You open your hydro or gas bill in February and wonder how a 1,200-square-foot bungalow in Hamilton or Mississauga can cost $350 a month to heat. Sound familiar? Ontario’s winters hit hard, and outdated attic insulation is often the biggest culprit. The good news? The Home Renovation Savings Program is live in 2026 and offers real money back for insulation upgrades.
Homeowners can claim up to $7,700 on bundled insulation work or grab a fast $1,250 standalone attic rebate with no energy audit required. At Samrai Spray Foam, we’ve helped hundreds of GTA and Hamilton families turn these rebates into lower bills, fewer ice dams, and noticeably warmer homes. This guide walks you through every detail so you can decide exactly which path fits your house and budget.
What Is the Home Renovation Savings Program?
Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy, backed by the Ontario government, launched the Home Renovation Savings Program to make energy upgrades practical and affordable. Unlike the old Canada Greener Homes Grant, which ended in 2025, this program offers two simple options: quick, standalone attic work or deeper retrofits with a home energy assessment.
The program runs through at least November 30, 2026 (or until funding runs out), so you still have time this year. It works whether you heat with natural gas, electricity, propane, oil, or wood.
Two Rebate Paths: Standalone Attic vs. Bundled Upgrades
You don’t have to choose both paths—you pick the one that matches your timeline and goals.
| Path | Max Insulation Rebate | Energy Assessment Required? | Minimum Upgrades | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone Attic | $1,250 | No | 1 (attic only) | Fast, simple attic upgrades |
| Bundled (With Assessment) | $7,700 | Yes (pre + post) | 2+ | Whole-house comfort + bigger savings |
Standalone Attic Rebate: Up to $1,250 (No Audit Needed) {#standalone}
This is the easiest entry point and the one most Hamilton and GTA homeowners choose first. No energy advisor visit. No pre-work paperwork headache. Just results.
2026 Tiered Rebates (updated January 2026)
- Existing insulation ≤ R-12 → Upgrade to R-50 = $1,250 max
- Existing > R-12 to R-25 → R-50 = $1,000 max
- Existing > R-25 to R-35 → R-50 = $800 max
Cathedral ceiling or flat roof
- ≤ R-12 → R-20 = $650
- ≤ R-25 → R-28 = $750
Key rules
- You must insulate 100% of the roof assembly area.
- Rebate is capped at 50% of your after-tax material and labour costs in many cases.
- Work must be done by a participating contractor (we’re one of them).
How the process works
- Fill out the 60-second eligibility form
- You’ll get a list of approved contractors.
- Book your install—we handle the rebate paperwork and you get the cheque in the mail.
Bundled Path with Home Energy Assessment: Up to $7,700 for Insulation
Want to tackle attic, walls, basement, and floors all at once? Go this route.
You start with a registered energy advisor who measures your home’s current performance and writes a custom report. You pick at least two upgrades from the list. After the work is done, the advisor returns for a quick verification and submits everything. You get your $600 assessment rebate plus the upgrade rebates.
Insulation rebate breakdown (assessment path)
- Attic: up to $1,500
- Foundation/basement: up to $2,300
- Exposed floor: $300
- Exterior walls: up to $3,600
Total insulation potential: $7,700 Add windows, doors, heat-pump water heaters, or air sealing and the savings stack even higher.
Who Qualifies in Ontario?
Most homeowners in the GTA, Hamilton, Oakville, Brantford, and surrounding areas qualify if:
- You own a detached, semi-detached, row/townhome (not stacked), or mobile home on a permanent foundation.
- Your home is your primary residence.
- You heat with natural gas (Enbridge Gas customers) or electricity, propane, oil, or wood on the Ontario grid.
- You haven’t already claimed an attic rebate under this program.
New builds occupied six months or less and Cornwall Electric customers are excluded.
Step-by-Step Energy Audit Process
- Book the initial assessment (costs ~$800–$1,200 but you get $600 back).
- Advisor spends 2–3 hours testing blower-door air leakage, measuring insulation levels, and checking ducts.
