Loft Insulation |

Installing loft insulation in your property is a cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency and significantly save on your energy bills. Loft insulation can cut annual heating bills, heat loss and reduce the carbon footprint of the property. The reduced heat loss in the property allows the heating system to run for a shorter duration of time, allowing heat to retain for longer period, with a quarter of all heat loss occurring through the loft of a home. Loft insulation has a prolonged life expectancy allowing it to be a great investment in the long run, it is effective for up to fourty years, becoming the most practical way to save money while benefiting the environment.

Whether you are planning on insulating a new loft or replacing old insulation, Getting started with loft insulation is essential to most homes. Having the proper insulation for your home is important to ensure its longevity and comfort. However, before the insulation can be applied, it is important to remove the old insulation from the house. Doing so will help minimize the chances of mold, bacteria, and viruses getting into the house and increase its health and safety.

Warm And Cold Loft Insulation

When looking to insulate a loft there’s 2 different methods: warm and cold insulation. Cold insulation is the cheapest form of loft insulation, as it’s easy to do as a DIY project. It only prevents the heat escaping your home (the loft space will be uninsulated). On the other hand, Warm Insulation’s reduce heat losses and controls the retention as to not get too hot during the summer. Key thing to remember is Warm loft insulation’s need ventilation to allow condensation and help prevent moisture from building up.

Different types of loft insulation methods to choose from

Batt or blanket loft insulation

This is probably the most common type of insulation. It is available in rolls of foil-backed felt, rock, glass or mineral fibre.

Loose-fill loft insulation

This is made from a mixture of lightweight materials, mineral wool or cellulose fibre. Greener types of loose-fill insulation include recycled newspaper.

Sheet loft insulation

Sheet insulation is designed for insulating the sloping sides of the roof and comes in the form of firm boards. Some sheet insulation boards are available with a fire-resistant, moisture-resistant or a decorative covering.

Blown-fibre loft insulation

The insulation is blown into the gaps between joists.

Air openings

Air openings affect the warmth of your property when outside air enters and conditioned air leaves your property through cracks and openings. During unpredictable weather, openings may cause more cold air to enter the property. When it’s warmer and less windy, not enough air may enter, which can result in poor indoor air quality. Air openings also contribute to moisture problems. Allowing experts to seal any cracks and openings reduces drafts and cold spots while improving comfort to your household. Loft insulation is the safest and best method available as majority of the openings are via the loft and as a result 25% of heat is lost via the loft.

Avoid condensation in your loft

Condensation can be a problem in both warm and cold lofts. Due to water molecules creating mold when encountering wood leaving it untreated, could see the timbers rotting. When the warm moist air rises, it gets trapped in your loft if it’s not well ventilated. Whenever the warm vapour hits a cold surface, it turns back into water, forming droplets. There are several ways you can help reduce this. Loft insulation is a great choice as it targets the problem at its root. Installing a breather membrane between the roof and the rafters allowing the air to flow, reduces the risk of condensation.