•  It is our commitment and attitude to building energy efficient, healthier, more comfortable housing. •  It means that we use better building techniques and products to achieve this standard of home. •  It allows the flexibility to target your personal needs for most homes or renovation designs and budgets. •  Our commitment to healthier housing is reflected in the award we received from the CMHC.    

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R-Value and Energy Savings

Improving the energy efficiency of your home is a practical way to do your part in reducing the use of non-renewable resources. Reducing energy use has economical benefits, saving you money on your monthly heating and cooling costs as well as making your home more comfortable. Classic Custom Design offers homeowners a wide range of innovative insulation solutions, like ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) foundation and wall systems; spray foam insulation; fibreglass batts and blown in insulation; rigid foam insulation; air barriers; and sealed vapor barriers. We also offer a wide range of heating, cooling and air quality equipment to control your indoor environment. Understanding Effective R-Value R-value is a measure of ability to reduce heat flow (RSI is the metric equivalent). Provincial building codes specify minimum R-values for insulation that must be included in floor, wall or roof assemblies. However, it is important to understand that this nominal R-value relates to the insulation material itself. A better measurement of energy savings for homeowners is effective R-value. The effective R-value of a floor, wall or roof assembly includes the effect of all components in the assembly and takes into account thermal bridges. For example, installing batt insulation in wall assemblies between wood studs satisfies nominal insulation value requirements. However, wood studs act as thermal bridges through a wall assembly leaving approximately 20% of the exterior walls uninsulated. That’s like throwing 20% of your energy money away. Adding a layer of rigid insulation over the studs provides a higher effective R-value and reduces air leakage, one of the primary sources of heat loss from houses.