Short answer
An AeroBarrier seal is priced on the project: mainly conditioned floor area, the airtightness target, the construction stage (later means more masking) and, on multi-unit work, the unit count. Against hand sealing, the comparison that matters is the seal versus the crew hours spent chasing leaks, extra energy advisor retests, and schedule slip before occupancy. I give a real number once I see the project.
What drives the price
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Conditioned floor area | More house, more volume to fill and more envelope to seal. Garages and unconditioned spaces are not included. |
| Your target | A Step 5 target takes more leakage out than a Step 3 target, which means more sealing time. |
| Construction stage | After insulation, before drywall is fastest. Drywall up takes longer. More finishes means more masking. |
| Unit count and layout | Multi-unit work is sealed unit by unit. Shared walls may need guarded testing. |
| Prep needed | Large open holes have to be closed by hand first. A house that is ready on the day seals faster. |
| Location and timing | Kelowna is home base. South and North Okanagan work is often batched with other jobs. |
The comparison worksheet
Fill this in with your own numbers. The point is to put the seal next to the full cost of getting the same result another way.
| Line | Hand sealing route | Measured seal route |
|---|---|---|
| Labour to seal | Crew hours chasing leaks with caulk, foam and tape, times your loaded rate | One seal day, quoted |
| Certainty before the test | Unknown until the blower door | Leakage measured live during the seal |
| Energy advisor retests | Each failed test is another visit and fee | Usually one test after the seal |
| Schedule | Days lost to chase-and-retest cycles, times your carrying cost per day | One day with the house empty |
| Occupancy | Waits on a passing final test | Seal stops at the target before the test |
| Callbacks | Draft and cold-spot complaints after handover | Fewer leakage paths left behind |
On a build that has to hit Step 4 or Step 5, the retest and occupancy lines usually decide it. On a Step 3 build with a good crew, hand sealing may be enough, and I will say so.
The FortisBC rebate deadline
FortisBC says its New Home Program is close to its budget cap and ends February 28, 2027, paying only on completed homes with an occupancy permit (fortisbc.com, read October 8, 2026). Check fortisbc.com before you count on it. I do not bundle rebates into a quote.
How to get a real number
Send me the plans or the conditioned square footage, the target step, the stage the build will be at, and the unit count. You get a written quote back, not a range.
Sources
Written by Sebastian Motora, owner-operator. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.