The best insulation installers in Canberra

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Who are the best insulation installers in Canberra? Photo: File.

Getting the insulation right in your property has many advantages. You’ll be more comfortable by keeping the heat inside during Canberra’s cold winters, and the cool inside during Canberra’s hot, dry summer. You’ll save money through energy efficiency, be kind to the environment and even increase the value of your home.

Choosing the right type of insulation for your property can be baffling, so you’ll want to choose an insulation installer who is an expert in the industry and who can advise you on the best approach.

In this article, we’ll outline the qualities to consider when choosing an insulation installer, and share where to find the best in Canberra.

What makes a great insulation installer?

Choosing the right insulation installer can help fast-track your project and give you confidence that you have the right type of insulation for your property.

It can be helpful to keep the following in mind when choosing an insulation installer.

  • Experienced. Insulation is an investment, so you’ll want to choose an installer who is experienced and can work quickly. Check company websites to research how many years the installer has been in business and the breadth of their experience. Also make sure they work to Building Code of Australia standards.
  • Licensed and insured. You’ll want a reputable and licensed insulation installer who is fully insured against anything that might go wrong during your installation.
  • Quality products. Some insulation products are better than others so check around to see what products represent the best value for your needs.
  • Competitively priced. The cost of buying and installing insulation varies from company to company. Conducting some research and asking for detailed quotes will give you an idea of what is a fair price to pay.
  • Advice and service. Insulation can be complicated to understand. It’s best to choose an insulation installer who will give you sound advice on your options and provide efficient and effective service to keep costs under control.

The best insulation installers in Canberra

RiotACT’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.

To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on RiotACT and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.

Alexander Watson Home Insulation

A local family owned business, Alexander Watson Home Insulation is expert at residential and commercial insulation. For more than 13 years, the team has worked on new builds, existing homes, insulating ceilings, wall cavities and floors.

Fiona Engeler wrote on Google, “I had insulation installed at my house last year and was so impressed I installed it at my son's house this year. Definitely made a noticeable difference to the temperature … Excellent service.”

Insulpro

One of Canberra’s leading solar installers and insulation specialists, Insulpro provides energy efficient solutions to commercial and residential properties, with the best quality products, service and price. For more than eight years, Insulpro has provided ceiling, wall and underfloor services to existing homes and new home builds.

On Google, Jason Whitaker wrote, “Professional from start to finish. It's so unusual to actually be able to call someone and get local support straight away. No call centers or timely waits.”

CSR Bradford

CSR Bradford is a leading supplier of insulation, acoustic control and energy saving products for homes and commercial buildings. Services include floor, roof and ceiling insulation as well as wall wraps, roof sarking and shed insulation. A range of insulation solutions are available to reduce heat transfer and make living and working spaces comfortable.

On Google, Todd Jackson wrote, “The one-stop shop for all your insulation needs.”

Eco Home Insulation

Eco Home Insulation is a premier insulation installer, with more than 25 years’ experience in roof, wall and underfloor insulation. The company also removes insulation, does roof top-ups and provides acoustic insulation services with the best range of environmentally friendly insulation products. Free inspections, measures and quotes provided.

Elena McCarty wrote on Facebook, “I am very happy with the work Eco Insulation did in our home. It was done quickly and their technicians were very friendly.”

If you’re looking for more information on renovating or building a home in Canberra, you might like our articles on the best renovators and builders, the best carpenters and the best electricians Canberra has to offer.

Your experience with insulation installers in Canberra

Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.

Have you had experience with any of the insulation installers listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth the money to insulate my home?

Insulating your home makes it more energy efficient, which can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year on your energy bills. New builds already have higher energy ratings but older homes often are poorly insulated, so it’s worth talking to an insulation installer to weigh up cost versus value.

What is the best type of insulation for my home?

This depends on your home, but make sure your insulation has a guaranteed R rating that suits Canberra’s climate (R value specifies the resistance to heat flow). Many types of insulation are on the market, including batts and blow-in, so it’s best to do a bit of research and talk to a few insulation installers.

Do I need to remove old insulation before installing new insulation?

It’s best to clean out your ceiling cavity before installing new insulation. Reasons for this include that some old insulation is a health hazard, pets may have invaded, and loose insulation can be an electrical safety issue.

Can’t I just DIY my insulation project?

