Everything You Need to Know About Loft Insulation in the UK

What is loft insulation?

A material barrier called loft insulation acts as a heat-trapping barrier in your attic space. It can either be positioned between the rafters or the joists, which are the horizontal beams that make up the attic floor (the angled beams that support the roof).

In either case, it acts as a thick, cosy blanket that inhibits the heat transfer between your home and the outside environment. Insulation keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Insulation between the joists traps heat in the area below your living space and makes the loft cold. You can maintain warmth in the roof space as well thanks to insulation in the rafters.

Loft insulation also offers the following advantages:

• lower costs for heating
• Increasing the energy efficiency of your house
• Increasing the value of your house

For do-it-yourself installation, the cost of loft insulation for a typical three-bedroom, semi-detached house with gas central heating can start at around £502. Due to lower energy costs, this indicates that it might pay for itself in less than a year.

Why is loft insulation needed?

To increase the coziness of your home, install insulation in the loft, attic, or roof area. Even better news: it has a lifespan of almost 40 years! Because loft insulation is quite inexpensive, it should more than pay for itself in energy bill savings.

In terms of environmental advantages, having effective loft insulation also enables you to lessen the carbon impact of your residence. This is because a well-insulated home will have a more efficient heating system, which will reduce emissions and lower your utility costs.

Types of Loft Insulation

The following are the most popular types of loft insulation available today, including foil and cork. In order to determine how well an insulating material resists heat flow, pay attention to the R-value. The quality of the insulation increases with the R-value.

Mineral wool

Glass wool (melted wool) or rock wool yarn is used to make mineral wool (melted stone). Before being rolled into the space between loft joists, the yarn is moulded into a fibrous matting that frequently comes in enormous rolls, or “batts.” Additionally, the loose yarn can be blown into voids.

Sheep’s wool

You just cannot match sheep’s wool for insulation that is entirely natural. The wool, which is typically shaped into rolls but can also be purchased as huge tiles, is a fairly common form of insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation

Only a professional can apply spray foam, and they will mix the material once at your house. A chemical reaction when combined produces a thick liquid foam that is sprayed out using a specialized applicator. The foam quickly fills in gaps and then swiftly contracts to form a thick blanket.

How much loft insulation do I need?

Knowing how much insulation you’re going to need is important if you’re doing the installation yourself.

Insulation is typically sold in rolls or batts. The number of rolls you’ll need for the area in square meters is shown in the table below. The table is based on a typical roll that measures 1.14 meters wide by 5.68 meters long and 170 millimeters thick. However, not every roll is precisely the same size, so measure before you buy.

How much is loft insulation?

Sheep wool insulation costs between £18 and £25 per square meter.
Fibreglass insulation costs between £4 to £6 per square metre
Cellulose insulation costs between £4 to £7 per square metre
Mineral wool insulation costs between £10 to £13 per square metre
Spray Foam insulation costs between £27 to £30 per square metre

DIY loft insulation – is it possible?

The good news is that it is completely possible and quite easy to insulate your loft yourself! In so far as:

• Entering your roof space is simple.
• There are no issues with condensation or dampness.
• Your loft joists are spaced uniformly.
• It is not your intention to insulate a flat roof.

It’s advisable to use a skilled installer who is knowledgeable about the best ways to insulate a loft for anything more challenging than this.

Professional insulation of flat roofs is always recommended, and before insulating the loft, you should address any dampness in the area.

Use the proper loft insulation products and techniques if your home was built using local stone or other traditional materials or was built during the period. If not, your house might not be able to retain heat or keep dry as it was intended to. In fact, it could be advisable to hire a local expert with training in dealing with this style of the historical structure.

How to insulate a loft

If your attic is dry, accessible, and has joists that are evenly spaced, the cheapest and most straightforward approach to insulate it is with rolls of blanket roof insulation placed between the joists. Mineral wool, glass fibre, or recyclable materials can be used to make this.

• Purchase the necessary insulation materials. The type of insulation you choose will depend on the type of loft you have and the R-value you need. Insulation materials such as fiberglass, cellulose, and rock wool can be purchased from your local home improvement store.
• Measure the loft and calculate how much insulation you will need. Measure the width, length, and height of the loft and use this information to calculate the square footage. Multiply this number by the recommended R-value for your region.
• Prepare the loft for insulation. Before you can begin to install the insulation, you must remove any debris or obstacles that may be in the way. This includes furniture, boxes, and other items.
• Install the insulation. Start at one end of the loft and work your way across, making sure to cover the entire area. Use different types of insulation for different areas of the loft as needed.
• Seal any gaps. Once the insulation is installed, use caulk or foam to seal any cracks or gaps around windows, doors, and other openings.
• Install baffles. Baffles are pieces of foam that help to maintain a gap between the insulation and the roof, preventing cold air from entering the loft.
• Replace the loft floor. Finally, replace your loft flooring with a material that will help keep the insulation in place. This could include plywood, OSB board, or other materials.

Conclusion

We offer to repair your damaged or leaky roof by pouring foam insulation straight into the roof. As with any other type of insulation, we make sure the roof is dry and in excellent shape before applying any kind of insulation.
Your chances of losing a quarter of your energy costs through the roof increase if your loft is not sufficiently insulated. In a typical loft insulation installation, in addition to installing the insulation, the Building Regulations standards are also mentioned, and the cold water tanks and pipelines are free-lagged to ensure that they won’t burst during the brisk winter.