Spray foam and insulation FAQ

A two-part polyurethane sprayed as a liquid that expands on contact, sticks to the framing and fills gaps. Closed cell is rigid and dense. Open cell is softer and more porous. Both insulate and seal air in the same pass. More on our spray foam page.

It depends on the space and your budget. Spray foam is best for rim joists, basements, cathedral ceilings and metal buildings. On an open attic floor, blown-in fibreglass or cellulose usually gives more R-value for the money. We'll tell you which fits.

R-value measures how well a material resists heat flow. Higher is better. Closed cell foam is about R-6 to R-7 per inch, open cell about R-3.5 to R-3.8, and blown fibreglass and cellulose roughly R-2.5 to R-3.8 depending on the product.

Both. We insulate new builds before drywall, and we upgrade existing homes: attic top-ups, removal and replacement, rim joists, basements and renovations where walls are open.

Properly installed spray foam lasts 50 years or more. It doesn't settle or sag the way loose fill and batts can, so the R-value stays where it was on install day.

Watch for ice dams, ceiling stains, insulation below the top of the joists, droppings or a smell, wet or smoke-damaged material, and upstairs rooms that are much colder or hotter. See attic insulation.

Yes. Estimates are free and there's no obligation. We can do a site visit or start with a phone consultation, and we reply to messages within 24 hours.

Every job comes with a one-year workmanship warranty. If something we installed isn't right, we come back and fix it.

Most spray foam jobs are finished in one day. Large commercial or agricultural buildings and attic jobs with removal take longer. You'll get a schedule with your quote.

Spray foam is priced by the board foot, which is one square foot at one inch thick. The cost depends on area, depth and foam type, so we measure first and then give you a written quote.

There is an odour while the foam is sprayed and curing. Stay out of the space for the re-entry time your installer gives you, and keep it ventilated as directed. We'll tell you the time for your job before we start.

Yes. We spray year round in heated or space-conditioned buildings, so the surfaces are in the right temperature range for the foam to bond and cure. We check conditions on site before we start.

If your home is in Edmonton or another participating municipality, yes. Aires is a CEIP Qualified Contractor there, and you repay through your property tax bill over up to 25 years. See CEIP financing.

Yes. Aires is based in Edmonton and Calgary, with local service in both cities and nearby communities. Calgary runs its own CEIP program, so check its contractor list if you plan to finance. See Calgary.

At 2 inches or more, closed cell foam generally acts as the vapour barrier, so separate poly isn't needed in most wall assemblies. Your building inspector has the final say for your project.

Leave it alone. Vermiculite in older homes can contain asbestos, so have it tested before anyone disturbs it, including us. Don't vacuum or move it yourself.