What about my pot lights?

Older recessed fixtures are not all rated to be covered and loose-fill packs right against them. We check the rating, and where they are not rated they get a proper clearance detail that is also sealed, rather than being buried and hoped about.

Can you blow insulation into my walls without opening them?

Often yes — dense-pack through small holes, packed hard enough that it does not slump and leave a cold band at the top. The holes then need filling and finishing, which is drywall work, so we quote that with it rather than surprising you.

Does loose-fill settle?

Yes, which is why it is specified at a settled depth rather than how it looks on the day. A job blown to look right can measure short a year later. We work to the published settled figure and mark it before starting.

My bathroom fan vents into the attic. Does that matter?

A great deal — it is the fastest way to soak an attic from inside. We look for it while the space is open and flag it before covering anything rather than blowing over the top of it.

Do you seal before blowing?

Yes, and it is the step most often skipped. Loose material laid over an open ceiling penetration hides the leak rather than stopping it, and the warm moist air coming through is what wets the insulation from inside.

How do I know I got what I paid for?

Bag count. Every bag states the area it covers at a given depth, so bags used divided by area is exactly what went in. We keep them, mark the target settled depth, and read the depth back at the corners rather than the middle.

Loose Fill Insulation Calder | Loose Fill Insulation

Loose-fill insulation in Calder, measured rather than estimated

Blown-in material fills the awkward parts of an Calder building that batts leave gapped — around cross-bracing, over the top plates of interior walls, into the shallow triangle at the eaves. It settles over time, which is why it is specified at a settled depth rather than the depth it looks on the day. Air sealing comes first, because loose material laid over an open ceiling penetration hides the leak instead of stopping it.

Even coverage carried right out over the top plates
Settled depth specified and marked before the hose starts
Baffles at the eaves so soffit venting stays clear
Depth read back at the corners, not just where the hatch is
Ceiling penetrations air-sealed first, not buried
Existing material assessed — topped up, or removed if it is wet or contaminated

Moisture is what ruins it

Wet insulation is not insulation

Loose-fill that takes moisture packs down, loses most of its value and does not recover when it dries.

Finding the cause first

A damp patch in an Calder attic means a roof leak, a bathroom fan venting into the space, or warm moist air leaking up through the ceiling. Blowing new material over any of those wastes it.

Calder drywall in context

About Calder

In the early part of the 20th century, Calder was part of the Hudson's Bay Company Reserve and settled primarily by employees of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

What we see in Calder

In Calder the drywall work is plaster and lath repair, popcorn and stipple ceiling removal, careful patching into original surfaces. We confirm what your home actually needs on site, in writing, before anything starts.

Weight on the ceiling below

Worth a thought

Insulation is light, but a deep layer of dense material over a large Calder ceiling is still a load, particularly on an older lath ceiling or a long unsupported span.

How we handle it

Where the ceiling is old or already sagging, the lighter material and a sensible depth beat the deepest possible number. Fixing the ceiling first is sometimes the honest recommendation.

Blowing into a wall that is already closed

Dense-pack

Loose-fill can be blown into closed Calder wall cavities through small holes, packed to a density that stops it slumping and leaving a cold band at the top.

Where it fits

It suits an older home you do not want to open up. It needs the holes made, filled and finished afterwards, which is drywall work — so quote the patching with it rather than discovering it later.

Removing old loose-fill

A vacuum job, not a shovel job

Old blown-in comes out with a vacuum and hose into sealed bags, because disturbing decades of settled material makes a great deal of airborne dust.

What it buys

A clean deck to air-seal properly and, in older Calder homes, the chance to see the ceiling structure and any past leaks before they are covered again.

Filling around bracing and trusses

Why batts fail here

Truss webs, cross-bracing and wiring turn an Calder attic floor into a shape no rectangle fits. Batts get cut short or forced, leaving gaps.

What blown-in does

It flows around all of it and fills to a consistent depth. This is the single clearest reason to choose loose-fill over batts above a ceiling.

Topping up what is already there

Usually the best value

Dry, uncontaminated existing material does not need removing. Blowing over it to reach the target settled depth costs a fraction of a strip-and-replace.

When we say no

If it is damp, matted flat, rodent-affected, or hiding unsealed penetrations, adding over it buries a problem. We say which one we found in the Calder attic and price both options.

How it works

Simple, clean, on schedule — Drywall in Edmonton

Free quote

We come out to your Edmonton property, take a real look at the drywall, and hand you a fixed price on the spot — no guessing, no vague ballpark. Every drywall quote in Edmonton starts with an honest, on-site assessment.

Book a day

We pick a day that works for your schedule and show up on time, ready to start the drywall in Edmonton. No back-and-forth rescheduling — once it's booked, our team is there.

The work

We keep the dust under control and protect your Edmonton home while we finish the drywall to a clean, paint-ready standard. Floors covered, doors sealed off, and the site left tidy at the end of every day.

Walk it with you

We don't pack up till you've walked the finished drywall with us and you're happy with the result in Edmonton. If anything needs a second look, we handle it before we call the job done.

Reviews

Rated by Edmonton Homeowners

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Emplastrum Drywall is the drywall contractor Edmonton trusts for repair, restoration and finishing — rated on Google by Edmonton homeowners.

Read the reviews, or leave your own after your drywall project in Edmonton.

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FAQ — Loose Fill Insulation Calder

Loose Fill Insulation Calder: your questions answered

What about my pot lights?: Older recessed fixtures are not all rated to be covered and loose-fill packs right against them. We check the rating, and where they are not rated they get a proper clearance detail that is also sealed, rather than being buried and hoped about.
Can you blow insulation into my walls without opening them?: Often yes — dense-pack through small holes, packed hard enough that it does not slump and leave a cold band at the top. The holes then need filling and finishing, which is drywall work, so we quote that with it rather than surprising you.
Does loose-fill settle?: Yes, which is why it is specified at a settled depth rather than how it looks on the day. A job blown to look right can measure short a year later. We work to the published settled figure and mark it before starting.
My bathroom fan vents into the attic. Does that matter?: A great deal — it is the fastest way to soak an attic from inside. We look for it while the space is open and flag it before covering anything rather than blowing over the top of it.
Do you seal before blowing?: Yes, and it is the step most often skipped. Loose material laid over an open ceiling penetration hides the leak rather than stopping it, and the warm moist air coming through is what wets the insulation from inside.
How do I know I got what I paid for?: Bag count. Every bag states the area it covers at a given depth, so bags used divided by area is exactly what went in. We keep them, mark the target settled depth, and read the depth back at the corners rather than the middle.

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Estimate only — rounded up, based on standard coverage rates (drywall +10% waste; paint ~350 sq ft per gallon per coat; batt bundles by cavity depth, less a framing factor; studs at your chosen spacing plus waste). Product coverage varies by brand — confirm quantities before buying. Ask us about the right R-value for your project.

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Loose Fill Insulation Calder

Loose-fill insulation in Calder, measured rather than estimated