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.

What do I get when the job is done?

The bag count, the target settled depth, and photographs of the finished space including the corners and the eaves — so you can confirm years later what was actually installed instead of probing a hole and guessing.

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.

Is it too heavy for my ceiling?

Rarely, but worth thinking about on an older lath ceiling or a long unsupported span. Where the ceiling is old or already sagging we would rather use the lighter material at a sensible depth, and sometimes recommend fixing the ceiling first.

Will it make the house quieter?

It noticeably reduces airborne noise from outside — traffic, aircraft, neighbours. It does very little for footsteps from a floor above, which travel through structure, and we would rather say which half it fixes.

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.

Loose Fill Insulation Starling Edmonton | Blown-In

Loose-fill insulation in Starling, measured rather than estimated

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 Starling 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.

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

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 Starling attic and price both options.

Working in a cathedral or a low attic

Not every space suits it

A vented sloped ceiling needs its air channel kept clear, and a shallow attic may not have room for the hose or the depth.

Being straight about it

Where an Starling roof space cannot take a proper depth without blocking ventilation, we say what the space can actually achieve instead of quoting a number the geometry will not allow.

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 Starling homes, the chance to see the ceiling structure and any past leaks before they are covered again.

Access, hoses and how much of the house we cross

Practical reality

The machine sits outside and a hose runs to the Starling attic hatch, which usually means through a hallway or a closet.

Keeping it clean

Protected route, sealed hatch surround, the space vacuumed after. It is a dusty trade and the difference between a good crew and a bad one is mostly what the house looks like at the end.

Blowing into a wall that is already closed

Dense-pack

Loose-fill can be blown into closed Starling 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.

Loose-fill or batts, decided on the space

Not a loyalty question

Batts suit open framing at regular spacing. Loose-fill suits irregular, obstructed or already-closed spaces.

How we quote it

We look at the Starling space and recommend the one that fits it, including saying when a mix is right — batts in the open framed walls, blown-in above the ceiling. Nobody should be sold the material the truck happens to carry.

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.

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FAQ — Loose Fill Insulation Starling Edmonton

Loose Fill Insulation Starling 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.
What do I get when the job is done?: The bag count, the target settled depth, and photographs of the finished space including the corners and the eaves — so you can confirm years later what was actually installed instead of probing a hole and guessing.
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.
Is it too heavy for my ceiling?: Rarely, but worth thinking about on an older lath ceiling or a long unsupported span. Where the ceiling is old or already sagging we would rather use the lighter material at a sensible depth, and sometimes recommend fixing the ceiling first.
Will it make the house quieter?: It noticeably reduces airborne noise from outside — traffic, aircraft, neighbours. It does very little for footsteps from a floor above, which travel through structure, and we would rather say which half it fixes.
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.

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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 Starling Edmonton

Loose-fill insulation in Starling, measured rather than estimated