Air leakage through your attic floor is one of the biggest hidden sources of energy loss in Lower Mainland homes. We find and seal every gap, crack, and penetration so your heated air stays where it belongs -- inside your home.
Air sealing is the process of closing gaps, cracks, and openings in the attic floor that allow conditioned air from your living space to escape into the attic. These gaps exist around every penetration that passes through the ceiling -- plumbing pipes, electrical wires, light fixtures, duct work, and more.
Even with excellent insulation, unsealed gaps allow warm air to rise through the attic floor by convection (the "stack effect"). This warm, moist air escaping into the attic is the number one cause of moisture problems, ice damming, and energy waste in Lower Mainland homes.
Air sealing is done before new insulation is installed, while the attic floor is accessible. We use a combination of caulking, spray foam, and rigid materials to permanently close every leak point, creating a tight air barrier between your living space and the attic.
Your attic floor has dozens of penetrations where air can leak through. These are the most common culprits we find and seal in Lower Mainland homes.
Pot lights and recessed fixtures create large openings in the ceiling. Older non-IC-rated fixtures are especially leaky and also pose a fire risk if insulation is placed too close.
Every plumbing vent, drain pipe, and water line that passes through the ceiling leaves a gap in the attic floor. These are often oversized holes with significant air leakage around them.
Electrical boxes, wire runs, and junction boxes all create penetrations. Each one is small, but a typical home has dozens of electrical penetrations that add up to significant air loss.
The attic access hatch or pull-down stair is one of the single biggest air leakage points. An unsealed, uninsulated hatch can lose as much energy as leaving a window wide open.
Gaps between drywall and wall top plates, especially at interior partition walls, create long linear leaks. These are invisible under insulation but allow massive amounts of air movement.
The gap around chimney and furnace flue penetrations requires fire-rated sealing materials. These large openings are major air leak sources that are often completely unsealed.
Gaps around HVAC duct boots, supply registers, and return air grilles allow conditioned air to bypass the ceiling. Duct connections in the attic may also be leaking directly.
Bathroom fan housings penetrate the ceiling and often have gaps around their mounting. If the fan ducting terminates in the attic instead of outside, it also dumps moisture directly into the attic space.
Air sealing delivers some of the highest return-on-investment of any home improvement. Natural Resources Canada estimates that air leakage accounts for 25-40% of a home's total heat loss. Sealing your attic addresses the largest share of that loss because warm air rises.
Homeowners who combine attic air sealing with insulation upgrades typically see a noticeable reduction in heating costs. Beyond energy savings, air sealing also improves comfort by eliminating cold drafts, reducing noise transfer, and keeping conditioned air in your living space.
Insulation works by trapping still air in its fibres. But if air is actively moving through the insulation (because of unsealed gaps below it), the insulation cannot do its job. Air washing through insulation can reduce its effective R-value by 30-50%.
That is why the best time to air seal your attic is during an insulation upgrade, when the old insulation has been removed and the attic floor is fully exposed. Every gap and penetration is visible and accessible. We seal everything before the new insulation goes in, so your fresh insulation works at peak performance from day one.
If you are getting a complete attic reset -- removal, air sealing, and new blown-in insulation -- the air sealing step is what transforms a good job into an excellent one. It is the most important step that most other insulation companies skip.
Air sealing is most effective when combined with these complementary services.
Remove old insulation to expose the attic floor for thorough air sealing.
Fresh insulation over a sealed attic floor for maximum performance.
Insulated, sealed hatch to close the biggest single leak point.
Proper ventilation to manage any residual moisture in the attic.
We provide professional attic air sealing across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.