Insulation business heats up as homeowners fear winter oil prices

Want to insulate your house? Get in line.

Home insulation and renovation companies in Cape Breton say business is booming as desperate homeowners hunt for ways to reduce their heating costs this winter.

Sydney contractor Francis Lynk, with Lynk Construction, has more work than he can handle.

"Friday of last week we had seven calls for work to be done and we turned them all down," Lynk told CBC News Thursday.

"I don't like it at all, but we just can't keep people waiting. We try to tell them to try someone else or give us a call back, see if we can squeeze them in."

Geoff MacDonald, manager of the insulation side of Lorne Aucoin Renovations, said his phone rings every time oil prices climb and temperatures drop.

"People are saying they're paying at least 25 per cent more for heating costs this year," MacDonald said.

Joyce Marsh was lucky a company could squeeze her in.

The New Waterford resident estimates she spends $2,000 a year on oil to heat her small house. She's counting on new insulation to help her make ends meet.

"Hopefully [the bill] will be a lot lower, just to be able to save a bit of money or to be able to break even with everything," Marsh said.

Many of the contractors contacted by CBC News say their business is up at least 40 per cent this summer. In fact, Aucoins' reports a 300 per cent spike just in its insulation business.

Companies that sell wood pellet stoves are also reporting a brisk business, as are firewood dealers, even with wood costing more this summer.

Lynk said he could hire four more workers today, but many tradespeople are out West.

"We just can't get the manpower we need," he said. "We employ four people and we subcontract a lot of our people too, but we just can't keep up with the volume of work this year."