- You receive a report with exact rebate-eligible upgrades.
- Hire your contractor (us!) and complete the work.
- Schedule the post-install verification (usually 30–60 minutes).
- Advisor submits paperwork → cheque arrives in 4–8 weeks.
Pro tip: Choose air sealing as your third upgrade if possible. It helps hit the tightness target and adds another $250.
Why Spray Foam Delivers the Best Rebate Results in Ontario Homes
We don’t push spray foam because it’s trendy. We push it because it solves the exact problems Ontario homes face.
Closed-cell spray foam (our go-to for attics)
- R-6.5 per inch → you reach R-50 with roughly 8 inches.
- Acts as a complete air barrier and vapour barrier in one step.
- Stops ice dams cold by eliminating warm-air leaks into the roof deck.
- Adds structural strength to roof sheathing.
- Never settles, never sags.
Open-cell spray foam works great for interior walls or soundproofing but we usually recommend closed-cell for attics and basements in our climate.
Compared to blown-in cellulose or fibreglass batts, spray foam:
- Seals every crack, joist, and wire penetration.
- Reduces radon entry when paired with our radon protection system.
- Cuts energy bills 30–50% in many of the homes we’ve done in the GTA.
Ontario Building Code note: The OBC requires R-50 to R-60 in attics depending on your climate zone (most of the GTA is R-50). Closed-cell spray foam’s air-sealing performance often lets you meet or exceed code with less thickness than fluffy alternatives.
Real Costs, Payback, and GTA Examples
Typical 2026 pricing (GTA/Hamilton)
- Closed-cell spray foam attic: $2.50–$5.50 per sq ft installed (includes removal of old insulation if needed).
- 1,200 sq ft attic: $3,000–$6,600 before rebate.
- After $1,250 rebate: your net cost drops dramatically.
We recently finished a 1,400 sq ft semi in Burlington. Existing R-20 blown-in cellulose had settled badly. We removed it, sprayed 8 inches of closed-cell, and the homeowner’s rebate cheque covered 40% of the project. First winter heating bills dropped 38%.
Payback is usually 4–7 years, then pure savings for the next 30+ years.
Common Pain Points We See in Hamilton and the GTA
- Ice dams on older roofs in Oakville and Ancaster.
- Cold floors above uninsulated basements or crawl spaces.
- Drafts around pot lights and attic hatches.
- High humidity and mould in older homes with poor vapour control.
- Radon concerns in certain soil zones around Hamilton.
Spray foam + our air-barrier systems and radon protection tackle all of them at once.
How to Get Started with Samrai Spray Foam
We’re CUFCA-certified, fully insured, and one of the approved contractors for the Home Renovation Savings Program. Whether you want the quick $1,250 attic rebate or a full-home upgrade, we’ll:
- Visit your home for a free, no-pressure assessment.
- Calculate exact rebate eligibility.
- Give you transparent pricing in CAD.
- Schedule the work around your family’s routine (usually 1–2 days).
- Handle all rebate paperwork so you don’t have to.
Ready to lock in 2026 savings before summer gets busy? Book your free attic or whole-home quote today or call us at our Hamilton/GTA office. We also offer old insulation removal, basement insulation, radon protection, and full spray foam services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine the standalone attic rebate with other work?
No. The $1,250 path is attic-only. If you want to do more, switch to the assessment path.
Do I have to remove old insulation first?
Not always, but we recommend it. Old, settled, or contaminated insulation reduces the new R-value and can trap moisture.
How long does the rebate process take?
Standalone: 4–6 weeks after install. Assessment path: 8–10 weeks after post-verification.
Is spray foam safe and code-compliant?
Yes. We use low-VOC, CUFCA-approved products and follow Ontario Building Code fire and thermal requirements.
What if my home has knob-and-tube wiring?
We work around it safely or can coordinate with an electrician.
Contact the team at Samrai Spray Foam today. We’ll turn your drafty attic or chilly basement into a comfortable, rebate-funded upgrade that pays you back for decades.
