Quick answer: Pickering has three very different kinds of attics: older lakeside homes in Bay Ridges and West Shore, 1970s–1990s subdivisions in the middle of the city, and rural homes in hamlets like Claremont and Brougham. Pro Home Insulation upgrades all three. If your attic is at R-35 or less, the Home Renovation Savings Program currently offers up to $1,250 back for reaching at least R-50, and amounts can change.
Updated November 2026
On this page
- What makes Pickering attics different?
- 6 reasons Pickering homeowners call us
- How to tell if your attic is below R-50
- Attic rebate tiers for Pickering homes
- Building science in brief
- Blown fiberglass, cellulose or spray foam?
- How a Pickering attic job works
- Before-you-call checklist
- Example project (illustrative)
- Neighbourhoods we serve in Pickering
- A simple decision framework
- Frequently asked questions
- Get a free attic assessment
What makes Pickering attics different?
South Pickering, near Frenchman’s Bay, includes Bay Ridges and West Shore, where many homes date from the post-war decades. Neighbourhoods such as Amberlea, Liverpool and Brock Ridge filled in later. North of the 407, Duffin Heights and Seaton are newer, while Claremont, Brougham and Greenwood keep a rural, hamlet feel.
Older south-end homes often have thin, settled insulation. Rural homes may not be on natural gas at all, which affects which rebate rules apply.
6 reasons Pickering homeowners call us
- Settled, thin insulation. Decades-old fiberglass or cellulose compresses over time and loses depth.
- Backsplits and sidesplits with several attic areas. Split-level homes can have two or three separate attic spaces, and one is often missed.
- Wind off the lake. Lakeside streets get strong winter winds that push cold air through leaks.
- Ice dams on low-slope roofs. Heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves.
- Wildlife near ravines and the bay. Raccoons and squirrels can tear up insulation and leave droppings.
- Rural homes on propane or oil. These homes can still qualify for the attic rebate on the IESO grid.
How to tell if your attic is below R-50
From the hatch, check whether you can see the tops of the joists. If you can, you probably have less than about R-30. Our guide on how to check attic insulation R-value explains what to look for. Do not walk on the ceiling drywall.
Attic rebate tiers for Pickering homes
The standalone attic path needs no energy assessment. The rebate is 50% of the after-tax insulation cost, up to the maximum below.
| Attic before upgrade | Upgrade to at least | Maximum rebate |
|---|---|---|
| R-12 or less | R-50 | $1,250 |
| Above R-12 to R-25 | R-50 | $1,000 |
| Above R-25 to R-35 | R-50 | $800 |
| Cathedral/flat roof, R-25 or less | R-28 | $750 |
| Cathedral/flat roof, R-12 or less | R-20 | $650 |
If you plan several upgrades, the bundle path may fit better. Compare both on our Ontario attic insulation rebate page and the rebates hub.
Building science in brief
- Air leakage accounts for about 20–30% of heat lost from an older home (Natural Resources Canada).
- New homes in most of Ontario target about R-60 in attic ceilings (Ontario Building Code, SB-12).
- NRCan estimates air-leakage heat loss in a 1950s home at about $390 a year on natural gas, versus about $280 for a home built 2000 or later (Natural Resources Canada).
- Windows, doors and skylights can account for up to 35% of heat loss (Natural Resources Canada).
Blown fiberglass, cellulose or spray foam?
| Material | About R per inch | Best fit in Pickering homes |
|---|---|---|
| Blown fiberglass | R-2.5–3 | Open attics in split-levels and two-storeys |
| Blown cellulose | R-3.5 | Topping up older attics with good depth |
| Closed-cell spray foam | R-6–7 | Tight spots, rim joists, some low-slope areas |
Read more in cellulose vs fiberglass vs spray foam, or see our spray foam insulation service.
How a Pickering attic job works
- Assessment. We check every attic area, including hidden split-level spaces.
- Written quote. It lists the starting R-value, target R-value and expected rebate tier.
- Air sealing. We seal leaks at fixtures, pipes and the hatch. See air sealing.
- Insulation. We install attic insulation to at least R-50 with eave baffles.
- Rebate support. As a participating contractor, we help with the submission.
Before-you-call checklist
- Count how many attic hatches your home has
- Note your heating fuel and whether you are on Enbridge gas
- Look for droppings, nesting or damp insulation
- Check whether a past owner claimed an attic rebate
- Gather recent heating bills if you have them
Example project (illustrative)
example — not a specific customer.
A 1970s semi-detached backsplit in Amberlea has about R-12 across two attic areas.
- Upgrade: R-12 to R-50
- After-tax insulation cost: $1,900
- 50% of cost: $950
- Tier maximum (R-12 or less): $1,250, so the rebate is $950
- Net cost after rebate: $1,900 − $950 = $950
- Heat flow through the insulation layer (simplified): 1 − 12/50 = about 76% less
Neighbourhoods we serve in Pickering
- Bay Ridges
- West Shore
- Rosebank
- Rougemount
- Dunbarton
- Highbush
- Amberlea
- Liverpool
- Brock Ridge
- Village East
- Woodlands
- Duffin Heights
- Seaton
- Claremont and Brougham
We also serve neighbouring Ajax and Scarborough.
A simple decision framework
| If your attic is… | Then consider… |
|---|---|
| R-35 or less, one upgrade planned | Standalone attic rebate |
| R-25 or less, plus walls or basement planned | Bundle path with an energy assessment |
| Above R-35 already | Air sealing may matter more than insulation |
Frequently asked questions
Does my rural Pickering home qualify if I heat with propane?
It may. The program is open to homes heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood on the IESO grid, as well as Enbridge gas homes. You must own the home and use a participating contractor.
My backsplit has more than one attic. Do all of them need work?
Ideally, yes. Each attic area loses heat on its own, and skipping one leaves a cold spot. We check every space during the assessment.
How long does an attic job take?
Most single-family attic top-ups take about a day. Removal of old or soiled insulation adds time, which we include in the quote.
Can I get the rebate twice?
Usually not. Homes that already received an attic rebate from Enbridge, Save on Energy or the Home Renovation Savings Program may not qualify again.
When will the program end?
It is currently scheduled to run until March 31, 2027, but it can change or end early. Funding is first-come, first-served.
Get a free attic assessment
Find out how much insulation your Pickering attic really has and which rebate tier you may fit. Call (647) 250-0606 or Book online.