Home Winterization Tips

Keep Your Home Warm & Protected During Calgary’s Cold Winters

Calgary winters can be brutally cold, making it essential to keep your home protected and warm. Harsh weather conditions can put your home at risk, but there are several proactive steps you can take to ensure efficiency and protection.

Keep Vents Clear

One of the most important things you can do is keep your intake and exhaust vents clear of snow. Blocked vents can lead to poor air circulation and even dangerous situations like carbon monoxide buildup. Regularly check and clear these areas to ensure proper airflow.

Clear Snow from Decks & Balconies

Removing snow from your decks and balconies reduces the chances of water entering your home. Ice buildup and melting snow can create leaks, which can cause damage over time. At Watson Exteriors, we renovate homes above modern Calgary building codes to prevent these issues, but not every house has a properly sealed building envelope. Keeping snow at bay is a simple but effective way to maintain your home’s integrity.

Upgrade to High-Efficiency Windows

Older windows can be a major source of heat loss, leading to high energy bills. Upgrading to high-efficiency windows significantly reduces heat loss, improving your home’s insulation and cutting down on your energy costs. Investing in better windows is an effective long-term solution for keeping your home warm and efficient.

Add Exterior Insulation

During the renovation process, adding exterior insulation is one of the best ways to improve your home’s efficiency. At Watson Exteriors, we offer two main options:

1. 1-Inch Board Insulation – This insulation is installed over the building wrap and beneath the siding, providing an added layer of protection.

2. Rockwool Insulation (2-3 Inches Thick) – For a more thorough option, we install Rockwool insulation on the exterior. We secure it with treated plywood strips, ensuring a strong foundation for siding installation. Additionally, we install a bug screen at the bottom to keep pests out. The air gap behind the siding allows moisture to escape, and Rockwool naturally repels water.

Ideal Siding Options

When using Rockwool insulation, we recommend durable siding choices such as:

• Hardie Board Lap or Panel Siding

• LP SmartSide Siding

Both options work exceptionally well with exterior insulation and contribute to a well-sealed, energy-efficient home.

Create a More Energy-Efficient Home

By upgrading your insulation and windows, you’re making a highly impactful change to your home’s energy consumption. These upgrades contribute to creating a passive home and can even move you toward achieving net-zero energy consumption. Doing your part to improve home efficiency not only lowers your power bills but also helps protect Calgary and the environment.

At Watson Exteriors, we are committed to helping homeowners stay warm and protected all winter long. Contact us today to learn more about how we can improve your home’s energy efficiency and durability.