Blog - Page 4

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

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

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...

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.

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

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

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

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.

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