmering spaghetti sauce. While you spend more time indoors, take the opportunity to prepare your home for the winter as well. Here are a few things to check out that will help you […] Continued
Insulation of Thermal Bridges: Guarantee of Energy Savings and Comfort. -What Is a Thermal Bridge?
This article was originally published on July 1, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
Often due to design errors (or aging construction), thermal bridges significantly affect the energy efficiency of a home by causing significant heat loss. The cause? The phenomenon of materials’ thermal conductivity! What we call a “thermal bridge” is this zone of thermal resistance break between two points of the insulation, which generates a loss of […] Continued
How to Prepare the Exterior of Your House for Winter?
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
That’s it, you’ve rounded up the things to do inside your home before winter. Congratulations, you will definitely save energy. It’s now time to put on your coat and take a walk outside to make sure your yard, roof and everything outside is ready for high winds, snowstorms and freezing temperatures. 5 THINGS TO DO […] Continued
Greener houses: grants to improve the energetic efficiency.
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
Does your house need a little love? You could be eligible for a grant of up to 5600$ to improve your house’s energetic efficiency. The goal of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative 2021 is to make Canadian houses more energy efficient. Lower electricity bills and a better comfort are what awaits you. Among others, with […] Continued
6 Benefits of Having a Well-Insulated Home
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
When we think of insulation, we often think of an expense while it’s more of an investment. Did you know that heating mobilizes more than 60% of residential energy consumption in Canada? So why heat the outside? Of course, reducing the electricity bill is one of the advantages of having a well-insulated house, but there […] Continued
5 Common Problems in The House During Winter
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
First snow is coming, and so do the winter pleasure. Skate, skiing, snow shoe walks and the fireplace. But the cold and the snow also bring certain inconveniences such as storms and shovelling chores. Some winter problems even find their way into your home. Here are 5 of them with solutions to fix them. 5 […] Continued
Basement slab insulation: for greater energy efficiency
This article was originally published on June 6, 2016 by Marcel Lapierre
Who hasn’t at some point noticed a damp smell when going downstairs to their basement? While this appears to happen to many homeowners, it is never a good sign! This musty or wet-earth odour is caused by the presence of excessive moisture, which can promote the growth and spread of mould. And with mould comes poor […] Continued
The Ecological Benefits of Quality Insulation
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Marcel Lapierre
Over the past twenty years, the environment has become a major issue for Quebecers. So today, the ecological quality of our homes is clearly at the heart of our concerns. Where to start to make your home greener? How can you reduce your energy consumption, and therefore reduce your production of greenhouse gases? Since heating […] Continued
Heat Insulation: Get Superior Summer Comfort in 3 Steps
This article was originally published on May 17, 2022 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
It is well known that effective insulation provides a barrier against winter cold and moisture. But did you know that a well-insulated home also offers superior summer comfort? Indeed, during summer heat waves, a high-performance building envelope achieves: Keep heat outside Maintain a cool and pleasant room temperature Minimize your air conditioning costs STEP 1: […] Continued
Basement renovation: insulation best practices
This article was originally published on August 27, 2017 by Jocelyn St-Pierre
In comparison to today’s standards, the basement insulation in homes built between the 1950s and 1980s was generally inadequate. The practice in those years of insulating using pieces of 1” white styrofoam or fibreglass batts (with a vapour barrier of questionable effectiveness) is known to create moisture problems that can, in turn, lead to air quality issues due to the development of mould. Continued
