Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood, established in the 1870s alongside the original fort, and its housing reflects that depth of history. Character homes over a century old sit alongside post-war infill and, increasingly, modern builds on old lots.
Three different eras on the same street means three different correct answers.
Century homes need an assessment, not a quote
The oldest housing here predates vapour barriers entirely. Many of these walls have lasted as long as they have precisely because they breathe - they can dry in both directions, and moisture that gets in also gets out.
Sealing such a wall without understanding it is the one genuine risk in this neighbourhood. Put a vapour-resistant layer in the wrong place and you can stop a hundred-year-old assembly drying the way it always has. The damage does not announce itself; it accumulates inside the wall.
The safe, high-value sequence in a character home:
- The attic. Sealing penetrations and the hatch, then insulating. Most of the heat loss, least of the assembly risk.
- The rim joist or sill area, where accessible.
- The basement, which in houses of this age is often stone or early concrete and rarely dry in the modern sense.
- The walls as a separate conversation, with someone who has looked inside them.
There is no shame in a partial job here. In an old house it is frequently the correct one.
If you are renovating
Inglewood sees a lot of renovation, and that is the moment worth catching. With walls open, sealing and insulating costs a fraction of what it does afterwards, and an installer can actually see the assembly rather than guessing at it.
If you are planning work, get the envelope specified before the drywall goes back on.
Infill and modern builds
New construction on old lots is common here. These are ordinary modern houses with modern needs - typically a targeted fix rather than an envelope project, most often the rim joist or a room over a garage.
The river
Inglewood sits along the Bow. Where a basement has a history of moisture, seepage or past flooding, that gets resolved before any insulation is applied. Foam is not waterproofing, and sealing over a water problem hides it rather than fixing it.
Mention the basement history when you enquire. It is more relevant here than in most of the city.
What we do
We are a referral service. We do not install. We connect you with vetted installers - certification, insurance and WCB standing checked - and we would rather they look at a heritage assembly than quote from a description.
Get a quote, and tell us roughly when the house was built.
Related: when not to use spray foam - vapour barrier and spray foam - SW Calgary homes