Quick answer: Scarborough has everything from post-war bungalows near the Bluffs to 1970s and 1980s semis and townhouses further north. Whatever the era, an attic below R-50 can usually be topped up, and the Home Renovation Savings Program pays up to $1,250 back if you start at R-12 or less. Pro Home Insulation checks whether your old insulation can stay or should come out first.
Updated November 2026
On this page
- Seven signs your Scarborough attic needs attention
- How to decide between topping up and removing
- How much heat does a top-up stop?
- Scarborough attic stats worth knowing
- Top up or remove and replace?
- Our process, step by step
- Homeowner checklist
- Example project (illustrative)
- Neighbourhoods we serve in Scarborough
- Decision framework: what should happen to your old insulation?
- Frequently asked questions
- Get a free attic assessment
Seven signs your Scarborough attic needs attention
- Ceiling joists are visible. If you can see the tops of the joists, there is not enough insulation over them.
- Upstairs rooms swing hot and cold. Bedrooms that overheat in July and chill in January point to a weak attic.
- Icicles and ice dams at the eaves. Warm air leaking into the attic melts snow, which refreezes at the cold roof edge.
- Scratching or thumping overhead. Raccoons and squirrels are common in older, tree-lined streets, and they flatten and soil insulation.
- Musty smell or dark roof boards. This can mean moisture or mould from leaks or poor venting.
- Grey-brown pebbles in the attic. That may be vermiculite, which should be tested before anyone disturbs it.
- Dusty, flattened insulation. Old fiberglass that has settled for decades gives far less than its original R-value.
How to decide between topping up and removing
Answer first: most attics can simply be topped up. Removal is only needed when the old material is a problem.
- Top up if the insulation is dry, clean and free of droppings.
- Remove first if it is wet, mouldy, soiled by animals, or contains vermiculite that tests positive.
- Test first if it looks like vermiculite. Health Canada advises not to disturb it and to use qualified professionals.
Our insulation removal and animal and insect feces removal services handle the clean-up side.
How much heat does a top-up stop?
Heat flow through the insulation layer is roughly proportional to 1/R. This table shows the simplified reduction when you reach R-50, along with the rebate cap for each starting point. Amounts can change; check current rebates.
| Starting R-value | Heat flow cut at R-50 (simplified) | Rebate cap |
|---|---|---|
| R-10 | about 80% (1 − 10/50) | $1,250 |
| R-12 | about 76% (1 − 12/50) | $1,250 |
| R-20 | about 60% (1 − 20/50) | $1,000 |
| R-30 | about 40% (1 − 30/50) | $800 |
This is heat flow through the insulation layer only, not a bill savings figure. See the full Ontario attic rebate rules.
Scarborough attic stats worth knowing
- Air leakage is about 20–30% of heat lost from an older home (Natural Resources Canada).
- Libby-mine vermiculite may contain amphibole asbestos and was used until 1990 (Health Canada).
- NRCan estimates air-leakage heat loss in a 1950s home costs about $860 a year on electricity (Natural Resources Canada).
- More than 10% of Canada’s annual energy goes to heating homes (Natural Resources Canada).
Top up or remove and replace?
| Top up | Remove and replace | |
|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Old insulation is dry and clean | Insulation is wet, mouldy, soiled or tested positive for asbestos |
| Work involved | Air seal, add baffles, blow in new insulation | Remove, clean or sanitize, air seal, re-insulate |
| Cost | Lower | Higher, removal is quoted separately |
| Rebate | Based on starting R-value | Based on starting R-value |
| Air sealing access | Limited by existing insulation | Full access to the attic floor |
Our process, step by step
- Inspect. We check depth, condition, venting and signs of animals or moisture.
- Recommend. You get a clear top-up or removal recommendation with reasons.
- Prep. If needed, we remove old material and handle mould removal and sanitation.
- Seal. We air seal the attic floor before insulating.
- Insulate. We blow in insulation to at least R-50.
- Document. You get the paperwork needed for the rebate claim.
Homeowner checklist
- I have looked through the hatch with a flashlight
- I have not disturbed anything that looks like vermiculite
- Any animal entry points on the roof have been found
- Bathroom and kitchen fans vent outside
- I own the home and heat with Enbridge gas or another eligible fuel
Example project (illustrative)
example — not a specific customer.
A 1970s semi-detached home in Malvern has about R-10 of settled fiberglass. The attic is air sealed and topped up to R-50.
- After-tax insulation cost: $3,400
- 50% of cost: $3,400 × 0.5 = $1,700
- Tier cap (R-12 or less): $1,250
- Rebate: $1,250 (capped)
- Net cost: $3,400 − $1,250 = $2,150
Heat flow through the insulation layer (simplified) drops by about 80% (1 − 10/50).
Neighbourhoods we serve in Scarborough
We work throughout Scarborough, including Birch Cliff, Cliffside, Scarborough Village, Guildwood, West Hill, Highland Creek, Clairlea, Wexford, Dorset Park, Bendale, Agincourt, L’Amoreaux, Malvern and Morningside Heights. Nearby, we also serve Toronto, Markham and Pickering.
Decision framework: what should happen to your old insulation?
Work through these in order and stop at the first “yes”.
- Does it look like vermiculite? Yes: stop, have it tested, then plan removal if needed.
- Is it soiled by animals? Yes: remove, sanitize, then re-insulate.
- Is it wet or mouldy? Yes: fix the moisture source, remove the damaged material, then re-insulate.
- Is it dry, clean and simply thin? Yes: air seal and top up to R-50.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the rebate if my insulation has to be removed first?
The rebate is 50% of the after-tax insulation cost, up to the tier cap, based on your starting R-value. Ask us how removal costs are shown on your quote so the paperwork is clear.
Do Scarborough townhouses qualify?
Yes. Townhouses, semi-detached and single-detached homes can qualify if you own the home and meet the program rules.
How do raccoons get into the attic?
Usually through roof vents, soffits or gaps at the roof edge. The entry should be sealed by a wildlife professional before clean-up and new insulation go in.
Is it worth topping up if I already have R-30?
It can be. Going from R-30 to R-50 cuts heat flow through the insulation layer by about 40% (simplified), and the rebate cap for that tier is $800.
What if I heat with electricity instead of gas?
You can still qualify. The program is open to homes heated with Enbridge natural gas, or electricity, oil, propane or wood.
Do I need to be home during the work?
Someone should be there at the start and end so we can walk through the attic plan and the finished result.
Get a free attic assessment
Pro Home Insulation will tell you whether your Scarborough attic can be topped up or needs clean-up first. Call (647) 250-0606 or Book online.