Some property owners install their own insulation, but many use a professional company to make sure the insulation is installed safely and to high industry standards. It can be tricky and even dangerous to install insulation and you need to consider factors like thermal bridging, vapour barriers, ventilation, air gaps, physical handling and health and safety issues.

Do I need an electrician as well as an insulation installer?

All insulation installations require a professional electrical safety check to cover off items like ensuring electrical wiring and components are safe to be surrounded by insulation. Some installation companies have a full-time electrician on their team. Others subcontract this out. Check with your installation company to see how they cover this requirement.

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FYI 4 Seasons Home Insulation is related to Eco Home Insulation.

What is more important than ‘Labelled’ R values on the packaging (the thermal resistance rating of the insulation), is the ‘Installed’ or ‘Effective’ R rating. ‘Effective’ ratings do not often closely resemble the ‘Labelled’ rating, so ask your contractor for their ‘Effective’ value, both summer and winter valuables. There are a variety of products on the market, fibreglass (glasswool, Earthwool, Pink Batts, Gold Batts), polyester, expanding foams, loose fill insulation (cellulose fibre, Rockwool, fibreglass and 4 Seasons Home Insulation ‘Insulbloc’), reflective foils and fire retarded polystyrene boards (Expol and Foilboard). It is very difficult to compare products as their ‘Installed’ ratings can vary significantly from ‘Labelled’ ratings.

Most insulation product loose thermal rating in hot conditions (summer roof temperatures) some more than others. ‘Thermal Bridging’ is the biggest cause of loss of insulation effectiveness, to the extent that the ‘Effective’ ratings of insulation can be less than half of the ‘Labelled’ rating. ‘Thermal Bridging’ is heat loss or gain through ceiling joists and gaps in insulation.

All insulation deteriorates over time (mainly through settlement and disruption by trades). Don’t remove the old insulation, it still has insulation value, just fix it up and top it up. We suggest loose fill insulation is best for ‘Top-ups’ as it fills gaps and does a better job at stopping Thermal Bridging. If existing insulation is level with top of ceiling joists then top-up can be achieved with loose fill or batts if batts can be placed across ceiling joists rather than between joists.

The value of ‘extra’ insulation decreases exponentially (rapidly) with extra insulation. Generally an ‘Effective’ R 2 provides about 80% of insulation effectiveness. Some products are effected more by moisture (from the atmosphere).

Hope the above helps.

Regards
Ross

canberralad733:14 pm 17 May 15

Just Rite Pty. Ltd said :

CanberraBred said :

tidalik said :

Just Rite did both ceiling and cavity wall insulation for us about 18 months ago.

We could have done the ceiling ourselves but it was such a tiny roof space and such an easy job for them that the quote turned out to be quite reasonable.

The wall insulation was that rock wool stuff they spray in with a big hose. It’s been awesome.

+1 for Just Rite. They did our large roof space quickly and neatly, it’s been very good. We also had old batts up there that didn’t properly cover the whole ceiling, but they just put the new batts on top and tidied it up – surely there’s no reason to remove old insulation unless it’s dangerous (ie. asbestos)?

Thanks for the feedback. Your feedback keep us going,

Fahad Raza
Web Marketing Officer
Just Rite Pty. Ltd

You guys just did my place & if I knew how to post photos I would.

Just Rite Pty. Ltd11:48 am 17 Sep 14

CanberraBred said :

tidalik said :

Just Rite did both ceiling and cavity wall insulation for us about 18 months ago.

We could have done the ceiling ourselves but it was such a tiny roof space and such an easy job for them that the quote turned out to be quite reasonable.

The wall insulation was that rock wool stuff they spray in with a big hose. It’s been awesome.

+1 for Just Rite. They did our large roof space quickly and neatly, it’s been very good. We also had old batts up there that didn’t properly cover the whole ceiling, but they just put the new batts on top and tidied it up – surely there’s no reason to remove old insulation unless it’s dangerous (ie. asbestos)?

Thanks for the feedback. Your feedback keep us going,

Fahad Raza
Web Marketing Officer
Just Rite Pty. Ltd

Just Rite Pty. Ltd11:42 am 17 Sep 14

I believe its important for the homeowner or whoever on a lookout to know how to select a batts installer rather than asking particular names. You should be able to choose one based on some principles as opposed to other’s recommendation. Here are some of the factors you should take into account…

1) Check if their license is current to work in your state

2) Ask for the relevant experience – so many thermal insulation choices are available like fibreglass insulation batts, blown-in loosefill insulation, spray foam insulation. Don’t afraid to ask the installer’s specialization

3) If the tradesman is trained directly by the contractor, an absolute bonus. It will be like extra insurance.

