Home Renovation Tips from Barrier Sciences Group

Published on February 03, 2020

Are you currently planning a renovation? Or are you considering a renovation in the future? Home renovation planning can be a daunting task if you aren’t sure where to start. With help from Barrier Sciences Group, you’ll find that you have a clear starting point and a viable path forward with your home reno. 

How Do I Plan A Home Renovation?

The best and most effective place to start when thinking about renovating is a home energy audit. A full home energy audit will help you determine the most effective starting point for your home renovations. The energy audit provides vital information pertaining to your home’s current level of energy efficiency, as well as providing a practical path forward in increasing your home’s level of energy efficiency. 

As part of a whole home energy audit, your Registered Energy Advisor will conduct a blower door test on your home. A blower door test measures the airtightness level of your home. Air leakage can be responsible for up to 30% of energy loss in your home, so it’s important to locate the air leaks and mitigate any issues. 

Lastly, you will receive an EnerGuide label and rating for your home. The EnerGuide label outlines how much energy your home uses, and compares it to that of a new home built to today’s building codes. The EnerGuide label will also outline where your home uses the most energy. For example, the label will provide a percentage breakdown of energy use by heating, cooling, water heating, lights and appliances, and more. 

How Will An Energy Audit Help Me With My Home Renovations?

An energy audit will help you with your home renovations by giving you a complete roadmap, including the most effective renovations to start with. If you’re interested in decreasing your energy bills, the home energy audit will certainly point you in the right direction with the most effective renovations. 

Additionally, after the energy audit, you’ll receive a complete renovation upgrade report. The Renovation Upgrade Report (RUR) is a list of all the energy upgrades your Registered Energy Advisor recommends, all specific to your home. Along with the recommendations, the report outlines your energy usage, as well as how much energy you can save by completing the recommended upgrades. Your Energy Advisor will also add personalized comments specific to your home and your concerns. 

How Much Will It Cost To Renovate A House? 

The answer to this question depends largely upon the extent of your renovations. If you plan on renovating your entire home, basement to attic, you could potentially be looking at thousands of dollars in renovations. There is good news, though! The Home Efficiency Rebate is a rebate initiative administered by Enbridge Gas Inc (includes former Union Gas areas), that offers up to $5,000 in home energy rebates. 

The Home Efficiency Rebate is a great incentive for those who are already planning a renovation, and/or are interested in increasing their home’s level of energy efficiency. The Home Efficiency Rebate offers up to $5,000 for energy efficient improvements for upgrades like insulation, furnaces, water heaters, windows and doors, and air sealing. 

In order to qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate, you must live in a detached, semi-detached, or row townhouse and have a main heat source of natural gas. If you’re wondering if you qualify, or would like to schedule your energy audit, contact Barrier Sciences Group by calling the office at 1-866-333-3920, or by filling out a contact form on the BSG website. 

Do It Yourself Renovations?

If you’re a bit of a handy-person, and are looking for ‘do it yourself’ renovations, there are a number of upgrades you can complete - should you feel up to the challenge. They don’t have to be expensive, but depending on the renovations you choose to DIY, the expense will vary. 

For starters, an easy do it yourself renovation is air sealing. After the energy audit (and blower door test), you’ll know exactly which areas are leaky around your home. Common areas of concern are around windows and doors, the attic hatch, exterior wall electrical outlets, and basement headers. However, it’s always best to make sure you have a blower door test completed so you can be sure you’re sealing up the biggest cracks or leaks around your home. 

Air sealing can be accomplished by purchasing a can of clear (or white) caulking or weatherstripping. You can apply the weatherstripping/caulking around leaky windows and doors to seal up any cracks and stop air from coming in. Air sealing is probably one of the least expensive DIYs you can complete, but it’s also probably one of the most effective. 

There are a few larger energy efficient renovations that you could DIY if you have the proper information. Insulation is a common renovation that some people feel is safe to ‘do it yourself’. However, spray foam insulation is an insulation that should be kept to the experts. It requires special training to be applied properly. If applied incorrectly, it can offgas and create many problems. 

Whether you’d like to schedule an energy audit because you’re planning a renovation, or have already begun, contact BSG today! Our office staff can be reached at 1-866-333-3920, or on the BSG website by filling out a contact form. If you’re wondering if you qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate, you can call our office for a free over the phone consultation.