Oshawa’s housing falls into two broad groups. There are the older bungalows and storey-and-a-half homes in the established neighbourhoods, and there are the newer two-storey houses in the subdivisions to the north. Both get cold in winter, but not in the same places, so the fixes are a little different.
Find your house type below.
If you own an older bungalow or storey-and-a-half
In a bungalow, the attic sits over the entire living space. That makes attic insulation the single most valuable upgrade you can make.
What tends to go wrong
- Original insulation that is thin by current standards.
- Sloped ceilings and knee walls in half-storey bedrooms, with little insulation behind them.
- Empty exterior wall cavities.
- A bare rim joist above the foundation.
What to do
- Have the attic checked. Our post on fixing Oshawa’s post-war housing stock explains what is typical. If you see loose grey-brown granules, that may be vermiculite, and Natural Resources Canada advises leaving it undisturbed.
- Remove anything damp or contaminated. See attic mould and insulation removal in Oshawa and our removal service.
- Air seal and top up with cellulose or fibreglass through our attic insulation service.
- Fill the walls with drill and fill insulation. Natural Resources Canada notes that uninsulated walls can lose more heat than a typical attic.
If you own a newer two-storey
The attic is smaller relative to the house, but it sits directly over the bedrooms, so thin insulation is felt where you sleep.
What tends to go wrong
- Insulation that has settled or been disturbed since the house was built.
- A cold bedroom over the garage.
- Lots of ceiling openings for pot lights and bathroom fans.
- Blocked soffit vents.
What to do
- Check the depth and evenness. See the signs your Oshawa attic needs an upgrade before winter.
- Seal the ceiling openings. Natural Resources Canada’s Roofs and attics guide says leaks at vents, pipes and electrical boxes can account for substantial heat loss.
- Add baffles and top up the insulation.
- Insulate the garage ceiling under the cold bedroom.
For more on how the two groups compare, read auto-town bungalows to north Oshawa subdivisions.
For every house: the basement and the basics
Natural Resources Canada notes that basements can lose more heat than a typical attic. Spray foam insulation at the rim joist is a compact, effective job, and blanket wrap insulation covers bare basement walls.
Then do the simple things: weatherstrip doors, caulk window trim, change the furnace filter, keep registers clear. Natural Resources Canada’s materials guide helps you pick products.
If you are a landlord
Insulation upgrades benefit rental properties too, and eligibility for rebates differs for owners, landlords and tenants. See insulation that pays off in a rental or investment property and who actually qualifies for the rebate.
Savings and rebates
The U.S. EPA estimates average savings of 15% on heating and cooling costs from air sealing and adding insulation in attics, crawl space floors and basements (ENERGY STAR). It is a modelled U.S. average and your home will differ. Our energy rebate page covers current programs.
Not sure which group you are in?
Contact us for an estimate and we will look at your attic and tell you.
