How Clarington is built
- Before 1961 12%
- 1961–1990 32%
- 1991–2000 20%
- 2001 or later 36%
What inspections find in Clarington attics
Of Clarington's 33,120 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 12% were built before 1961 and 45% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Attics in older houses commonly have a fraction of today's recommended insulation, and top-ups done over the years often buried air leaks instead of sealing them first.
Clarington gets about 3,931 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −19.4°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Cobourg, the closest comparable location in that data set (40 km away). That's right around the middle of the 70 cities we cover. The colder the climate, the faster added attic insulation pays for itself.
Vermiculite. Loose, pebbly, grey-brown or silver-gold insulation may contain asbestos. Health Canada's advice is not to disturb it; have it sampled before any attic work. Asbestos and vermiculite testing in Clarington
The right order for the work
- Seal the air leaks first: top plates, pot lights, plumbing stacks, the hatch.
- Fix ventilation baffles so new insulation doesn't block soffit vents.
- Then top up the insulation. Burying unsealed leaks under new insulation wastes much of the benefit.
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Clarington
Every EnerGuide evaluation includes an attic inspection: insulation depth, air leaks and red flags such as vermiculite or knob-and-tube wiring.
Only assessments from the seven HRSP-approved organizations qualify for the $600 Home Renovation Savings rebate and its assessment-path upgrade rebates; each listing below says whether it's one of them.
- Acacia Engineering HRSP-approved: No
- Air Barrier Canada HRSP-approved: No
- All Season Inspection HRSP-approved: No Profile
- AmeriSpec HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- Clean Energy Solutions HRSP-approved: No
- CoEfficient Building Science HRSP-approved: No
- Ecostep Energy Services HRSP-approved: No
- Energy Werx HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- EnerQuality HRSP-approved: No
- EnerSolution HRSP-approved: No Profile
- Engreen Home HRSP-approved: No
- Green Canada Home Advisors HRSP-approved: No Profile
- Green Think HRSP-approved: No
- Greenbrain HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- Sensible Home Inspections HRSP-approved: No
- The Energuy HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- Verdatech Energy Management and Consulting HRSP-approved: No
- Windfall Ecology Centre HRSP-approved: No Non-profit network Profile
- GETS Energy HRSP-approved: No
- Enercare Home and Commercial Services HRSP-approved: No
- Enerhome Consulting HRSP-approved: No
Insulation programs in Clarington
Attic insulation inspection in Clarington: common questions
How much attic insulation should a Clarington house have?
Advisors commonly target around R-50 to R-60 in attics. Your EnerGuide report gives the recommendation for your house.
Can I top up the insulation myself?
Only after the air leaks are sealed and you've confirmed there is no vermiculite. The inspection tells you both.
Will more insulation stop ice dams?
Insulation helps, but ice dams are mostly caused by warm air leaking into the attic. Air sealing is the bigger fix.