How is old insulation removed?

With a vacuum and hose into sealed bags, not shovels, because disturbing decades of settled material raises a lot of dust. It also gives a clean deck to air-seal and a look at the structure before it is covered again.

Can I still store things in the attic?

Only over a raised platform. Anything laid straight on the joists compresses the material and cuts a thin channel through the middle of the ceiling. Otherwise a fully insulated attic is not also a storage room.

Cellulose or fibreglass?

Both work. Cellulose is denser, packs into odd shapes and resists air movement through it better; fibreglass is lighter, which matters on a ceiling of uncertain strength. Where there is existing material, matching it is usually simpler than layering the other over it.

Is blown-in better than batts?

In an attic, usually yes, because it flows around trusses, bracing and wiring where batts get cut short or forced and leave gaps. In open framed walls at regular spacing, batts are fine. We recommend by the space, not by what is on the truck.

Does the attic hatch need doing too?

Yes, or it undoes a good part of the rest. It needs an insulated weatherstripped cover and a dam around the opening tall enough to hold the new depth back from spilling through every time it is opened.

Will it block my soffit vents?

Not if baffles go in first. Loose material can also be pushed around by wind at the eaves, so the baffles both hold it clear of the vents and stop the edge being scoured thin — which is exactly where the house loses heat.

Loose Fill Insulation Edmonton

Loose-fill insulation in Edmonton — settled depth is what you are buying

Loose-fill insulation is blown in rather than cut and fitted, which makes it the right answer wherever a batt cannot go: over an irregular Edmonton attic floor, around trusses and bracing, and into wall cavities that are already closed. What you are paying for is settled depth spread evenly, and that is a thing which can be measured. Depth markers go in before the hose starts, and we read them at the corners rather than in the middle where it is always deepest.

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

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 Edmonton 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.

Storage areas and the platform question

The trade-off is real

Anything laid on the joists compresses loose-fill and cuts a thin channel through the middle of an Edmonton ceiling.

Doing it properly

If storage is genuinely needed, a raised platform over a limited area lets full depth continue underneath. Otherwise the honest answer is that a fully insulated attic is not also a storage room.

The hatch, again, because it undoes the rest

The one gap left

You can blow a perfect even depth across an Edmonton ceiling and still lose heat through an uninsulated hatch that loose material spills through every time it opens.

What it needs

An insulated, weatherstripped cover and a dam around the opening high enough to hold the new depth back.

Weight on the ceiling below

Worth a thought

Insulation is light, but a deep layer of dense material over a large Edmonton 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.

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 Edmonton attic and price both options.

Filling around bracing and trusses

Why batts fail here

Truss webs, cross-bracing and wiring turn an Edmonton 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.

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

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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.

Read our reviews on Google

FAQ — Loose Fill Insulation Edmonton

Loose Fill Insulation Edmonton: your questions answered

How is old insulation removed?: With a vacuum and hose into sealed bags, not shovels, because disturbing decades of settled material raises a lot of dust. It also gives a clean deck to air-seal and a look at the structure before it is covered again.
Can I still store things in the attic?: Only over a raised platform. Anything laid straight on the joists compresses the material and cuts a thin channel through the middle of the ceiling. Otherwise a fully insulated attic is not also a storage room.
Cellulose or fibreglass?: Both work. Cellulose is denser, packs into odd shapes and resists air movement through it better; fibreglass is lighter, which matters on a ceiling of uncertain strength. Where there is existing material, matching it is usually simpler than layering the other over it.
Is blown-in better than batts?: In an attic, usually yes, because it flows around trusses, bracing and wiring where batts get cut short or forced and leave gaps. In open framed walls at regular spacing, batts are fine. We recommend by the space, not by what is on the truck.
Does the attic hatch need doing too?: Yes, or it undoes a good part of the rest. It needs an insulated weatherstripped cover and a dam around the opening tall enough to hold the new depth back from spilling through every time it is opened.
Will it block my soffit vents?: Not if baffles go in first. Loose material can also be pushed around by wind at the eaves, so the baffles both hold it clear of the vents and stop the edge being scoured thin — which is exactly where the house loses heat.

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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 Edmonton

Loose-fill insulation in Edmonton — settled depth is what you are buying

Loose Fill Insulation Edmonton

Moisture is what ruins it

Wet insulation is not insulation

Finding the cause first

Loose Fill Insulation in every Edmonton community

Where we work in Edmonton

Storage areas and the platform question

The trade-off is real

Doing it properly

The hatch, again, because it undoes the rest

The one gap left

What it needs

Weight on the ceiling below

Worth a thought

How we handle it

Topping up what is already there

Usually the best value

When we say no

Filling around bracing and trusses

Why batts fail here

What blown-in does

Simple, clean, on schedule — Drywall in Edmonton

Free quote

Book a day

The work

Walk it with you

Rated by Edmonton Homeowners

Loose Fill Insulation Edmonton: your questions answered

Loose Fill Insulation in every Edmonton community

Estimate Your Insulation

How much do you need?

Want it quoted properly?