What if I told you that could save more than £100 every year with very little effort? Insulating your loft, attic or flat roof is a simple and effective way to reduce heat loss and it will reduce your heating bills annually by a few hundred pounds. Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years, and it should pay for itself many times over.
If you are thinking of an insulation project, then this is the post for you.
Everything You Need To Know About Loft Insulation
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Image Barker & Stonehouse
Loft insulation – your essential guide
In a home with poor insulation home – about 25% of the heat is lost through the roof. The Energy Saving Trust has worked out that insulating your loft, attic roof or flat roof could save you anything from £165 to £195 depending on the size of your home. It can significantly reduce your carbon footprint as saving energy is eco-friendly.
It’s not just a matter of staying warm in winter. In summer, more heat comes in through an uninsulated roof, making your home uncomfortably hot – or adding to your air conditioning bills. And with all the money you save over the years, you can put that cash towards other projects in your home.
Even if you live in an apartment it’s worth insulating your roof. Image The Baked Tile Company
How does it work?
Installing insulation is like a rug for your loft. A mineral fibre material is laid between the joists, and then over the joists in your attic space. This thick material captures heat normally lost through the roof. And it stops draughts getting in too.
Open-planned living spaces will feel warmer when insulated. Image Bin Cemento
Benefits of Loft Insulation
- By insulating your loft, you can reduce the amount of heat lost and save money on your heating bills
- Loft insulation is quick to install and requires only minimal disruption
- No maintenance once installed
If you already have loft insulation, you could still benefit from a top-up. If your insulation is 100mm or less, you can increase it to the recommended level of 270mm.
In my own home, when I moved in, I had the insulation checked by a professional to see if it needed replacing. Luckily, my insulation was in good shape. But when I plan to convert my loft into an attic room in a few years, I’m going to make sure that I get the insulation replaced to keep the space warm in winter and cool in summer.
Flat roofs on extensions can be insulated by a professional. Image Out There Interiors
Types of loft insulation
If your loft is easy to access and has no damp or condensation problems it should be easy to insulate. if you are handy then you can do this job yourself, or call in a professional installer.
If you want to use your loft as a living space (like I do) or it has already been converted into a room, then you can insulate your roof itself rather than the loft floor. This is typically done by fixing rigid insulation boards between the roof rafters.
If your loft is hard to access, you can have blown insulation which needs to be installed by a professional. They will use specialist equipment to blow loose, fire-retardant insulation material into your loft space. This doesn’t usually take more than a few hours.
A flat roof should preferably be insulated from above. This is best done when the roof covering needs replacing anyway. If your flat roof needs to be replaced anyway, you must now insulate it properly to comply with building regulations
Get help with paying for your loft insulation project. Image Christys
Get Your Insulation for Free
What you might not know is that with the UK Government’s ECO scheme you may not have to pay for insulation at all. This government scheme is designed to help people like you reduce the energy loss in their homes, and reduce their heating bills.
The Government is offering free loft insulation and loft insulation grants through the ECO Scheme. See if you are eligible for free loft insulation or subsidised energy efficiency measures with the ECO scheme.
EDF Energy have a very handy guide on loft insulation, check it out on the EDF Energy Home Insulation page. You can also find out if you’re eligible for the ECO scheme to get free loft insulation by visiting this EDF Energy loft insulation guide EDF Energy loft insulation guide.’
Has this post inspired you to look into loft insulation?
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I was surprised in the beginning when I started reading the post. And thanks at the end:)
Adding insulation to your home is a great way to increase the comfort of your living environment. Adding home insulation to an existing home will regulate the temperature, making your living environment more enjoyable, especially in places of extreme weather.
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