How Terrebonne is built
- Before 1961 5%
- 1961–1990 45%
- 1991–2000 16%
- 2001 or later 34%
What inspections find in Terrebonne attics
Of Terrebonne's 34,470 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 5% were built before 1961 and 50% 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.
Terrebonne gets about 4,531 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −26.1°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for L'Assomption, the closest comparable location in that data set (21 km away). That's about 15% more heating demand than 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 Terrebonne
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 Terrebonne
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations for existing homes run through the provincial Rénoclimat program; the organizations below are the ones NRCan lists for Terrebonne postal codes.
Every EnerGuide evaluation includes an attic inspection: insulation depth, air leaks and red flags such as vermiculite or knob-and-tube wiring.
- Expertbâtiment Services-Conseils
- Expertise en batiment Champagne
- Les Services ecoPlus
- Habite-Co 2000
Insulation programs in Terrebonne
Attic insulation inspection in Terrebonne: common questions
How much attic insulation should a Terrebonne 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.