4) Ask for references – Do the checks

5) Take multiple quotes – go online find tradies with online presence

6) What insurances are there in case of damage?

Regards,

Fahad Raza

CanberraBred1:23 pm 14 Jul 12

tidalik said :

Just Rite did both ceiling and cavity wall insulation for us about 18 months ago.

We could have done the ceiling ourselves but it was such a tiny roof space and such an easy job for them that the quote turned out to be quite reasonable.

The wall insulation was that rock wool stuff they spray in with a big hose. It’s been awesome.

+1 for Just Rite. They did our large roof space quickly and neatly, it’s been very good. We also had old batts up there that didn’t properly cover the whole ceiling, but they just put the new batts on top and tidied it up – surely there’s no reason to remove old insulation unless it’s dangerous (ie. asbestos)?

Hazza said :

The Hon Peter Garrett

+ 1 – but only if you are happy to risk the installers’ lives!

tidalik said :

Just Rite did both ceiling and cavity wall insulation for us about 18 months ago.

We could have done the ceiling ourselves but it was such a tiny roof space and such an easy job for them that the quote turned out to be quite reasonable.

The wall insulation was that rock wool stuff they spray in with a big hose. It’s been awesome.

I was told a while ago that the blown-in wall cavit insulation tendeds to bunch up and pool over time, resulting in quite uneven placement of the insulation. Im not saying this is correct – though wondering if anyone can confirm or deny that this actually happens?

The Hon Peter Garrett

Just Rite did both ceiling and cavity wall insulation for us about 18 months ago.

We could have done the ceiling ourselves but it was such a tiny roof space and such an easy job for them that the quote turned out to be quite reasonable.

The wall insulation was that rock wool stuff they spray in with a big hose. It’s been awesome.

Rosencrantz said :

Don’t lots of older Canberra houses have asbestos-based cieling insulation? You’d want to be bloody careful if that’s the case.

I’m pretty sure ours isn’t. We have batts, and afaik the asbestos insulation was all blow in stuff.

Rosencrantz said :

Don’t lots of older Canberra houses have asbestos-based cieling insulation? You’d want to be bloody careful if that’s the case.

Nope, there was a program in the ACT, and I reiterate the ACT that from 1988-1993 inspected every house and removed asbestos roof insulation.

Also the OP mentioned he had batts, the asbestos insulation was loose fill.

Though of course your advice is still pretty sound, unless you know what it is don’t mess with it.

Don’t lots of older Canberra houses have asbestos-based cieling insulation? You’d want to be bloody careful if that’s the case.

Holden Caulfield12:33 pm 13 Jul 12

thatsnotme said :

I have considered that, but want to get some quotes to compare the cost of paying someone to do it, vs doing it myself. To be honest, with ducting up there from the gas heating, plus what looks like 40 years worth of accumulated dust and grime – plus the fact that at 190cm tall, I’m likely to end up hitting my head more than once, I’m willing to pay for someone else to deal with all that!

Fair enough. Removing the old stuff would be a particularly nasty job. Whenever I’ve done DIY insulation it’s been on new houses.

Vac To The Future did mine a few years ago. Excellent service and quick installation.

Holden Caulfield said :

If you have decent access into your roof then save some cash DIY. It’s not rocket science.

Not sure about wall insulation though, and expect that will make a nice difference for you.

I have considered that, but want to get some quotes to compare the cost of paying someone to do it, vs doing it myself. To be honest, with ducting up there from the gas heating, plus what looks like 40 years worth of accumulated dust and grime – plus the fact that at 190cm tall, I’m likely to end up hitting my head more than once, I’m willing to pay for someone else to deal with all that!

Then there’s the question of getting rid of the old insulation, which will end up costing me whichever way I go.

If it’s a big difference, DIY will come back into the picture, but that’s not a job I’d be in any hurry to start!

Holden Caulfield9:41 am 13 Jul 12

If you have decent access into your roof then save some cash DIY. It’s not rocket science.

Not sure about wall insulation though, and expect that will make a nice difference for you.

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