The Different Types of Roof and Loft Insulation Explained
Ensuring your home is properly insulated will help to keep your heating costs to a minimum. With the ever rising fuel costs, the right insulation can make a lot of difference. Heat rises and as a result, most of the heat is lost through the roof of your home. Insulation can be used to block the heat from escaping.
There are a few different types of roof and loft insulation that need to be considered. Take a look at this guide to learn the benefits of each type of insulation.
Depending on your house type and the use of the loft space, different insulation materials may be preferred. Whichever type of insulation you choose though, it is essential that the roof itself is in good condition. Any loose or damaged tiles could allow water into your home and also help heat to escape.
Fibre Glass
Glass fibre is one of the most commonly used materials to insulate your home. It is available in a roll which can be cut easily to shape. It is very lightweight, easy to install and will help to keep the heat inside your home. Glass fibre is ideal to place up in your loft. It will be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to insulate your loft. It’s best used when you’re not actually using the loft space as living space, although it is possible to cut it to size and place between joists, then board over the top. The only real disadvantage of glass fibre is that it can be irritating to touch, you should wear gloves and consider wearing a mask when installing the insulation.
Installing glass fibre insulation is such an easy job that you can do it yourself. There’s normally no need to hire a specialist. Glass fibre matting is readily available from any DIY store.
Sheet Insulation
If you want to use the loft space as a living space, then you would be better using sheet insulation. These board can be cut to size to fit between the rafters of the roof. This will allow heat to warm up the loft and make it a comfortable space.
Installing sheet insulation Is also relatively straight forward. Most of the materials can be cut using either a sharp knife, or a saw. The only thing that is more difficult will be buying and transporting the sheets since they are a lot larger. This may mean you will need to hire a van.
Blown Insulation (Spray Foam)
Another common type of insulation used to insulate a loft or roof cavity is blown insulation. This is similar to expanding foam you use around the home. This requires some specialist equipment since the insulation material is actually blown into the cavity. As a result blown insulation will be more expensive to have fitted. It’s ideal though if the loft is very small or inaccessible.
Blown insulation can be installed to either the ceiling cavity, or the roof joists. This means it is suitable whether you want to turn the loft into living space or not.
Loose Fill
Another slightly less common type of loft insulation is loose fill. In recent years though this has become more popular since it is an environmentally friendly form of insulation. Loose fill insulation involves filling the ceiling cavity with a loose material. This can be anything, although it is typically something like shredded cork, newspaper or even some types of volcanic rock.
Installing loose fill insulation between ceiling joists is very easy. However, you must first check there are no cracks in the plasterboard of the ceiling and that it will be able to support the insulation. Loose fill insulation materials are all light weight which means they can be supported by the plasterboard itself.
Floor boards can the be placed over the top of the insulation to enable you to use the space for storage, however this will block most of the heat coming through the floor of the room below.
It’s certainly worth time researching and insulating your home properly. Effective insulation will reduce heating costs and keep your home warmer all year round. Insulation will also make it easier to sell your house since it will be rated as being more efficient.
