A quarter of heat is lost through the roof if your home is uninsulated.
We can insulate your loft, attic or flat roof simply and effectively to reduce heat loss and reduce your heating bills.
Loft insulation stays effective for at least 40 years and so should pay for itself many times in that time period.
Choosing loft insulation
If your loft is easy to access and has no damp or condensation problems then insulating it should be no problem.
If access is easy and your loft joists are regular we will use rolls of mineral wool insulation. The first layer of insulation is laid between the joists then another layer is laid at right angles to cover the joists and make the insulation up to the required depth.
Things to consider
Insulating between the joists in your loft will keep your house warmer but make the roof space above it colder.
This means pipes and water tanks in the loft space could be more likely to freeze, so we will talk to you about insulating them.
Because of the cooler air in your insulated loft cold draughts could come through the loft hatch so we can talk to you also about fitting an insulated loft hatch and put strips of draught-excluding material around the hatch edges to help.
Storage Space
If you plan to use the loft or attic for storage, you will want to lay boards over the joists. Unfortunately, if you only insulate between the joists before doing this, the insulation won’t be thick enough.
Room in the Roof
If you want to use your loft area as a living space or if it is already being used as a living space, then you need to make sure that all the walls and ceilings between a heated room and an unheated space are insulated also.
Sloping ceilings can be insulated with a layer of plasterboard on the inside of the insulation and vertical walls can be insulated the same way. If you have a flat ceiling it can be insulated like a standard loft.
Flat Roofs
A flat roof should preferably be insulated from above. A layer of rigid insulation board can be added either on top of the roof’s weatherproof layer or directly on top of the timber roof surface, with a new weatherproof layer on top of the insulation. 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 to comply with building regulations.
Having flat roof insulation will save you the same amount as with loft insulation.
Damp Lofts
Insulation stops heat escaping as described earlier which could create or worsen existing damp or condensation problems, it still can be done with well planned ventilation.
FAQ’s
Approximately one third of the heat within your property will escape through the roof if not correctly insulated. Significant savings on heating bills will be enjoyed whilst also increasing home comfort.
Loft insulation is man-made mineral fibre in a roll form. Often referred to as “Quilt” the material generally used is made from silica sand, creating a wool-type product also known as glass wool. Old style loft insulation was known to be itchy, but modern insulation has been re-designed to be soft to touch and virtually non-itchy. Regardless though, it will be delivered into your loft sealed inside a plastic package.
Providing the material is left undisturbed, it is maintenance free and should last indefinitely.
A member of our production department will contact you to make a mutually convenient arrangement for the installation to be undertaken. Alternatively, you may telephone 0800 644 6889 and ask for your local Domestic Loft Department. If you are also having cavity wall insulation installed, this appointment will be made together so there is no need to call again.
You must ensure that items stored within the loft space are removed prior to our crews arriving. Small items such as Christmas trees and suitcases will be moved within the loft by our crews, but our technicians are not able to move either general or large amounts of items.
Please ask if you are unsure.
No, our installation teams provide all of their own equipment including lights and ladders.
Boarded areas will need to be removed prior to the date of installation. If you do not wish to remove the boarded area but wish to proceed with the installation, standard industry best practice is for the insulation to be laid over the boards.
Our technician will arrive on the agreed date. The technician will be wearing our traditional red and blue uniform, but we request that you remember to ask to see their identification.
The material will be in sealed bags, which will be carried into your loft and opened within the loft space. The insulation will be laid between and across the joists. The loft hatch will also be insulated. We must stress that once we have finished, the joists will not be visible and we recommend that you do not access the loft without the use of crawling boards and only still if you are aware of the exact position of the joists.
The installation should take between 1-2 hours to complete.
No, a small amount of dust may fall from the loft hatch, (depending how long it has been since the hatch was last opened) which will be cleared by the crew and all packaging will be removed from your home.
You will save around 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to an un-insulated loft, and around £200 per year on your energy bills.
Source: Energy Saving Trust.
